Entrance Audition Requirements

All Keyboard Applicants
In addition to the playing requirements below, each candidate’s application should include a list of solo piano and collaborative repertoire studied. Please indicate which pieces have been performed in concert and year of the performance. Students attending a live audition may be asked to sightread a short excerpt.

Bachelor of Music in Performance applicants
Prepare a varied program of at least three solo pieces that display contrasting characters and demonstrate technical facility from the following list below. The repertoire is to be performed from memory and should include:

• One Sinfonia, Prelude and Fugue, or comparable work by J. S. Bach
• One sonata-allegro movement of a Sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
• One or more pieces of your own choosing featuring different styles than the pieces listed above

Other Piano Applicants (for degrees and programs other than the Bachelor of Music in Performance)
Prepare a varied program of at least two solo pieces that display contrasting characters and demonstrate technical facility. Memorization is not required, but is strongly encouraged.

Organ Applicants (on-campus only)
Students who are currently studying organ should prepare a 15-minute audition consisting of pieces from the organ literature. Organ applicants with no previous organ training will be expected to demonstrate keyboard ability in piano performance.

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. 

Prepare two selections with piano accompaniment. The selections should contrast in style and in tempo.

• One selection should be from the classical repertoire (art song, classically-arranged folk song, or an opera aria). 
• The other selection can also be a classical song or it can come from the musical theatre repertoire. 
• Memorization is required. 

If you audition on-campus, a collaborative pianist will be provided. We will ask you to submit copies of your sheet music in advance of your audition to be shared with your accompanist. You may also be asked to sing short tonal memory exercises as part of the audition.

Woodwinds and Brass
Perform two selections that are representative of your current repertoire. Include a selection or movement in a slow tempo (demonstrating your lyric ability) as well as one in a fast tempo (demonstrating your technical ability). The selections should highlight your tone quality, expressiveness, technique, and range. You should also be prepared to play a chromatic scale (full playable range, ascending and descending, slurred, at the tempo of your choosing). You may also be asked to play major scales.

Percussion
Prepare one selection demonstrating your technique and control on each of the following instruments: snare drum, mallet instrument (xylophone, marimba, or vibraphone), and timpani. Drum set is encouraged, but not required.

Eligible Instruments: double bass, guitar, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone

Please note: Puget Sound does not offer a jazz degree, therefore, jazz auditions are for scholarship only. If you would like to be considered for a major or minor in music, you will need to complete an audition as outlined in the Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion audition information.

Although Puget Sound does not offer a jazz degree, its offerings include Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Jazz Theory & Improvisation, and Jazz History.

Those auditioning for a jazz only scholarship should prepare the following:

• Two contrasting jazz pieces demonstrating both lyric and technical ability 
• Demonstrate improvisation ability on a blues or a jazz standard of your choosing
• You may be asked to perform blues scales 

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.

We offer virtual audition opportunities for students who live 3 or more hours from campus. The School of Music may also arrange an introductory Zoom interview following the submission deadline.

To submit a recorded audition:

1. Please review the audition requirements for your instrument/area above.
2. Complete a Music Audition Application by the appropriate deadline.
3. When recording your audition, please including the following: 
   • State your full name
   • Indicate what you are auditioning for (specific music majors, scholarship-only, etc.), 
   • The name and composer of each piece you will perform.
   • You may record each part of your audition separately, or in one take. 
4. In addition to your performance, please record your responses to the following questions in addition to the performance portion of your audition: 
   • What drew you to Puget Sound’s School of Music?
   • Please clarify your desired degree track at Puget Sound. What musical activities do you plan to pursue at Puget Sound?
   • What do you hope to do with your degree (Examples: On the stage? Running a high school band program? Bring awareness to social and environmental issues, etc.)?
   • What has been most important to you in terms of your musical activities throughout high school?
   • Have you visited campus and if not, do you intend to?
5. Upload your audition link to your application by the appropriate deadline. 
   • Please upload links as unlisted YouTube videos, Vimeo, or other sites where we can access your audition.

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