Major Auditions

AUDITION INFORMATION FOR 2023-2024

An audition is required of all students—incoming freshmen, transfer students, or continuing students—who want to major in music at UNH. Auditions are by appointment only.  See the Audition packet for detailed information about the auditions, finances, and the Music Department. 

Audition Information Packet 2023

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The application process is in two parts:

  1. Application to the University through the Common Application
  2. Completion of an audition

Your application is not considered complete without both-application and audition. 
The application deadline is February 1, 2024. Your application will be processed after Admissions receives the results of your audition.
Register at least 2 weeks in advance of the day you plan to audition.
A confirmation of your scheduled audition day  will be sent to you after you register. 

Audition registration information for 2024-2025 will be posted here

 

Audition Dates for High School Seniors, Transfer Students, and Non-Traditional Students 
Dates for 2023-2024

CHANGE! Saturday, December 2, 2023  Please schedule this date if you are applying early action. (No saxophone on this date)
Saturday, January 20, 2024 (no clarinet)
Saturday, February 3, 2024 (no flute, horn or violin/viola)
Saturday, February 17, 2024    Guitarists please schedule this date
 

Special notes:
Not all dates will be available for all instruments. 
Jazz guitarists will be scheduled ONLY after submitting a pre-audition video recording.  Click the drop down below for Jazz Guitar information and instructions. Classical guitarists do not need to submit a pre-audition video recording. 

If UNH closes due to extreme weather (called "curtailed operations"), auditions will not be held.  If you are travelling from some distance, it is advisable to monitor the weather forecast.  

Audition Requirements to Major in Music

Part 1: Performance Audition

Requirements by Instrument and Program

Click your intrument name in the list below to see your requirements.  Unless specified, music education and performance majors have the same requirements.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Demonstrate playing proficiency of major scales and sight reading. 

All cellists: Demonstrate proficiency of all major and melodic minor scales, as well as sight-reading.

Performance majors: Prepare one etude by Popper, Piatti, Kummer, Lee, Duport, Schroeder or Dotzauer; two additional movements from different historical eras that demonstrate contrasting styles.

Music Education majors: Prepare a total of two movements from different historical eras that demonstrate contrasting styles, one of which may be an etude by Popper, Piatti, Kummer, Lee, Duport, Schroeder or Dotzauer.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Demonstrate playing proficiency of major scales and sight reading. 

Music education, composition, and music liberal studies candidates, whose principal instrument is Classical Guitar, should prepare 2 pieces of contrasting style, not memorized; demonstrate scale proficiency (at least 2 octaves - one major, one minor); and sight reading.

B.A. performance candidates in Classical Guitar should, at a minimum, prepare 3 pieces of contrasting style, one of which should be from memory; demonstrate scale proficiency (at least 2 octaves - one major, one minor); and sight reading. 

B.M. performance candidates in Classical Guitar should prepare, at a minimum, 4 pieces of contrasting style, three of which should be from memory; demonstrate scale proficiency (at least 2 octaves - one major, one minor); and sight reading.

Demonstrate playing proficiency of all major and melodic minor scales in two octaves, two and four notes per bow. Prepare two bowed pieces – one etude and one solo piece.

Students interested in Jazz Bass should choose a piece from the standard jazz repertoire and be prepared to play the melody, an improvised bass line, and an improvised solo.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Proficiency with major scales expected.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Demonstrate playing proficiency of major scales and sight reading.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Demonstrate playing proficiency of major scales and sight reading.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR JAZZ GUITARISTS! Guitarists will be scheduled ONLY after submitting a live video pre-audition recording and a Pre-Audition Registration Form. Email music.info@unh.edu to find out more, submit your video, and get the Pre-Audition Registration Form.

Anyone who wants to major in music on jazz guitar must submit a video recording  with the following:

  1. Solo Guitar Piece (classical, jazz, pop or original arrangement) This  must be recorded without overdubs, edits, or accompaniment.
  2. A jazz standard or blues progression with play-along tracks from the Jamey Aebersold Series ,available at http://www.jazzbooks.com/jazz/category/digital), or iReal Pro app (https://irealpro.com/).Recording must include at least one chorus each of melody, solo improvisation, and chord voicings.
  3. Student's Choice. Any song that best represents the student's instrumental abilities and musicality. Any musical style.

A Department of Music audition will not be scheduled without the submission of the video. Once the recording is reviewed and  the registration form is received, the successful pre-audition candidate will receive notification to schedule the Department of Music audition. Please call the Department of Music at 603-862-2404 for more info. Submit videos before February 17, 2024 to music.info@unh.edu

 

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Demonstrate playing proficiency of major scales and sight reading.

