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Department of Music
String Audition Requirements

Violin

Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesh Scale System in one of the following keys – G, A, Bb, or C
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from any of the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by J.S Bach

Recommended Etude Books

  • Dont – 24 Etudes & Caprices
  • Kreutzer – 42 studies
  • Rode – 24 Caprices

Bachelor of Music

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesh Scale System in one of the following keys – G, A, Bb, C, D, or Eb
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from a solo sonata or partita by J.S Bach
  • One movement of a standard concerto

 

Questions about Violin? Contact Guy Harrison.

 

Viola

Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Arts

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesh Scale System in one of the following keys – C, D, Eb, or F
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from any of the Six Cello Suites by J.S Bach

Recommended Etude Books

  • Fiorillo – 31 Selected Studies
  • Kreutzer – 42 Studies
  • Mazas – Etudes Brilliante Op. 26, Book 2

Bachelor of Music

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesh Scale System in one of the following keys – C, D, Eb, or F
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from any of the Six Cello Suites by J.S Bach
  • One movement of a standard concerto

Recommended Etude Books

  • Fiorillo – 31 Selected Studies
  • Kreutzer – 42 Studies
  • Mazas – Etudes Brilliante Op. 26, Book 2

 

Questions about Viola auditions? Contact Guy Harrison.

 

Cello

Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesch-Boettcher Scale System for Cello in one of the following keys – C, D, Eb, or F
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from any of the Six Cello Suites by J.S Bach

Recommended Etude Books

  • Duport – 21 Studies
  • Dotzauer – 113 Studies, Vol. 4 (International)
  • Popper – High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73

Bachelor of Music

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set from the Flesch-Boettcher Scale System for Cello in one of the following keys – C, D, Eb, or F
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • One movement from any of the Six Cello Suites by J.S Bach
  • One movement of a standard concerto

Recommended Etude Books

  • Duport – 21 Studies
  • Dotzauer – 113 Studies, Vol. 4 (International)
  • Popper – High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73

 

Questions about Cello? Contact Guy Harrison.

 

Double Bass

Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts

  • A 2-octave major and minor scale & arpeggio set of the student’s choice
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • A solo piece that represents your highest level of playing ability from one of the recommended series below

Recommended Etude Books:

  • Rabbath – New Techniques for Double Bass, Book2 or 3
  • Simandl – New Method, Book 2 (International)
  • Sturm – Volume 2 (International

Recommended Solo Series

  • Vance – Progressive Repertoire, Vol. 3
  • Zimmerman – Solos for the Double Bass Player

Bachelor of Music

  • A 3-octave major and minor scale & arpeggio set of the student’s choice
  • An etude from one of the recommended etude books below
  • A solo piece that represents your highest level of playing ability from one of the recommended series below
  • A movement from any of the Six Cello Suites by J.S Bach, or One movement from a standard concerto

Recommended Etude Books

  • Rabbath – New Techniques for Double Bass, Book2 or 3
  • Simandl – New Method, Book 2 (International)
  • Sturm – Volume 2 (International)

Recommended Solo Series

  • Vance – Progressive Repertoire, Vol. 3
  • Zimmerman – Solos for the Double Bass Player

 

Questions about Double Bass? Contact Guy Harrison.

 

Classical Guitar

Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts

  • Coming soon

Bachelor of Music

  • Coming soon

Questions about Classical Guitar? Contact Guy Harrison.

 

Guitar and Electric Bass Requirements for Commercial Music

Scales

  1. “C” major, “ G” major, “F’’ major, “Bb” major, “Eb”major two octaves ascending and descending.
  2. “A”, “E”, “D”, “C”, harmonic minor, two octaves ascending and descending.
  3. Students will be required to play with a metronome with the quarter note equal to 120BPM

Chords (Guitar Only)

  1. All open chords; major, minor, minor 7, major 7
  2. All bar chords, major and minor with the root on the 5th and 6th string.
  3. All Dominant 7th chords with the root on the 5th and 6th strings
  4. All minor 7th chords with the root on the 6th and 5th string

Arpeggios (Bass only)

  1. Arpeggiate the following chords
  2. C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F#, B, E, A, D, G-All major chords C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F#, B, E, A, D, G- All minor chords

Performance piece

Choose a rock, country or pop piece and perform it as a solo or with a backing track. This needs to be only about 2 minutes. This needs to showcase your best attributes. If you are a rhythm player or a solo note player, be that player!

Short Essay

Write a short essay that describes the reason for wanting to enter the commercial music program at Auburn University. Tell us about your goals and aspirations. Who has inspired you and where do you plan to be in 5 years. Please provide 4 copies of the essay to bring to your audition.

Questions about Guitar and Electric Bass? Contact Patrick Bruce at pjb0028@auburn.edu.