It’s a big task, but one that every aspiring college guitar student needs to tackle. A limited number of scholarships are available to guitarists. They help you unlock the potential of chords as a resource for soloing, and it’s important to be able to build and play them all over the neck, including everything from the standard major and minors, to the 7th arpeggios and all of the extended harmony arpeggios (9ths, 11ths, etc.). Major: Milan - Pavanas; Tarrega - Preludes; Ponce - Preludes; Bach - selected mvt. Do it for the right reasons for long enough, and getting rich and famous (while more importantly, being fulfilled) could actually happen. Here are two of the wrong reasons: Those two things may in fact happen to you, and if they do, GREAT! Reading music (and especially rhythm) is one of the biggest blind spots for most guitar players, and it will be a major handicap for you if you’re thinking about continuing your education at the college level. Our University Choirs, University Orchestra, Flora Thornton Opera Program, Collegium Musicum, Jazz Ensemble, Collaborative Arts, and Chamber Music groups are open to all students by audition, and provide stimulating ensemble experiences. Students should plan to audition between January and February to be considered for these. You need to crave knowledge about all of these things, or don’t even bother. Etudes do not have to be performed from memory. Being a strong reader is very impressive to the people you’ll be auditioning for, so it pays to spend the time getting good at it. Playing fast is a goal for many guitarists, and increasing your technical skill will add to your confidence and ability to impress at the college level. Guitar applicants are encouraged to perform works from memory. Megan L. is a writer and musician living in San Diego. Check out Jamey Aebersold’s extensive library of CDs for jazz students, great learning tools even if you don’t understand what he’s talking about yet. All materials are evaluated for the music major and for music scholarship, and must be submitted in fulfillment of the audition requirements on the primary instrument/voice. You are encouraged to email the Head of Guitar, Professor Steve Thachuk, to discuss your audition program in advance of the audition if you have any questions, As mentioned above, applicants are required to have learned and memorized all scales from the Segovia edition. You don’t have to be a shred master — but why not go for it anyway! Of course not. Prospective students who wish to continue singing or playing a musical instrument, but do not intend to be music majors, may audition for the Jennings Scholarship. If you’re really serious about wanting to attend college for guitar (and then making a go at a career in music) you’d better be doing it for the right reasons. And, if you listen to Bach or Beethoven every day, you will reap rewards a’plenty! His name is Dwayne, and like you (and me, back in the day) he is interested in majoring in music. A student wishing to study as a music major or minor must audition for admission to the Music Department as a music major or music minor candidate. A limited number of $40,000-plus awards are available to musicians who demonstrate exceptional ability. A prospective candidate for the B.Mus. Substantial talent and academic awards are available through a successful audition. For many students, finding a top-quality guitar teacher is one of the first steps on the road to majoring in music. I chose to play an intro to a Testament song by Alex Skolnick, who’s a pretty rippin’ player. This degree is meant for the solo performer/artist/composer so please consult with Professor Thachuk with regards to anything that has not been mentioned on this list. Required fields are marked *. All repertoire should be played from memory . Here’s a wakeup call for you: Even if you go to music college and decide to major in performance (in other words, in playing guitar) the majority of work that you do, especially for the first two years, will not be on playing guitar. An audition for a major in music at any DECENT music school is tough. The audition will consist of a minimum of 15 minutes of music. Sound familiar? or modern works – Britten, Takemitsu, Henze, Tower, etc. Please upload your video audition to your application through the Education Community. Here’s the good news though: If you’ve got a good work ethic, a passion for learning about all aspects of music and the guitar, and a great teacher with experience in all of this, then getting into the music college of your dreams is a thoroughly achievable goal. You may contact the studio faculty with questions regarding audition repertoire. We match you with expert teachers in over 300 subjects so that you can learn something new through 100% Music until he or she passes the audition. One thing to notice is this audition is required for 8 different majors with classical guitar as the primary instrument. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Dwayne loves to play guitar, and he’s passionate about learning more. She loves supporting independent artists and learning more about music every day. The study of Electric Guitar in the context of classical and experimental music is relatively new, and will often incorporate concepts of composition, arrangement and improvisation. from lute or cello suites; Sor - Studies 1-20. See below for further information reg… Dwayne’s got above-average technique on the guitar and he knows he wants to get faster, but that’s about as specific as he could say. in Music Performance (Guitar) may declare a major in Music prior to the semesters stated above but will be listed as a candidate for the B.A. Sight-reading will be comprised of single note position reading of simple chordal pieces. Audition Information. MUS 3550: Purpose: Required for 3 semesters of the Music Education major and 4 semesters of the Composition major. Bachelor of Music in Performance (Classical Guitar), 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. For more detailed information on the Interlochen Arts Academy application process, please visit our How to Apply page. Guitar: Candidates should be prepared to perform three compositions for classical guitar in contrasting styles, preferably from memory.The playing will be assessed on technique, tone and musicality rather than the degree of difficulty