Lessons

Advisory Audition

(at the end of Music 30A)

All students pursuing the B.M., or Western Art Music concentration of the B.A., taking Music 30A, including music minors, will be scheduled for a juried audition on their major instrument or voice at the end of fall quarter.

Note: that this audition is advisory only. You will be heard by a faculty committee of three members, who will be asked to judge your current performance ability: elementary, lower intermediate, advanced, etc. The purpose of the Advisory (Music 30) audition is to apprise you of your present level and to inform you of what, if any, work is needed for you to pass the required Proficiency (Music 150H) Audition next year. You will receive a copy of the evaluation form with the committee’s comments, as will your private instructor. Performance levels must be demonstrated on a standard orchestral instrument, piano, harpsichord, voice or guitar. You should prepare two contrasting pieces and major and minor scales.

If you are a declared music minor, or intend to declare a minor, and therefore feel that you should not be required to take this audition, you must request permission from the Applied Music Coordinator.

Proficiency Audition

(at the end of Music 150H)

All students pursuing the B.M., or Western Art Music concentration of the B.A., taking Music 150H must audition at the end of fall quarter. This includes those emphasizing composition and those who were judged at an “Upper Intermediate” or “Advanced” level on the Advisory Audition

At that time, students should exhibit at least an upper-intermediate level on their major instrument or voice, as defined by the following guidelines:

1. tone production of high quality;
2. all major and minor scales over the range of the instrument (except voice);
3. performance of two contrasting prepared pieces.

B.A. students who may not yet be prepared to pass the audition should nonetheless play at least one piece. Original compositions are not permitted. Students must provide the jury committee with a copy of their audition pieces.

B.A. students must attain an upper-intermediate level as a requirement of the major. Two-quarter extensions may be allowed by the audition committee in rare circumstances; students must audition at the end of each quarter and demonstrate significant improvement each time. B.A. students who have demonstrated an upper-intermediate level on the Proficiency Audition are not required to take subsequent juries, although they are urged take at least one jury yearly for feedback from faculty other than their applied instructors.

Bachelor of Music Auditions

Auditions for admittance to the B.M. program will be held on campus at the end of each Fall quarter.* A member of the Bachelor of Music Committee will sit on the juries. Students must get the approval of their applied instructor in order to audition. Students should be prepared to play three pieces or movements of a contrasting nature from at least two different stylistic periods. (Two contrasting movements from the same sonata or concerto may count as two of the three required pieces.) Students who have attained an advanced level on a previous audition are still required to audition.

Upper division students: Only students on an advanced performing level who have scheduled a recital date in their junior year, and who have auditioned no more than twice (the last audition possible being Fall of the senior year), will be allowed to change to a BM degree.

*Only junior transfer students entering UCSC in Winter Quarter may audition for the BM program in the Spring.

Continuing B.M. students are required to take two juries per academic year, at the end of fall and the end of spring quarters at the same time as auditions for B.A. students (Saturday following the last day of instruction), for continuing review and criticism on their major instrument. Repertoire for the auditions must be approved by the applied instructor. If a student does not attain, or maintain, an advanced level, the Bachelor of Music Committee will re-examine the student’s continued participation in the B.M. program in consultation with the applied instructor.