Those planning to enroll in any degree program (major, interdisciplinary major, or minor) in music, music education, or theatre are required to arrange for an audition/interview.
Prospective majors are asked both to apply to Undergraduate Admissions and to sign up for an audition by clicking on your preferred date below.
Audition dates for the Performing Arts are set for these dates in 2024:
Once we have received notice from Admissions that you have signed up for an audition, you will receive information from us on how to submit your audition materials. For specific requirements regarding your degree option, please see below.
Digital Music Production & Entrepreneurship (B.A.) Audition Requirements
Applicants to this degree will be interviewed by members of the Music faculty to assess their familiarity with digital music creation. Applicants should be prepared to show examples of their work, either as audio files or DAW files playable on a computer they bring to the interview.
If you have any questions regarding your interview, please contact:
Jonathan Santore
Program Coordinator for Music
jsantore@plymouth.edu
Music (B.A.) Audition Requirements
Please see the requirements for your specific performing medium listed below. If you have any questions regarding your music audition, please contact:
Jonathan Santore
Program Coordinator for Music
jsantore@plymouth.edu
Contract Option
Two solos of contrasting styles. One must be in a foreign language, one in English. One must be from the Classical canon of repertoire. Art songs are ideal. 5 minutes or less total time required. All music must be memorized.
- Two solos or movements of a solo from two different stylistic periods (total of ten minutes or less).
- One must be from the traditional standard of piano repertoire dating from 1900 or before.*
- One must be a contemporary work dating from 1900 to current time. Jazz or popular styles are accepted.*
- Scales
- Two scales (one major and one harmonic minor) of the applicant’s choice. One octave ascending and descending.
- Sightreading
- A sample of music will be provided at the audition to be performed at sight.
- Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less)
- Scales: Major scales up to four sharps and flats two octaves ascending and descending and chromatic scale to octaves
- Sight reading will be provided at the audition
- Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less)
- Scales: Major scales up to four sharps and flats two octaves ascending and descending and chromatic scale to octaves
- Sight reading will be provided at the audition
Classical
- Prepared etude (Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer, Villa Lobos, Tarrega, Guiliani, etc.)
- 2 Prepared contrasting pieces from standard classical guitar repertoire. Please choose pieces that display your musicality, tone, technique, and style.
- Sight reading single note melodies
- Demonstration of 2 octave major and minor scales, diatonic arpeggios
Jazz
- 2 jazz standards that highlight your ability and musical interest (perform with backing track, or as a chord melody/solo arrangement)
- Melody, comping, and improvisation over chosen standards
- Accompany and improvise a 12 Bar Jazz Blues in Bb
- Demonstration of 2 octave major and minor scales, diatonic arpeggios
- Sight reading single note melodies
- Prepared solos in two of the following three areas: timpani, mallets, and snare drum/set
- Rudiments and sight-reading
Music Technology Option
Two solos of contrasting styles. One must be in a foreign language, one in English. One must be from the Classical canon of repertoire. Art songs are ideal. 5 minutes or less total time required. All music must be memorized.
- Two solos or movements of a solo from two different stylistic periods (total of ten minutes or less).
- Selections do NOT need to be performed by memory.
- Sightreading
- A sample of music will be provided at the audition to be performed at sight.
Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less).
Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less).
Classical
- Prepared etude (Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer, Villa Lobos, Tarrega, Guiliani, etc.)
- 2 Prepared contrasting pieces from standard classical guitar repertoire. Please choose pieces that display your musicality, tone, technique, and style.
- Sight reading single note melodies
Jazz
- 2 jazz standards that highlight your ability and musical interest (perform with backing track, or as a chord melody/solo arrangement)
- Melody, comping, and improvisation over chosen standards
- Accompany and improvise a 12 Bar Jazz Blues in Bbt
- Sight reading single note melodies
Prepared solos in two of the following three areas: timpani, mallets, and snare drum/set.
Music Education (B.S.) Audition Requirements
Please see the requirements for your specific performing medium listed below. If you have any questions regarding your Music Education audition, please contact:
- Harmony Markey
- Coordinator of Music Education
- hgmarkey1@plymouth.edu
- Jonathan Santore
- Program Coordinator for Music
- jsantore@plymouth.edu
Specific Performing Medium
Two solos of contrasting styles. One must be in a foreign language, one in English. One must be from the Classical canon of repertoire. Art songs are ideal. 5 minutes or less total time required. All music must be memorized.
Two solos from two different stylistic periods
- One must be from the traditional standard of piano repertoire dating from 1900 or before.
- One must be a contemporary work dating from 1900 to current time. Jazz or popular styles are accepted.
At least one selection should be performed by memory.
Scales
Two scales (one major and one harmonic minor) will be selected from any key up to three sharps or flats. Two octaves ascending and descending.
Sightreading
A sample of music will be provided at the audition to be performed at sight.
Classical
- Prepared etude (Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer, Villa Lobos, Tarrega, Guiliani, etc.)
- 2 Prepared contrasting pieces from standard classical guitar repertoire. Please choose pieces that display your musicality, tone, technique, and style.
- Sight reading single note melodies
- Demonstration of 2 octave major and minor scales, diatonic arpeggios
Jazz
- 2 jazz standards that highlight your ability and musical interest (perform with backing track, or as a chord melody/solo arrangement)
- Melody, comping, and improvisation over chosen standards
- Accompany and improvise a 12 Bar Jazz Blues in Bb
- Demonstration of 2 octave major and minor scales, diatonic arpeggios
- Sight reading single note melodies
- Prepared solos in two of the following three areas: timpani, mallets, and snare drum/set
- Rudiments and sight-reading
- Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less)
- Scales: Major scales up to four sharps and flats and chromatic scale
- Sight reading will be provided at the audition
- Two solos or movements of a solo in contrasting styles (total of ten minutes or less)
- Scales: Major scales up to four sharps and flats two octaves ascending and descending and chromatic scale to octaves
- Sight reading will be provided at the audition
Theatre Arts (B.A.) Audition Requirements
There are five options within the Theatre Arts Major at PSU. Each has its own criteria for auditions or interviews, listed below. If you have any questions regarding your Theatre Arts audition or interview, please contact:
Matt Kizer
Program Coordinator
mkizer@plymouth.edu
- Two monologues of contrasting styles, memorized (total of four minutes or less)
- Interview with faculty
- Resumé of training and performing experience
- Portfolio of previous work (samples of art, drawing, sewing, costumes, painting, props, photos of productions, etc.)
- Interview with faculty
- Resumé of training and prior experience
- One ballad and one up-tempo solo (total of four minutes or less) and one monologue (about one minute) – all memorized.
- Basic theatre movement exercise (administered on campus)
- Brief test of basic music theory
- Interview with faculty
- Resumé of training and performing experience
- Examples of previous work
- Interview with faculty
- Resumé of training and performing experience
- Portfolio of work in creative writing, including play, video or film scripts; short fiction; poetry
- Interview with faculty
- Theatre and/or writing resumé
