Auditions

ASU’s Department of Music will hold performance auditions for prospective students who plan to major in music.

Music Scholarship Audition Dates

 

In addition to the University's requirements for general admission, each prospective music major must meet entrance requirements for the Department of Music. These requirements include:

  • Performance audition
  • Diagnostic exam in music theory

These entrance requirements assist the music faculty in assessing the student's musical background, level of proficiency and particular strengths and weaknesses. Students who enter the Department of Music with deficiencies will be required to take more than the minimum number of hours needed to complete degree requirements.

 

Alabama State University

Department of Music Scholarships

Audition Materials


Students auditioning for admission to the Department of Music must contact the Music Office at (334) 229-4341 or music@alasu.edu  to schedule an audition. ASU music faculty members are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the audition process.  In addition to the scales and studies outlined below, each student will be asked to sight-read and to answer basic music theory questions.  The admission audition will also serve as an audition for scholarships.

 

VOICE

Dr. Cordelia Anderson

Mr. Tyrone Hayes

334-604-9179

334-604-9305

canderson@alasu.edu

thayes@alasu.edu

Musical selection(s):  FROM MEMORY

  • Classical selection from the Twenty-four Italian Songs and Arias OR a published African-American Negro Spiritual (sample composers:  Harry T. Burleigh, Hall Johnson, Margaret Bonds, etc.)
  • Students will be asked to sight-sing, basic key signature identification, and basic rhythmic identification.
  • Popular music (gospel, etc.) is not acceptable.
 

PIANO

Dr. Adonis Gonzalez

334-604-9190

agonzalezmatos@alasu.edu
  • All white-key scales with both hands using correct fingering: 2 octaves
  • Two pieces from contrasting periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic)
 

FLUTE

Dr.  Michael Westmoreland

334-604-9306

mwestmoreland@alasu.edu
  • All major scales and arpeggios from memory
  • No. 2 - Andantino, page 2 and No. 4 - Tempo de Valzer, page 4, both from the Melodious and Progressive Studies Book 1 (Cavally).
 

OBOE                                        

Dr.  Michael Westmoreland

334-604-9306

mwestmoreland@alasu.edu
  • Bb, B, C, D major scales and arpeggios:  2 octaves; Db, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave; Chromatic scale:  2 octaves beginning on low C
 

All selections are from David Hite’s book Melodious and Progressive Studies for Oboe, Book 1.

  • Technical selection:  choose one (1)

page 10 Number 17 (F Major); page 11 Number 18 (D Minor); page 13 Number 2 (A Minor)

  • Melodic excerpt:  choose one (1)

Page 2 Number 3 (G Major); Page 20 Number 9 (Ab Major) – beginning through m. 16
 

BASSOON

Dr. Michael Westmoreland

334-604-9306

mwestmoreland@alasu.edu
  • Bb major scale and arpeggio:  2 octaves, all other major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave
  • Chromatic scale:  2 octaves beginning on low Bb
 

All selections are from J. Weissenborn’s Practical Method for the Bassoon.

  • Technical selection:  choose one (1)

Page 88 – Number 14 (F Major) – beginning through measure 16.

  • Melodic excerpt:  choose one (1)

Page 38 – Section XVII, 3rd excerpt on page (Andante, 26 measures long)
 

CLARINET

Dr. Katrina Phillips

334-604-8201

krphillips@alasu.edu
  • All major scales and arpeggios:  2 octaves; Chromatic scale:  3 octaves beginning on low E
 

All selections are from David Hite’s book Melodious and Progressive Studies for Clarinet, Book 1.

  • Technical selection:  choose one (1)

page 10 Number 17 (F Major); page 11 Number 18 (D Minor); page 13 Number 2 (A Minor)

  • Melodic excerpt:  choose one (1)

Page 2 Number 3 (G Major); Page 20 Number 9 (Ab Major) – beginning through m. 16.
 

SAXOPHONE

Dr. Michael Westmoreland

334-604-9306

mwestmoreland@alasu.edu
  • Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F major scales and arpeggios:  2 octaves; Gb, G, Ab, A major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave; Chromatic scale:  2 octaves beginning on low D
 

All selections are from David Hite’s book Melodious and Progressive Studies for Saxophone, Book 1.

  • Technical selection:  choose one (1)

page 10 Number 17 (F Major); page 11 Number 18 (D Minor); page 13 Number 2 (A Minor)

  • Melodic excerpt:  choose one (1)

Page 2 Number 3 (G Major); Page 20 Number 9 (Ab Major) – beginning through m.16.
 

TRUMPET

Dr. Carly Johnson

334-229-4341

cjjohnson@alasu.edu
  • C major scale and arpeggio: 2 octaves; All other major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave; 
  • Chromatic scale: 1 octave, beginning on low C
  • Technical Excerpt: Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet (Arban); #47, p.21 (quarter note = 96)
  • Melodic Excerpt: Lyrical Studies for Trumpet (Concone); #4, p. 4  (quarter note = 76)
 

FRENCH HORN

Dr. Brenda Luchsinger

334-604-9140

bluchsinger@alasu.edu
  • F major scale and arpeggio: 2 octaves; All other major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave;
  • Chromatic scale: 1 octave. Beginning on first space F
  • Technical Excerpt: 335 Selected Melodious Progressive and Technical Studies for French Horn (Pottag-Andraud); p. 10, Allegretto. (quarter note =84).
  • Melodic Excerpt: Lyrical Studies for Horn (Concone); #4, p. 4 (quarter note = 76)
 

TROMBONE & EUPHONIUM

Dr. Jonathan Houghtling

334-604-8415 

jhoughtling@alasu.edu

  • Bb Major scale and arpeggio: 2 octaves; All other Major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave

  • Chromatic scale: one octave, beginning on low b flat

  • Melodic Excerpt: Melodious Etudes for Trombone (Bordogni/Rochut); No. 2

  • Technical Excerpt: Forty Progressive Studies (Hering); No. 11, p.13 (quarter note=112) 

  •  

    Euphonium (treble clef): refer to trumpet requirements
 

TUBA

Dr. Jonathan Houghtling

334-604-8415

jhoughtling@alasu.edu

  • Bb Major scale and arpeggio: 2 octaves; All other Major scales and arpeggios: 1 octave

  • Chromatic scale: one octave, beginning on low b flat

  • Melodic Excerpt: 70 Studies for BBb Tuba (Blazhevich); No. 4, p.3 (quarter note=75), (please play legato)

  • Technical Excerpt: 78 Studies for Tuba (Grigoriev); No. 2 , p.2 (quarter note=80)
 

PERCUSSION

Dr. Jessica Williams

334-604-8414

jewilliams@alasu.edu
  • Perform rudiments on snare drum: single stroke roll, multiple bounce roll (buzz roll), double stroke roll, single paradiddle, double paradiddle, paradiddle-diddle, flam, swiss-army triplets, inverted flam tap, drag (ruff), Lesson 25, pataflafla, and single ratamacue 
  • A Snare Drum Solo of your choice
  • A Mallet Percussion Solo/Excerpt of your choice(marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel/bells)
  • A Timpani Solo of your choice (2-4 drums)
  • All 12 major scales and arpeggios, 1-2 octaves at100 BPM.
  • Chromatic Scale, 2 octaves at 100 BPM
  • Drum set (optional): demonstrate knowledge of styles - rock, swing, funk, bossa nova, and samba.
  • World Percussion (optional): congas, bongos, steel pan, djembe, cajon, etc.

All chosen solos must demonstrate your skills and proficiency on snare drum, mallet percussion, and timpani.