Audition Requirements 2025-26
Students audition once every year: in the
Fall or in the Spring (for those who didn't play in the
Fall).
You can chose between an in-person placement audition or a
video audition (either way, the audition material is the
same):
Video audition: You'll find a
Placement Audition assignment in BrightSpace or you can use
the UVM File
Transfer Service to send me the file.
In
either case, please save the video in either .mov (Apple) or
.mp4 (Windows and Android) format to make it easier for me
to view.
View more detailed
instructions here. Please submit the video as
soon as you can, but definitely by Monday, September 1
(Labor Day) at midnight.
You should play 3 scales, a chromatic scale, and a short etude/solo:
1. The following scales (NOT concert
scales, so start on your C, Eb, and G) in
at least 2 octaves whenever possible (the more octaves you
do, the better your score will be):
C Major
B-flat Major
D Major
Chromatic scale of
your choice (full octaves only)
NOTE: If
you're making a video, please tell me which scale you're
playing before you play it and don't forget to introduce
yourself!
2. Short etude (found below as PDF files) +
audio files (keep in mind these are MIDI generated sounds
and I've set them at "practice tempo" so you can play them
faster if you'd like....; also, the aiff files are higher
quality but won't play on Android devices without a
third-party app)
Notes
- Sometimes the etude is for multiple instruments, so if there is a note(s) out of your range, please feel free to adjust up or down an octave.
- Percussion - you are welcome to play both etudes or just the snare or mallet piece; the important thing is to demonstrate your ability/experience on that instrument so I give you part assignments that work for you.