Auditions

Classical Brass 
Each brass applicant for the classical lesson track must perform:

• Three major scales, play two octaves where able.
• A piece that best demonstrates your ability on the instrument. This can be a piece, excerpt, or movement from the standard repertoire.
• A second, contrasting piece that best demonstrates your ability on the instrument.

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator, Michael Hengst ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dr. Michael Hengst, [email protected]

Jazz Brass 
Each brass applicant for the Jazz & American Improvised Music lesson track must perform:

• 2 major scales and arpeggios and 2 minor scales and arpeggios. One octave, performed from memory.
• Play the melody and improvise two choruses on a blues or jazz standard of the auditionee’s choosing. Suggested standard material – Blue Monk, Billie’s Bounce, There Will Never Be Another You, Bemsha Swing, Summertime, Mr. P.C, (Solar, Autumn Leaves, and Sonnymoon For Two are provided below along with backing tracks for online audition recordings)
• Sight-reading (in-person audition only, will be selected from the standard big band or small group repertoire).

Suggested Audition Pieces
Autumn Leaves Bb (PDF)
Solar Bb (PDF)
Sonnymoon For Two Bb (PDF)
Autumn Leaves (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Solar (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Sonnymoon For Two (M4A) – backing track for online audition

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]enver.edu

Classical Guitar
Classical guitar applicants must perform their audition on a classical guitar. Jazz and rock fingerings are not acceptable for this audition (see Jazz Guitar audition requirements instead). Applicants are expected to have a reasonable ability to read music notation (not just tablature). Applicants who have any questions about their guitar auditions are encouraged to reach out to Classical Guitar Area Coordinator, Alex Komodore ([email protected], 303-521-4371 call/text) for guidance or a free lesson.

Each classical guitar applicant must perform:

• Any major or minor scale using right hand finger alternation.
• A piece of your choosing, or one of the suggested audition pieces below.
• A second piece of your choosing, or another one of the suggested audition pieces below.

Suggested Audition Pieces
Applicants are encouraged to perform two of the following pieces for their audition. These pieces are detailed in Professor Alex Komodore’s Audition Preparation video.

Professor Komodore’s Audition Preparation Video (YouTube)
Moorish Dance (PDF)
Exercise 13 (PDF)
Lesson 46 (PDF)
Lesson 61 (PDF)
Torito (PDF)

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Guitar Area Coordinator, Alex Komodore ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Alex Komodore, [email protected], 303-521-4371 (call/text)

Jazz Guitar
Jazz guitar applicants are expected to have a reasonable ability to read music notation (not just tablature), and a sight reading ability equivalent to the level of Studies 1-3 from Melodic Rhythms by William Leavitt. Applicants who have any questions about their guitar auditions are encouraged to reach out to Jazz Guitar Area Coordinator Dave Devine, [email protected].

Each jazz guitar applicant must demonstrate:

• Basic chord voicings for maj7, 7, min7, min7b5 and dim; with the root of the chord on strings 4,5, and 6, in all keys.
• Comp the above chords in a jazz style (i.e. Freddie Green, Charleston, etc.)
• Prepare a 12-bar blues over one of the songs from the list below. You must be able to play the melody, comp the chord changes, and improvise over the chords:
  C Jam Blues – Duke Ellington
  Blue Monk – Thelonius Monk
  Straight, No Chaser – Thelonius Monk
  Sonnymoon For Two – Sonny Rollins
  Tenor Madness – Sonny Rollins
  Billie’s Bounce – Charlie Parker
  Now’s The Time – Charlie Parker

Looking up the tune on YouTube does not constitute research. Find/buy a recording of the song by the original artist, or by an important jazz guitarist: Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Grant Green, Pat Martino, et al.

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Guitar Area Coordinator, Dave Devine ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dave Devine, [email protected]

Jazz Drumset
Each jazz drumset applicant must perform:

• Bright 4/4 swing: i.e. Donna Lee, Oleo, Confirmation.
• Straight-eighth groove of your choice: i.e. Samba, Songo, Funk.
• Rudiments: Double stroke roll, paradiddle, flam accent, flam tap.