of the repertoire chosen. I figured that if a song was from a CD I had, then it must be “from the standard repertoire”. Not if you’ve got what it takes! Additionally, a knowledge of the entire fingerboard is required, and there will be a sight -reading assessment administered at the audition. The School of Music admissions decision letter will be mailed 3-4 weeks after your audition video submission and the School of Music has verified that you have also been admitted to the University. This may also be taken for upper level study by BA vocal majors or performance minors. A ll School of Music applicants must audition on an instrument or voice. But the actual ability to build them in your head in any key, to know the sound, and to start them from anywhere on the neck is vital for reading, improvisation, and writing. Guitar teacher Brett M. shares 10 things you need to know to have a great guitar audition at the music college of your choice…. But it’s really not that bad when you have the proper guidance. of Music & Dance / Audition / Music Major Auditions. So, what they’re often really looking for are pieces that demonstrate your ability to improvise a bit, play chord solos, interpret melodies, etc. Please contact SoMadmit@uw.eduwith any other questions or concerns. Listen especially to classical music from all time periods, as well as jazz. They can be equally inspirational and frustrating! Your live performance audition will be limited in length to 10 to 15 minutes, including entrance, performance, and exit. So why hide from your fear? Be sure to check some out some killer guitarists who are way over your head, like Scott Henderson, Al DiMeola, Allan Holdsworth, Greg Howe, and Frank Gambale. Believe it or not, when it comes to getting into a music college for guitar, your raw technical ability and speed aren’t as important as some of the other areas that we’ve mentioned. Auditions are to be performed on a classical (nylon string) guitar and memorized. These types of videos will help you figure out where your weak points are and the areas of knowledge or technical ability that you need the most work on. Your email address will not be published. Movement or movements from a major work by J.S. There are six “families” of scales (including all of their modes) that you must know to play contemporary music: Knowing the fingerings and shapes on the neck is an important first step. Please choose an audition date from the options below. Play modes from the major scale. Only after passing the entrance audition may the student declare as a major the B.Mus. If you’re a guitarist who’s planning to continue your music education at the college level, then this may be one of the most important articles you could ever read. Voice and Music Education auditions require additional evaluation. Mike Curb College of Arts, One of the biggest problems that plagues most guitar players is not having all of the notes on the neck memorized. The items below are only suggestions for types of works to be represented in your audition. You must perform well on your instrument or voice, according to the list of … personalized lessons. Once the application materials have been submitted to the School of Music, the student may either schedule a time to perform a live audition at BYU or … Music Major: Audition Requirements. I find that rhythm really intimidates many of my guitar students. A classical or experimental work composed for the electric guitar (with or without electronics or signal processing), such as Reich's "Electric Counterpoint", Murail's "Vampyr", Lentz's "Ingwe". The items below are only suggestions for types of works to be represented in your audition. • One major scale in two octaves. Sound harsh? Please review Suggested Audition Repertoire to plan for your audition for your intended major. It’s about actually finding and understanding them with the guitar. Auditions are to be performed on a classical (nylon string) guitar … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Entrance into Hayes School of Music degree programs as a guitar major is competitive. Note: This information applies only to classical guitar applicants. Remember, there’s a lot of competition to fill those limited spaces in the school that you want to get into. There are two parts to the audition: the theory assessment and the performance. Understanding how to build chords, from triads to extended harmony chords like E7susb9 and other weird ones, is an absolutely essential skill to master before attending college for guitar. The available openings in the guitar class are usually filled after the February auditions. I’m talking about getting your hands on some good guitar instructional videos, preferably some no-nonsense ones from the late 80s or early 90s, put out by the companies REH or Alfred. Everything that you do, especially at the college level, has to do with notes. This will give you an edge over your competition when applying or auditioning for music school — not to mention an increase in confidence. Submit all applications on Future Students page; Submit a Music Department Application; Perform a solo with contrasting styles or 2 etudes of contrasting styles; All major scales; Chromatic Scale; Sight Reading; Low Brass. Auditions are by appointment only and will be held remotely for 2020-2021. The Bachelor of Music in Performance (Classical Guitar) requires a background in the study of the classical guitar and its repertoire. Audition requirements: Demonstrate intermediate sight-reading skills. If you don’t enjoy this part, you won’t last. Chord and scale relationships also help you understand how to play or improvise over daunting chord progressions (like Dm7b5 –G7alt –CmMaj7) and actually sound like you know what you’re doing! You see, while Berklee and many other music schools certainly embrace many kinds of music, they are historically jazz institutions. Problem is, he’s not too sure what he’ll need to know to get in, and he’s a little worried about it. Renewable Talent Scholarships range from $10,000-30,000 per year and are based on your audition (uploaded or live) and academic background. For Studio Guitar, please refer to the Studio Guitar requirements. Audition Request Form for Music Majors. Concentration: Selections from studies by Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer or other works of