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 or Attend Music Major Day!
If you are ready to audition for Music Major Day, please complete this form and select an event date that works for you! If our predetermined audition dates do not work for you, custom requests for other dates will be considered. You can attend a music major day even if you haven’t decided to audition.
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).
Please follow the direction of Brass/Woodwind Area Audition requirements. These auditions are done in person or virtually, email your audition video to or contact JDaughters@semo.edu or NKenney@semo.edu to schedule and in person audition. For drumline or front ensemble information, contact SMizicko@semo.edu
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.
'20, Bachelor of Music in instrumental performance
""I have been fortunate to study with amazing faculty at Southeast, who have all pushed me to be the best professional I can be. This, along with the wonderful performance opportunities and top-notch facilities, have afforded me moments as an undergraduate student, that some students from other universities don’t get to experience until graduate studies.""
Victoria Blue
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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