Audition Information - MSU College of Music - Michigan State University

Keyboard Audition Information

Piano Performance (MM)

Prescreening recording by Dec 1 (video required).  If video is not possible, please write the College of Music Admissions Office to request an exception. Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the piano area beginning the week following the December 1st deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability and should contain three majors works of contrasting periods.

Live audition (for those invited):

• Play at least 3 significant compositions representing 3 contrasting periods.

Piano Pedagogy (MM)

• Play at least 3 significant compositions representing 3 contrasting periods.
• Prescreening is NOT required.

Collaborative Piano (MM)

• Prescreening is NOT required.
• Solo Repertoire (one memorized major solo work of applicant's choice)
• Instrumental repertoire (choose the first movement of one of the below sonatas for violin and piano)

·         Mozart Sonata for violin and piano in Bb Major, K. 454

·         Beethoven Sonata for violin and piano in F major, Op. 24

·         Beethoven Sonata for violin and piano in G major, Op. 30, No. 3

·         Schubert Sonata for violin and piano in A major, D. 574

                  Vocal Repertoire (Please prepare both songs in original keys)

·         Brahms: Meine Liebe ist grün (F Sharp)

·         Debussy: Beau Soir (E)

You are welcome to bring your own instrumentalist and vocalist to the audition. However, if you need the school to provide, please notify Dr. Zhihua Tang, Director of Collaborative Piano, at least two weeks before your audition date.

Please contact Dr. Zhihua Tang, Director of Collaborative Piano if you have any further questions.

Collaborative Piano (DMA)

Prescreening recording by Dec 1 (video required).  If video is not possible, please write the College of Music Admissions Office to request an exception. Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the piano area beginning the week following the December 1st deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability and should contain one composition from solo repertoire as well as a major composition from collaborative piano repertoire.

Live Audition (for those invited):

• Solo Repertoire

·         One memorized major solo work by applicant's choice

                  Instrumental repertoire (choose one complete sonata from each group)

·         Group I:

·         Beethoven Sonata for cello and piano in A major, Op. 69

·         Beethoven Sonata for violin and piano in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2

·         Schubert Sonata for violin and piano in A major, D. 574

·         Mozart Sonata for violin and piano in B flat major, K. 454

·         Group II:

·         Schumann Sonata for violin and piano in A minor, Op. 105

·         Faure Sonata for violin and piano in A major, Op. 13

·         Franck Sonata for violin and piano

·         Brahms Sonata for violin and piano in G major, Op. 78

·         Brahms Sonata for violin and piano in D minor, Op. 108

·         Brahms Sonata for viola/clarinet and piano in E flat major, Op. 120. No. 2

                  Vocal Repertoire (Please prepare all songs in original keys)

·         R. Strauss: Standchen (F Sharp)

·         R. Strauss: Ich schwebe (A)

·         Debussy: Green (G Flat)

                  Possible Sight-reading

You are welcome to bring your own instrumentalist and vocalist to the audition. However, if you need the school to provide the instrumentalist or/and vocalist, please notify Dr. Zhihua Tang, Director of Collaborative Piano, at least two weeks before your audition date.

Please contact Dr. Zhihua Tang, Director of Collaborative Piano if you have any further questions.

Piano Performance (DMA)

Prescreening recording by Dec 1 (video required).  If video is not possible, please write the College of Music Admissions Office to request an exception.Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the piano area beginning the week following the December 1st deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability and should contain three majors works of contrasting periods.

Live Audition (for those invited):

• Play 3 major works representing contrasting periods;
• Abstract lecture on each work presented;
• Click here for general information about the DMA audition format.

Piano Performance (Performance Diploma)

Prescreening recording by Dec 1 (video required).  If video is not possible, please write the College of Music Admissions Office to request an exception.Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the piano area beginning the week following the December 1st deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability and should contain three majors works of contrasting periods.

Live Audition (for those invited):

• Candidates should prepare a complete recital consisting of repertoire representing at least 3 periods.
• The audition will be 30 minutes long.

Updated on 10/03/2018