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Undergraduate String Audition Requirements

Bachelor of Music: Performance Degrees (B.M.)

Auditioning students will perform one composition from each of the following categories:

Violin, Viola, Cello:

  • One movement of a concerto with cadenza (if applicable)
  • One movement of an unaccompanied work by Bach
  • Etude
  • Scales, Arpeggios and Sight-Reading may be requested

Double Bass:

  • One movement of a concerto
  • One movement of a sonata (two contrasting movements of a sonata may be prepared in place of a concerto movement)
  • Scales, Arpeggios and Sight-Reading may be requested

Additional information: Memorization is optional, but preferred. A comprehensive repertoire list should be submitted with the application or presented to the jury at the audition.

Bachelor of Music: Non-Performance Degrees

Majors: Music Education, Music Therapy, B.A. in Music, Honors Tutorial College, Composition

Auditioning students will perform one composition from each of the following categories.

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

  • Two pieces from contrasting musical styles (choose from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic or Contemporary)
  • Scales, Arpeggios, and Sight-Reading may be requested

Additional information: Memorization is optional. A comprehensive repertoire list should be submitted with the application or presented to the jury at the audition.

Guitar Principals: Music Therapy, B.A.

Applied study in guitar is offered to music majors in Music Therapy and the BA in Music programs.

Auditioning students should prepare two pieces in contrasting styles:

  • Piece 1: Standard bebop of swing tune: Prepare to play the melody, comp through the chord changes and improvise or play a transcribed solo for one chorus. Suggested Repertoire: Billie's Bounce, Blue Bossa, Summertime, Take the A Train.
  • Piece 2: Fingerstyle or chord-melody piece (usually a ballad). Suggested Repertoire: Barry Galbraith Guitar Solos Volume 1 and 2 (Published by Mel Bay,) fingerstyle arrangement a la Chet Atkins, or a short classical piece by Bach or Sor.
  • Students should also be prepared to sight read a melody and a chord chart

Additional information: An amplifier and cable will be provided for electric guitarists. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Professor John Horne (hornej@ohio.edu) to review audition selections and receive feedback prior to the audition.

RECORDED AUDITIONS

Live auditions are strongly encouraged as the live audition provides students the opportunity to meet our faculty and explore the campus. Exceptions may be made in rare circumstances, and must be approved by the division chair.

International students who are unable to travel to campus may elect to submit live performances (video) of the audition repertoire via YouTube, Vimeo or a similar service or schedule a video conferenced audition and interview. Please contact Division Chair for more information.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

All applications and auditions must be received and completed by March 1st in order to receive full scholarship consideration.

For additional information regarding string studies at the Ohio University School of Music, please contact:

Jose Rocha
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Cello
Chair of String Pedagogy
rocha@ohio.edu

Nathan Southwick
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Violin and String Pedagogy
southwick@ohio.edu