comparable difficulty. Attend School of Music Virtual Accepted Student Event. Works you have composed in a classical or experimental idiom for electric guitar (with or without signal processing), A work by a composer who is from a group that is typically underrepresented in the classical or experimental music field. The items below are only suggestions for types of works to be represented in your audition. The School of Music requires an entrance audition for the following programs: ... (10 minutes of music in total) All Major scales and Minor scales in all forms (natural, melodic and harmonic) Saxophone . For me, I simply couldn’t (and still can’t) not do music. Audition Requirements. Music Arts Supplement. Students opting to attend the audition virtually must submit links to their audition recording 48 hours in advance of their chosen audition date. The desire to create, to challenge yourself, to deepen your character, and to share music with others is what will fuel a successful and sustainable music career in college and after. Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here: recorded audition. guaranteed, Knowing notes is more than simply reading them on the page. You are encouraged to email the Head of Guitar, Professor Steve Thachuk, to discuss your audition program in advance of the audition if you have any questions. Music scholarships are also available to non-majors for ensemble participation based on playing and/or … Classical Guitar Bachelor of Music (BM) Master of Music (MM) Graduate Certificate (GCRT) Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) If you are planning to apply to the Artist Diploma program please follow the audition requirements on the Artist Diploma page. The School of Music is requiring the submission of recorded auditions via Acceptd for admission; video audition submissions are due one week before the candidate's scheduled audition. After that, reading the pitches on the music staff isn’t that hard at all, it just takes some practice. Please note that the Electric Guitar option is only available for the Master of Music Degree, The Bachelor of Music in Performance (Classical Guitar) requires a background in the study of the classical guitar and its repertoire. Find Private Teaching Jobs on TakeLessons. Auditions are to be performed on a classical (nylon string) guitar and memorized. You will absolutely pick up and absorb some important musical concepts simply through osmosis. If hearing this actually gets you excited to be in an environment like that, then music college is probably a good fit for you. Home / Programs of Study / Academic Programs / Dept. Start to immerse yourself in music daily, and not just the styles that are your current favorites (I’m still a metal guy!). Regardless of your major, there's a place for you in Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Music. Actually, he’s a lot worried. Note: Guitar and piano auditions are scheduled with the faculty in those applied areas; however, music majors will also need to audition for a major ensemble (choir, band, or orchestra). There will be an assessment of this requirement at the audition. Additional scholarships or service awards are available through these major ensemble auditions. The audition should include one prelude or etude by Hector Villa-Lobos and one Bach prelude from BWV 995, 996, 997, or … Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. He’s also got a feeling that there’s a lot more to learn about scales, chords, etc. What’s the best way to get a guitar player to turn down? Memorizing scales on the guitar is of immense importance. Your email address will not be published. Students wishing to major in music with guitar as their primary instrument may audition for acceptance into the B.A in Music-General Music Studies Option, the B.A. A piece or a movement by a composer who is from a group that is typically underrepresented in the classical music field. Continue your love of music when you go to college. Is a music major in your academic future? The main audition for the Music Major is on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Candidates should also be prepared to play two-octave major and minor scales and sight-read a short excerpt in first or second position. It can look like a foreign language with all those beams and squiggles and dots. It can’t hurt. The Master of Music in  Guitar Performance requires an extensive background in study of the instrument. The audition for the program should represent your artistic goals. Dwayne’s not a huge jazz guy, but he’s thinking about trying out for the school jazz band, just to get the playing experience — but he’s not too sure he’d know what to play. It’s a joke, but completely true. Standard études as those of Aguado, Carcassi, Giuliani, Brouwer, Sor, Works by such composers as Milan, Bach, Holland, Tarrega, Casseus, E. Giuliani, Ponce, Dyens, York, Mertz, any one of Etudes Simples 1-10 - Leo Brouwer, any one of the Studies (Segovia edition) - Fernando Sor, any piece commensurate or above the level of the above selections. For a contemporary music college, the application process usually involves sending an audition tape of music “from the standard repertoire”. Don’t fret if you can’t understand anything they’re talking about (a lot of these guys play great, but couldn’t teach their way out of a paper bag)! As you grow academically and musically as a music major in the ONU music department, we continue to provide several yearly awards and endowed scholarships for deserving students that are voted on by faculty and awarded during Honors Day ceremonies each spring. Applicants are to perform two (2) pieces of contrasting styles and all scales from the Segovia edition. To audition, complete a Music Admission/Scholarship Application and submit an online letter of recommendation from a qualified music teacher. In fact, it’s something that I wish I could have read, before auditioning and (luckily) getting accepted into Berklee College of Music over a dozen years ago. The following are suggestions for repertoire: . Additionally, a knowledge of the entire fingerboard is required, and there will be a sight -reading assessment administered at the audition. I don’t just mean to watch random videos on YouTube! Music Major Auditions & Talent Scholarships. 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