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]

Percussion
Each percussion applicant must perform:

• Two major and two minor scales of your choosing and/or a demonstration of a couple of snare drum rudiments (long roll, 5-stroke roll, flams, drags, etc.)
• Choose two from the following options:
  1. Snare drum solo or etude (rudimental or concert style)
  2. Mallet solo or etude or excerpt (2 or 4 mallet) on an instrument of your choosing (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.)
  3. Timpani solo or etude
  4. Multi-percussion solo or etude

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator, Michael Hengst ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Michael Hengst, [email protected]

Classical Piano 
Each classical piano applicant must perform:

• One four-octave major scale and one four-octave minor scale played with proper fingerings, hands together, ascending and descending.
• One piece of Western art music (Baroque period [1600-1750] through present day).
• A second, stylistically contrasting piece of Western art music (Baroque period [1600-1750] through present day). Please choose a piece by a composer from a contrasting time period to your first piece.

Transfer Student
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Piano Area Coordinator, Jooeun Pak ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Jooeun Pak, [email protected]

Jazz Piano
Each jazz piano applicant must perform:

• A jazz standard or a blues of your choosing, or one of the suggested audition pieces below (backing tracks provided for online audition recordings).
• One piece, any style, showing the ability to perform solo piano. Original compositions accepted.
• ii-V-I chord progressions and major scales in 2 major keys: C and F.
• Sight-Reading (in-person audition only): A standard jazz lead sheet will be provided as well as single note treble clef and bass clef melodies. Students must be able to recognize the key signature and time signature, read the melody in time, and comp the chord changes (optional improvisation over chords).

Suggested Audition Pieces
Autumn Leaves (PDF)
Solar (PDF)
Sonnymoon For Two (PDF)
Autumn Leaves (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Solar (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Sonnymoon For Two (M4A) – backing track for online audition

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]

Classical Strings
Each string applicant on the classical lesson track must perform:

• One two- or three-octave scale of your choosing. Please specify the chosen scale on the video.
• A piece or movement from the standard repertoire of your instrument, such as a movement from a concerto or sonata, unaccompanied solo, show piece, etc.
• A second, contrasting piece. A contrasting piece must differ in tempo, time period, composer, etc.

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Strings Area Coordinator, Philip Ficsor ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Philip Ficsor, [email protected]

Jazz Bass (Electric or Upright)

Each jazz bass applicant must perform:

• Two-octave major scales in the keys of F, G, C, and Ab (¼ notes at 78 bpm with metronome), and one-octave minor scales in the keys of C, D, and F.
• Three choruses of a walking bass line for a 12-bar jazz blues in the key of Bb or F at 88bpm (use ii-V-I turn around);  demonstrate ability to arpeggiate 1-3-5-7 of each chord in the form, and solo over 2 choruses of blues form. Good tune options are: Sonnymoon for Two, Tenor Madness, Blues in the Closet, Now’s the Time, Things aint what they used to be.
• Demonstrate a short example of a bass line or part in a contrasting, non-walking bass style (for example: rock, funk, R & B, Latin [samba, bossa, etc.])
• Sight read a short section of a written walking bass line and/or a written bass line in a contrasting style (in-person auditions only).

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]

Classical Voice
Auditionees in the classical voice area are encouraged to select pieces which are melodic and show the auditioner’s ability to sing. The songs need not be excessively difficult and may be sung in their original language or in English translation. An accompanist will be provided for in-person auditions; please bring a copy of your music. If you are submitting an online audition, live piano accompaniment is preferred but you may instead be accompanied by a recorded track; you should not accompany yourself instrumentally or submit an a cappella.

Each classical voice applicant must perform:

• A major scale (“do” to “do”) followed by a major arpeggio (do – mi – sol – ^do^ – sol – mi – do) which should be sung on a neutral syllable such as “da” rather than solfege syllables.
• A piece which best displays your vocal quality. This may be an art song, folk song, musical theater, sacred song, or opera aria.
• A second piece, preferably in contrasting style, which best displays your vocal quality. This may be an art song, folk song, musical theatre, sacred song, or opera area.
• Brief tonal recall and sight-singing (in-person audition only).

