Undergraduate Classical String Studies Audition Requirements

The deadlines for receipt of all audition materials, including a link to recordings and a completed audition form, are:

     November 15, 2021 – for admission in Spring 2022
     November 15, 2021 – for Early Decision/Early Action for admission in Fall 2022
     March 2, 2022 – for Regular Decision for admission in Fall 2022

Prior to recording your audition, you MUST contact your performance area coordinator:

     Fred Irby, III
     Coordinator of Classical Instrument Studies
     firby@howard.edu
     202-806-7066

Once you have recorded your audition and uploaded it to a private YouTube channel,

     • download a computer-fillable audition form and complete the appropriate sections;
     • open a new email, address it to your performance area coordinator, and attach the audition form;
     • place the link to your recorded audition materials in the body of the email; and
     • send the email to your performance area coordinator by the applicable audition deadline.


Undergraduate Classical String Studies Audition Requirements

All auditions must be played on the candidate's own instrument, which must be of an appropriate quality for advanced study.

An interview will follow the audition—either immediately after a live audition, or by Zoom or telephone call at a future scheduled time for a recorded audition.

See Requirements, below.

Requirements

Violin Major (Performance Major)

Scales in all major and minor keys, 3 octaves, slow and fast tempi. A complete etude of Kreutzer, Rode, or comparable difficulty.  Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita.  First movement of a major concerto written after 1750.

Violin Minor (Composition, Business, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, & Music Therapy Majors)

A three octave scale in both slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude.
Two short solo works or movements (complete) of contrasting style and tempo.

Viola Major (Performance Major)

Scales in all major and minor keys, 3 octaves, slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude of Kreutzer or comparable difficulty.
Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach suite.
First movement of a major concerto or other major solo.

Viola Minor (Composition, Business, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, & Music Therapy Majors)

A three octave scale in both slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude of at least ASTA grade 3 (Hoffmeister, Kayser, Mazas, Wohlfhart)
Two contrasting solo selections of at least ASTA Grade 3 (Bach Cello Suites, Telemann Concerto, Suzuki book 4).

Violoncello Major (Performance Major)

Scales in all major and minor keys, 3 octaves, slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude of Popper or Duport, or a Caprice by Piatti. 
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach suite. 
First movement of a major concerto (Haydn C or D Major, Saint-saens, Boccherini, Elgar, Dvorak or similar difficulty).

Violoncello Minor (Composition, Business, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, & Music Therapy Majors)

A two octave scale in both slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude (Dotzauer, Merk, Lee or similar difficulty).
Two short works or movements of contrasting style and tempo.

Double Bass Major (Performance Major)

Scales in all major and minor keys, 2 octaves, slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude of Simandl, Nanny or comparable difficulty.
Two contrasting movements from a Sonata or Bach Suite
First movement of a concerto.

Double Bass Minor (Composition, Business, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, & Music Therapy Majors)

A two octave scale in both slow and fast tempi.
A complete etude.
Two short works or movements of contrasting style and tempo.