Music Auditions
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Auditions are required for some musical ensembles, and many do not require students to be music majors. If you are interested in joining an ensemble, check out what it takes to audition.
We invite you to experience all that we have to offer on Music Major Days! We encourage that you audition while you are here, but we also welcome those who aren't planning to audition.
Audition Dates
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10
Music Major Day
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16
Music Major Day
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28
Auditions Only
Audition Requirements
- Two pieces of contrasting style*
- Two scales of choice, two octaves required, three octaves preferred
- Sightreading
- Two pieces of contrasting style*
- Major scales required, minor scale knowledge preferred
- Full range chromatic scale
- Sightreading
- Demonstrate your best musical and technical ability on at least two or three percussion instruments (Snare Drum, 2 or 4-Mallet Keyboard Percussion, Timpani, and/or Drum Set). Complete pieces on each instrument are not required. Excerpts or short etudes/exercises will suffice.*
- Sight reading on snare drum and keyboard percussion is required.
- Drum Set: Be able to demonstrate various styles (medium and up tempo swing, bossa nova, samba, rock, funk, etc...).
*The Missouri All-State Band audition music is always a good place to start if you are not sure what to play.
- Two memorized songs.
- Most students usually use the kind of songs heard at high school solo contests. If you have one that’s in a foreign language, that’s certainly welcome but not required. For one of the selections, a non-classical song may be substituted such as a music theater selection or a religious song.*
- In addition to these prepared songs, we will also do some brief pitch-retention patterns and a couple of short sight-reading exercises.
*Please bring a copy of the printed music for the accompanist (provided).
- Two scales of choice, two octaves required.
- One piece of solo guitar repertoire.
- Sightreading
Ensemble Auditions occur at the beginning of each semester. Check back periodically for updates to the repertoire/process.
There’s a wide selection of ensembles so you can find your perfect fit.
To be accepted as a B.A. Music Technology Creation Student, applicants must submit the following items:
- Three representative recordings of compositions (tracks, songs, etc.), with scores if applicable[1]
- A written or video essay explaining the creative process for one of the representative compositions. Written essays should be no more than 750 words, and video essays should be no longer than 9 minutes long.
Applicants must also demonstrate the following skills for their on-campus audition (we will provide speakers and headphones, auditioners must provide their own computer and any other hardware they wish to use for their audition):
- Basic operational knowledge for at least one of the following:
- Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
- Garage Band, Pro Tools, Reaper, FL Studio, Ableton, Cakewalk, etc.
- Notation software
- MuseScore, Flat.io, Finale, Dorico, Sibelius, Noteflight, etc.
- Hardware music workstations
- Drum machines, sequencers, turntables, etc.
- Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
Audition Requirements
You will be provided with a four-measure melody and asked to enter it as MIDI and run the MIDI to a synth VST in a DAW of your choice or enter it as standard notation in notation software of your choice or program a sequencer or other hardware music workstation to playback the provided melody using any sounds you wish.
The provided melody will be available to auditioners as standard music notation (sheet music) and it will also be played as many times as the auditioner needs for those who do not yet read standard notation proficiently.
You will then be asked to create rhythmic accompaniment for the four-measure melody in a DAW, notation software, or hardware music workstation. The rhythmic accompaniment must contain at least two distinct percussive sounds, such as snare and kick, claves and 808 bass drum, shattering glass and foot stomps, timpani and gong, etc.
You will have no more than 10 minutes to complete this task—please be sure to have your device(s) booted up and ready for use before your audition time. One or more members of the panel will observe you and your device(s) as you work to get a sense of your skill level.
Sample audition[1] Compositions can include works in any style, and styles such as EDM, hip-hop, etc., are often not notated.
'26, Bachelor of Instrumental Performance
"I am fortunate to study with exceptional faculty members at Southeast. Their guidance and encouragement has motivated me to strive for excellence in my professional development. In addition, the outstanding performance opportunities and top-notch facilities at Southeast has allowed me to partake in experiences as an undergraduate that many students may not encounter until their graduate studies."
Jordan Pavelka
Admission and/or Credit Transfer
Students who are transferring to Southeast and interested in joining the Department of Music should follow these steps for admission and credit transfer.
- For admission to any degree program, transfer students will need to present an official transcript to their assigned advisor before they register for courses. Students transferring to Southeast with less than 24 credit hours must attend First STEP orientation., enroll in UI100, and meet requirements of the sophomore review process. Students transferring with more than 24 credit hours have the option of attending a Transfer Orientation or meeting one on one with a music faculty advisor. To attend a Transfer Orientation, students must register with New Student Programs: (573) 651-5166.
- All transfer students must perform an applied music audition to ascertain competency level. 100- and 200- level applied music courses from other institutions may be accepted as transfer credit, but Southeast Department of Music reserves the right to assess incoming applied competency and place students accordingly.
- Transfer students are expected to take the piano proficiency test upon entering Southeast. Those who do not pass must enroll in the appropriate course level of Functional Piano. B.M.E. candidates are expected to PASS the piano proficiency test upon transferring to Southeast and may not student teach without having passed the test. Transfer students on the B.A. or B.M. degrees may not give the junior recital without having passed the proficiency in piano. Transfer credit equivalent to the piano proficiency test may also be accepted.
- Music Education students with an AA or AFA degree must meet the required university courses for state teacher certification (a BS course, a CH, GG or PH course, EN140, EX390, ME222, PS103, PY222, SC105, Pedagogy 1-3, OS200, US105 or US107).
- Transfer students who have earned 24 or more credit hours will have UI100.
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