In keeping with the rich tradition of liberal arts at Albion College, the Music Department does not require auditions to become a music major, and non-major students may audition for a music scholarship. Any student interested in being a music major may do so. Music Department auditions at Albion College are intended solely for the purpose of scholarships. All students are eligible for scholarships, regardless of their major.
Scholarship Auditions will begin October 1 of a student’s senior year.
December 1 (High school seniors) - Priority scholarship consideration
March 15 (High school seniors) - General scholarship consideration
Music Scholarship candidates will:
To begin the audition process, please complete the Fine Arts Interest Form. Admitted seniors will be contacted regarding audition submission and to schedule an interview. Please note that students must be admitted to Albion before submitting a music audition. For questions regarding your audition, please contact the Office of Admission at .
If awarded a Music Scholarship, the student is required to perform in one of the department's major ensembles (concert choir/Briton singers, jazz ensemble, marching band/symphonic band, or symphony orchestra) in order to receive funds each year. Although students are assigned to one of these ensembles based on their abilities and the ensemble's needs, the Music Department encourages all students to participate in more than one.
Once awarded, all scholarships are guaranteed for all four years of college provided all requirements are fulfilled and the student is in good standing in the department. Our financial aid office works to supplement music scholarships with other kinds of aid to make an Albion education more affordable.
Below is a suggested list of repertoire for each instrument. While we encourage students to perform music which best showcases their abilities, this will provide an example of the type of audition the Albion College Music Department expects from incoming first-year and transfer students. In addition to the prepared materials, a brief sight-reading exercise is expected.
Select an instrument/voice to see the suggestions, or scroll down.
Solos: Prepare two or three songs. English text required. French, German, and Italian encouraged only if currently studying privately. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). Art songs, opera arias, folk songs, and musical theatre are all acceptable repertoire.
Scales: Major and harmonic minor scales (full range), through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Pop music and show tunes are strongly discouraged.
Scales: Play on Piano (or Organ) major and harmonic minor scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: two solos on organ from following, or of comparable difficulty:
If student has had extensive piano experience but little or no organ experience, the following may be substituted:
Scales: Major and harmonic minor scales (full range), through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Ensemble Pieces:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Scales: Major and minor scales (two octaves) in two positions. Play two of your choice.
Solos & Etudes: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Fingerstyle: pieces from Andrew York, Andy McKee, Roger Hudson, and similar composers.
Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two octaves preferably) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes: Barrett - Any melodic study.
Scales: Major and harmonic minor scales (up to two octaves where practical) through 3 sharps and 3 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and harmonic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: One solo or one etude required, but both are encouraged. These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
NOTE: Original solo saxophone literature is preferred.
Recommended Etudes:
Students may also opt to perform a jazz audition, in place of or in addition to, a traditional audition. If choosing a jazz audition, students can play an improvised solo (two choruses) over chord changes in a blues-style or a jazz standard such as might be found in a Real Book.
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (up to two octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos (with or without accompaniment):
Recommended Etudes:
Students may also opt to perform a jazz audition, in place of or in addition to, a traditional audition. If choosing a jazz audition, students can play an improvised solo (two choruses) over chord changes in a blues-style or a jazz standard such as might be found in a Real Book.
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: All major and melodic minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (two octaves where possible). Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes: (anything by)
Students may also opt to perform a jazz audition, in place of or in addition to, a traditional audition. If choosing a jazz audition, students can play an improvised solo (two choruses) over chord changes in a blues-style or a jazz standard such as might be found in a Real Book.
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two octaves when possible) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Scales: Major and melodic minor scales (two octaves where possible) through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Play two of your choice.
Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
Recommended Solos:
Recommended Etudes:
Solos: Select two total to prepare (one pitched and one non-pitched). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted. Solos with 2 mallets are required. 4 mallets are optional. The timpani skill level test is also required of students interested in music as a major.
Recommended Snare Solos/Etudes:
Symphonic
Rudimental
NOTE: A multiple percussion work may be substituted for the rudimental snare drum demonstration. Arrangements must be made in advance if there are additional instruments needed for a set-up. It is recommended that the student bring their own smaller instruments.
Recommended Mallet Solos:
Four Mallet (optional)
Two Mallet (required)
Timpani Skill Level Test
Demonstrate current ability to match/sing pitches and scales, tune timpani without the aid of a tuner, basic timpani stroke, dampening technique, rolling (single stroke), knowledge of drum sizes and ranges.
NOTE: These skills are not required for acceptance, but are part of the audition to assess current ability level. However, the ability to sing and match pitches is required of music students in general and part of the timpani curriculum for percussion students.
Recommended Timpani Etudes (optional):
Drum set (optional)
It is recommended to demonstrate as many drumming styles as to your current ability level - i.e.: rock, jazz/swing, funk, Latin. You may also choose to perform a transcription of a jazz tune or of another style which accurately represents your current ability level.