Worship Audition Guidelines
All prospective worship students are encouraged to utilize the music departmental audition dates. This year’s dates are:
- January 22, 2010
- January 23, 2010
- February 5, 2010
- February 18, 2010
- March 12, 2010 (Deadline for worship scholarship consideration)
- April 9, 2010
Students who wish to audition should submit the online audition application at least two weeks prior to the date they wish to audition.
However, students may request additional times or submit materials via DVD or VHS tape. Students must sing and play piano or guitar. You should select one of these three areas as your primary instrument and another one as your secondary instrument. Voice is considered an instrument, and must be either your primary or secondary instrument.
Auditions will include:
- Performance of two selections on your primary instrument
- Performance of a brief selection on your secondary instrument
- Sight-reading on your primary instrument
- Interview
Students are encouraged to accompany themselves, use accompaniment tapes, or bring an accompanist. If you require one and do not have one available, please make a request for one on your audition sheet.
Vocal
Students auditioning with voice as their primary instrument should prepare two contrasting selections to sing for the faculty from memory. At least one classical art song or hymn arrangement is highly encouraged. Contemporary Christian songs, pop standards, or Broadway show songs are also allowed. You may play for yourself, sing a cappella, use an accompaniment track, or request an accompanist. Sight-reading will consist of singing a melodic line unaccompanied, and may be asked to sing back a series of pitches to test your tonal memory and singing ability. You will be vocalized by a member of the music faculty to determine you range and flexibility.
Students auditioning with voice as their secondary instrument should be prepared to sing a hymn of their choice a cappella. You will be vocalized by a member of the faculty and may be asked to repeat a series of pitches to test your tonal memory and singing ability.
Piano
Students auditioning with piano as their primary instrument should prepare two contrasting selections to play for the faculty. At least one classical piece, such as a movement from a piano sonata of Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven, is highly encouraged. The other selection can be a hymn arrangement, jazz standard, or arrangement of a contemporary song. Students are encouraged to play from memory. Piano students should also be prepared to play major and minor 4-octave scales (between 4 sharps and 4 flats) at a moderate tempo. Sight-reading will consist of playing a piece of medium difficulty at sight, and ability to play from a chord chart.
Students auditioning with piano as their secondary instrument should be prepared to demonstrate their ability by performing a short piece of their choice. They may also be asked to read from a chord chart as part of the audition.
Guitar
Students auditioning with guitar as their primary instrument should be prepared to play two contrasting selections for the faculty. The selections should include several playing styles, such as finger picked, solos, and strummed. Classical, jazz, rock, blues, and contemporary Christian music styles are all welcome. Students will be requested to play major and minor 2-octave scales (between 4 flats and 4 sharps) at a moderate tempo. Students will be asked to sight-read a melody and play from a chord chart.
Students auditioning with guitar as their secondary instrument should be prepared to demonstrate their ability by performing a short piece of their choice. They may also be asked to read from a chord chart as part of the audition.