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Voice Area Coordinator, Bradley Thompson ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning. General additional requirements are outlined here: Voice Area Advanced Placement Audition (PDF)

Contact
Bradley Thompson, [email protected]

Jazz Voice

Jazz applicants performing an in-person audition are accompanied by the  audition committee. Applicants must bring in three copies of sheet music in their preferred key for each song.

Each jazz voice applicant must perform:

• One jazz piece of your choosing, or Autumn Leaves (PDF and backing track for online auditions below). This piece must be sung from memory.
• A second piece, contrasting in style and tempo, sung from memory. This piece may range from jazz, classical, musical theater, gospel, blues, folk, pop, or be an original composition.
• Melodic and Rhythmic Response:
  • In-Person Auditions – You will be led through a short series of 3-5-note melodic patterns in a “call-and-response” (repeat back what you hear) format to test your tonal memory. You will similarly be led through a short series of rhythmic patterns in the above format using hand claps. Written examples may also be provided for you to sight-read.
  • Online Auditions – In the Audition Materials section below, you are provided one melodic and one rhythmic example. For the melodic example, please record yourself saying the intervals and singing the written melody. It does not need to be in time. For the rhythmic example, please record yourself clapping the written rhythm.

Audition Materials
Autumn Leaves with lyrics (PDF)
Autumn Leaves (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Melodic Example (PDF) – for online auditions only
Rhythmic Example (PDF) – for online auditions only

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]

Musical Theatre Voice
Students auditioning into the BFA Music Theatre degree program must contact the Department of Theatre prior to auditioning. An accompanist will be provided for in-person auditions; please bring a copy of your music. If you are submitting an online audition, live piano accompaniment is preferred but you may instead be accompanied by a recorded track; you should not accompany yourself instrumentally or submit an a cappella.

Each BFA in Music Theatre voice applicant, after contacting the Department of Theatre, must perform:

• A major scale (“do” to “do”) followed by a major arpeggio (do – mi – sol – ^do^ – sol – mi – do) which should be sung on a neutral syllable such as “da” rather than solfege syllables.
• A musical theatre piece which best displays your vocal quality.
• A second musical theatre piece, preferably in contrasting style, which best displays your vocal quality.
• Brief tonal recall and sight-singing (in-person audition only).

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Voice Area Coordinator, Bradley Thompson ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning. General additional requirements are outlined here: Voice Area Advanced Placement Audition (PDF)

Contact
Bradley Thompson, [email protected]

Classical Woodwinds
Each flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon applicant on the classical lesson track must perform:

• One scale of your choosing.
• One 3-5 minute piece demonstrating your lyrical playing.
• One 3-5 minute piece demonstrating your technical playing.

Each saxophone applicant on the classical lesson track must perform:

• A two-octave E Major scale (saxophone key, not concert).
• One 2-3 minute piece.
• A second, contrasting 2-3 minute piece.

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Woodwinds Area Coordinator, Patricia Surman ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Patricia Surman, [email protected]

Jazz Woodwinds
Each woodwinds applicant for the Jazz & American Improvised Music lesson track must perform:

• 2 major scales and arpeggios and 2 minor scales and arpeggios. One octave, performed from memory.
• Play the melody and improvise two choruses on a blues or jazz standard of the auditionee’s choosing. Suggested standard material – Blue Monk, Billie’s Bounce, There Will Never Be Another You, Bemsha Swing, Summertime, Mr. P.C, (Solar, Autumn Leaves, and Sonnymoon For Two are provided below in Bb and Eb along with backing tracks for online audition recordings)
• Sight-reading (in-person audition only, will be selected from the standard big band or small group repertoire).

Audition Materials
Autumn Leaves Bb (PDF)
Autumn Leaves Eb (PDF)
Solar Bb (PDF)
Solar Eb (PDF)
Sonnymoon For Two Bb (PDF)
Sonnymoon For Two Eb (PDF)
Autumn Leaves (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Solar (M4A) – backing track for online audition
Sonnymoon For Two (M4A) – backing track for online audition

Transfer Students
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.

Contact
Dawn Clement, [email protected]