Entrance Audition Requirements

Strings

Bachelor of Music in Performance Applicants

Violin
- One movement from an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- Either the first or last movement from the standard concerto repertoire (other than a Bach Concerto)
- One work or movement of the applicant's choice (solo pieces, etudes, contemporary works, original compositions, and works by underrepresented composers are all encouraged options)
- Memorization of at least one piece is strongly recommended
Viola
- A movement from Bach Cello Suite (memorization not required but encouraged)
- A movement of a standard viola concerto or sonata
- An additional work of the applicant’s choice (etude, caprice, or solo piece that represents the applicant’s creativity and interests)
- Memorization of at least one piece is strongly recommended
Cello
- One movement (preferably a Prelude, Allemande, Courante, or Gigue) from any of the Bach Suites
- One movement of a standard concerto
- One additional piece/movement of your choice that represents your playing (solo pieces, etudes, contemporary works, original compositions, and works by underrepresented composers are all encouraged options)
- Memorization of at least one piece is strongly recommended
Double Bass
- One Major and one minor scale
- A standard solo of the applicant’s choice
- For example:
  - Two Contrasting Movements (slow and fast) from a Sonata by: Vivaldi, Marcello, Eccles, Hindemith, etc. OR
  - A movement from a standard concerto by: Capuzzi, Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Koussevitzky, Bottesini, Vanhal, etc.
Harp
- One etude demonstrating current technical development, such as Pozzoli, Bochsa, LaRiviere, or a prelude from Salzedo, Method for the Harp or Modern Study of the Harp
- Two solo works, in contrasting style, tempo, and period (solo pieces, etudes, contemporary works, original compositions, and works by underrepresented composers are all encouraged options.

Other String Applicants (for degrees and programs other than the Bachelor of Music in Performance)
Two solo works of contrasting style, tempo, and period. Of the two selections, at least one should be a work from the classical repertoire.

For example: a concerto movement; a show piece or work for soloist and orchestra; a movement from a Bach solo Partita, Sonata or Suite; or a comparable work for soloist.
The other selection can be an additional classical piece of contrasting style, tempo or period or a work from a non-classical genre.

Guitar
Two contrasting selections, at least one of which should be a classical guitar piece.

You may also perform one piece in another genre that demonstrates your ability with fingerstyle or flatpicking techniques.

Voice

Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion

Jazz

Songwriting

On-campus Audition

Audition requirements

Perform two original songs.
- Perform your two strongest original songs. Any commercial genre is acceptable. We prefer the songs to be free of profanity and graphic imagery.
- Songs (both music and lyrics) should be written by the applicant. Co-written pieces are not appropriate for this submission.
- Due to the nature of the songwriting degree, songs performed in the audition must contain both music and lyrics written by the applicant. Please bring a copy of the lyrics to your original songs in the description box of your YouTube video.
Be prepared to discuss what brings you to audition for the Bachelor of Arts in Music Degree with an Emphasis in Songwriting major. Please review the prompts listed below in the video submission instructions to assist you in preparing this portion of your live audition.

For any specific questions about your submission not answered here, please contact Rob Hutchinson (rhutchinson@pugetsound.edu) or Dawn Padula (dpadula@pugetsound.edu).

Video Portfolio Submission

Applicants must submit a short video portfolio that includes:

a demonstration of two original songs
an explanation of what brings you to audition for the Bachelor of Arts in Music Degree with an Emphasis in Songwriting major. The video should be no longer than ten (10) minutes.

For the original song demonstration:

Submit your two strongest original songs. Any commercial genre is acceptable. We prefer the songs submitted for review are free of profanity and graphic imagery.
Songs (both music and lyrics) should be written by the applicant. Co-written pieces are not appropriate for this submission.
Applicants should preferably perform the songs they wrote themselves but may ask other collaborators to accompany them. In this case, please credit, on camera, all performers in the video.
Due to the nature of the songwriting degree, songs submitted for review must contain both music and lyrics written by the applicant. Please paste the lyrics to your original songs in the description box of your YouTube video.
For any specific questions about your submission not answered here, please contact Rob Hutchinson (rhutchinson@pugetsound.edu) or Dawn Padula (dpadula@pugetsound.edu).

For the explanation, please address the following prompts in your video:

What led you to choose University of Puget Sound for admission?
What are your short and long-term career goals, and how will the Songwriting major help you accomplish them?
How long have you been writing songs?
What or who are your musical influences?
What instruments do you play?
If you did not accompany yourself in your audition video, do you feel comfortable doing so? If so, on which instrument?
What strengths do you think you will bring to the Songwriting major?

Submission Instructions:

Upload your completed video portfolio, along with the lyrics to both songs pasted into the video description box to YouTube as “Unlisted.”
Paste the link into your audition application, or send the link to music.admission@pugetsound.edu

Please contact Puget Sound’s Music Admission Coordinator with questions music.admission@pugetsound.edu or 253.879.3917.

Entrance Audition Requirements

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