Woodwinds
One movement from a solo work, sonata or concerto of your choice; an
etude of your choice in a contrasting style; a two-octave major and
two-octave chromatic scale of your choice. Applicants who wish to audition
on flute and piccolo, oboe and English horn or clarinet and bass clarinet
should prepare one piece for each instrument. Clarinetists who are proficient
on either A, Eb or bass clarinet (in addition to Bb) should bring these
instruments to the audition. Region and All-State etudes and solos are
acceptable.
Brass
One movement from a solo work, sonata or concerto of your choice; an
etude of your choice in a contrasting style; a two-octave major and
two-octave chromatic scale of your choice. Region and All-State etudes
and solos are acceptable.
Strings
One movement from a solo work, sonata or concerto of your choice; an
etude of your choice in a contrasting style; a two or three-octave major
scale of your choice. Region and All-State etudes and solos are acceptable.
Harp
One movement from a solo work, sonata or concerto of your choice; an
etude of your choice in a contrasting style; a four-octave major scale
of your choice. Region and All-State etudes and solos are acceptable.
Piano
Two works in contrasting styles from different time periods (e.g., one
Baroque work, one Romantic work); a three-octave major scale of your
choice. Pianists may also be asked to sight-read a piece of music during
their audition.
Percussion
Applicants should prepare as many of the following items as possible.
- Timpani:
Selection(s) from Goodman Modern Method for Timpani or
Hochrainer Etudes for Timpani or Firth Solo Timpani.
- Snare
Drum: Selection(s) from Goldenberg Modern School for Snare
Drum or Cirnoe Portraits in Rhythm or Delecluse Twelve
Studies for Snare Drum.
- Mallets:
Selections from Goldenberg Modern School of Xylophone, Marimba
or Vibraphone or any arrangement of Bach, Handel or Haydn.
Voice
Two contrasting solo songs, preferably from the art music, choral, opera,
operetta or musical theatre repertory. Pop songs are not acceptable.
Singers should bring a piano accompaniment with them to the audition
as AFA prefers not to hear a capella auditions. Applicants will also
be asked to complete brief sight-singing and pitch-memory exercises.
AFA
will have an accompanist present at the following audition dates only:
April 14 (EHS), April 21 (Centrum) and May 12 (EHS). Please try to audition
on one of these dates.
Composition
Applicants should submit no more than two scores of original compositions
by mail. Recordings may be included but are not mandatory (MIDI realizations
are acceptable). After scores have been submitted, all composers must
complete a live interview with the faculty. Please do not mail
original manuscripts or recordings. Please provide a SASE if
you wish to have your materials returned.
Jazz
Improvisation experience is helpful but not required. Those applicants
with experience should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency by playing
with a James Aebersold F or Bb blues during the audition. AFA will provide
appropriate stereo equipment.
- Saxophone:
One movement from a solo, sonata, concerto or solo transcription
of your choice and an etude in a contrasting style. One of these
works should be jazz oriented; a two-octave major and chromatic
scales of your choice. All state or region solos and etudes are
acceptable.
- All
Other Instruments: Please follow the requirements listed for
saxophone.
- Trap
Set: Demonstrate various styles as requested (swing, latin,
rock, etc.)