  • Bring your own sticks
  • Prepare a snare drum solo
    Suggested studies:
       Cirone - Portraits in Rhythm
       Whaley - Recital Solos for Snare Drum
       Goldenberg - School for Snare Drum (5/8 Etude)
       OR a solo of your choice of equivalent difficulty
  • Prepare a timpani solo
    Suggested studies:
       Goodman - Modern Method for Timpani (Pages 48-68) Selected Studies
       Firth - Solo Timpanist, Etude No. 1
       Beck - Sonatina for Timpani
       OR solo of equivalent difficulty
  • Mallets
       Basic knowledge of major scales
       Prepared solo
    Suggested studies:
       McMillian - Masterpieces for Marimba

Optional Requirements

  • Drumset
    Demonstrate styles:
       Swing (slow, med, fast)
       Latin (Samba, Bossa Nova)
       Funk
       Rock

Music education, composition, and music liberal studies candidates whose principal instrument is piano should prepare 2 pieces (or movements) of contrasting style, one of which must be a work by J.S. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven—memorization optional; demonstrate scale proficiency (all major scales, 2 octaves, hands together; and demonstrate sight reading.

B.A. performance candidates in piano should prepare 3 pieces (or movements) of contrasting styles (at least one of which needs to be memorized) chosen from three of the following:

  1. A work or movement by J.S. Bach
  2. A work or movement by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
  3. A work by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Scriabin, or Rachmaninoff
  4. A work by Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Prokofiev, or a composer born after 1900

Candidates should demonstrate scale proficiency (all major and harmonic minor scales, 2 octaves, hands together) and sight reading.

B.M. performance candidates in piano should prepare 4 pieces (or movements) of contrasting styles, three of which should be memorized, to be chosen from each of the following:

  1. A work or a group of works by J.S. Bach: any two Inventions, any one Sinfonia, any substantial movement from a suite, or any complete Prelude and Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier
  2. A fast first movement from any sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
  3. A work or a group of works by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Scriabin, or Rachmaninoff
  4. A work or a group of works by Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Prokofiev, or a composer born after 1900

Candidates should demonstrate scale proficiency (all major and harmonic minor scales, 3 octaves, hands together) and sight reading.

Students auditioning for entrance into the program are asked to perform two contrasting pieces.  Auditionees should choose music that displays a high level of performance ability and also a high degree of musicality.

Students may choose a piece of standard saxophone solo repertoire such as Glazunov Concerto, Creston Sonata, Maurice Tableau de Provence, etc.; or perform both a lyrical and technical etude from a source such as the H. Voxman Selected Studies or Ferling 48 Etudes. In addition, students will be asked to play full range major scales and to sight read a short excerpt.

Students are also encouraged to play jazz and/or commercial music in the audition. Contrasting pieces (different tempos and/or styles) can be chosen from the American Songbook, jazz standards, or other relevant sources. Students should be prepared to perform the melody and improvise.

The audition can be played on any saxophone but alto and tenor are preferred.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Proficiency with major scales expected.

Prepare two pieces of contrasting style, one should be lyrical (ex. 2nd movement of Haydn trumpet concerto) and the other should demonstrate the more technical side. Contrasting sections of an extended piece is acceptable. In addition to demonstrating proficiency with major scales, be prepared to play a chromatic scale.

Prepare two contrasting pieces (or movements). Proficiency with major scales expected.

One scale and corresponding arpeggio of your choice (3 octaves preferred).
Two contrasting solo or accompanied pieces that best reflect your current musical and technical proficiency.
Sight-reading may be requested.

One scale and corresponding arpeggio of your choice (3 octaves preferred).
Two contrasting solo or accompanied pieces that best reflect your current musical and technical proficiency.
Sight-reading may be requested.

1 Italian aria, preferably from the 24 Italian Songs & Arias of the 17th & 18th Century anthology, and 1 English Art Song. Both selections should be memorized. Be prepared to sight read, sing scales (major keys only), and sing back 3 and 4 note patterns.

Additional Information for those pursuing:

Students are required to submit a writing sample and interview with one of the music liberal studies program faculty members. The writing sample should be non-fiction, preferably an assignment for a course in English, History, or a similar subject, 500 words or more in length in addition to an audition on their major instrument.

Composition study at UNH is limited primarily (but not exclusively) to instruction in the composition of concert music (or classical music, as it’s sometimes called). To be considered for admission, students should submit a portfolio containing scores of at least three varied works for different groups of instruments or voices (for instance, a song for voice and piano, quartet, and large ensemble piece). Please also submit mp3 recordings of the same, even if they are mock-ups produced through a music notation software. Works created solely within a DAW or similar software will be considered.

Please mail documents to:
UNH Department of Music
M204
Paul Creative Arts Center
30 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824

You may also convert your scores to PDF format and email to music.info@unh.edu