Worship Auditions

Audition Requirements

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 backing tracks, bring an accompanist or request one. If you require one and do not have one available, please make a request for one on your audition form online. You can also sing and play for yourself to demonstrate proficiency in your primary and secondary instruments.

Vocal

Students auditioning with voice as their primary instrument should prepare two memorized selections of contrasting nature such as a hymn, classical art song, Broadway, CCM, gospel song, or Contemporary worship song.

Students auditioning with voice as their secondary instrument should be prepared to a song of your choice, such as a contemporary worship song or a hymn.

You will also:

• Sight-read a melodic line a capella
• Sing back a series of pitches to test your tonal memory

Piano

Students auditioning with piano as their primary instrument should prepare two contrasting selections to play using the following guidelines:

• One performance piece, such as a classical piece, a Broadway standard, jazz piece, etc.
• One religious piece, such as a hymn arrangement, gospel piece, CCM, or worship song
• Students are encouraged to play from memory

You will also:

• Piano students should also be prepared to play major (between 4 sharps and 4 flats) at a moderate tempo 
• Sight-reading a piece of medium difficulty at sight
• 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.

You will also:

• Play from a chord chart

Guitar

Students auditioning with guitar as their primary instrument should prepare two selections of contrasting nature using the following guidelines. Students are encouraged to play from memory.

• Selections should include several playing different guitar techniques, such as finger picked, solos, and strummed 
• Classical, jazz, rock, blues, and contemporary Christian music styles are all welcome

You will also:

• Students will be requested to play major and pentatonic scales (between 4 flats and 4 sharps) at a moderate tempo 
• Students will be asked to sight-read a melody
• Play triads in different places on the neck
• 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. 

You will also:

• Play from a chord chart

Recorded Audition Instructions

On campus auditions are preferred and required for applicants living within 300 miles. If a recorded audition is necessary, please upload a video to a video hosting platform like YouTube or Vimeo using the same guidelines for on-campus auditions:

1. Please announce each piece before it is performed allowing sufficient breaks between selections.
2. Recordings should be prepared with great care. If you cannot have the recording made professionally, be sure to locate the best equipment, acoustical situation and personal assistance possible.
3. The recording should not be edited or spliced.

Links to your videos should be sent via email to the Cedarville University Music and Worship Department at musicandworship@cedarville.edu. Deadline for recorded auditions is on or before the last scheduled audition date.

Theory Entrance Exam

All worship students must study music theory as part of their course work. Some students have studied music theory as part of private lessons they have taken or in their high school music program. Other students have had no prior music theory experience, which is not required for admission to the program.

We offer a Theory Entrance exam for worship students who have had a background in music theory, and who believe that they could pass out of the class "Introduction to Music Theory and Aural Skills". This can save the student time and money. The criteria for "Credit by Examination" can be found in the current academic catalog.

Taking this test is optional for worship students, but there is no penalty for taking it and not being successful. It is offered on audition days and during Getting Started week. Topics covered on the exam include keys, scales, intervals, etc. and simple aural concepts.

You can prepare for the Theory Entrance Exam by purchasing an introductory music theory text and working through the material on your own. Introductory texts usually include titles such as Introduction to Music Theory, Basic Music Theory, or Fundamentals of Music Theory. A really useful text is Basic Materials in Music Theory: A Program Course by Paul O. Harder.

As you prepare, you should become very familiar with the following topics:

• Rules of basic music notation
• Major and minor key signatures
• Relative and parallel keys
• Simple meter and rhythm
• Major and three minor scale forms
• Basic interval spelling and recognition (up through the octave)

For additional information:

Dr. Roger O'Neel
(937) 766-7728
e-mail

Schedule Your Audition

The department has dedicated the following days as audition days:

• Friday, November 3, 2023 (Early scholarship decision available this date only). See individual requirements under your area of study in the "Audition Requirements" tab.
• Monday, February 19, 2024. See individual requirements under your area of study in the "Audition Requirements" tab.
• Friday, March 22, 2024 (Last audition day to be eligible for music/worship scholarship consideration). See individual requirements under your area of study in the "Audition Requirements" tab.
• Other date (by permission of the music office only*)

Students who wish to audition should submit the online audition application at least two weeks prior to the date they wish to audition.

These audition days are designed especially for you! You will enjoy a complimentary breakfast and lunch, attend chapel, meet current worship students, take the Theory Placement Exam, attend a special concert during the noon hour, and your parents can take part in a Financial Aid meeting. We highly encourage you to schedule your audition on one of these dates.

*However, if you are unable to visit campus during one of the dedicated audition dates, we can accommodate you. In these cases, please email the music and worship department with your desired audition date(s). You will receive an email stating either that your desired date has been approved or that you need to choose another date. Please note that specially scheduled auditions are available on weekdays (Monday–Friday) only. Auditions must be completed by the last audition date if you wish to be considered for a department scholarship.

If travel distance (300-plus miles) makes it impractical for you to perform an on-campus audition, you may submit a video audition. Recorded auditions must be received by the last audition date to be considered for a department scholarship. Please refer to the "Recorded Audition Instructions" on the Audition Requirements page or  contact the Department of Music and Worship if you still have questions.

A schedule of the day's events will be emailed to you approximately two weeks before the audition day providing you have submitted the Audition Information Form as requested in your application confirmation email. It is imperative that we have a working email that is checked daily, as this is the method by which we will contact you concerning your audition and any other pertinent information.

RECORDED AUDITIONS must also complete the audition application form. Please use "Schedule Your Audition" button to reach the audition application and complete it.

Schedule Your Audition