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Department of Music

University of Wyoming

1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3037

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-5242

Fax: (307) 766-5326

Email: musicdpt@uwyo.edu

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Instrumental Area Audition Requirements

Brass

Contact Dr. David Wharton(307) 766-5222

Students who are interested in brass scholarships should be prepared to perform major scales in addition to two selections of contrasting style. One selection should be in a lyric style, and the other should be more technical. If you have questions about audition literature please contact Dr. David Wharton. Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

Jazz Studies

Contact Dr. Ben Markley (307) 223-1020

Prospective students will be asked to play major scales and two contrasting pieces that best demonstrate their knowledge of the jazz idiom. Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

Percussion

Contact Dr. Andrew Wheelock, (307) 766-5242

Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

Undergraduate Percussion Audition Requirements

Prospective students will be evaluated on technical proficiency, musicality, rhythmic accuracy, sight reading, tone production, intonation, and overall musical experience.

Each student will be asked to perform a solo or etude of moderate difficulty in each of the following instrumental areas:

Snare Drum* (concert style), Marimba (2 or 4 mallet) or Xylophone, Timpani*, and Drum Set. On drum set, students will be evaluated based on their musicality, improvisational, and technical skills in regard to the following genres: jazz, Afro-Cuban, funk, Brazilian (a prepared solo is not required but jazz drum solo transcriptions are encouraged).

Each applicant must also demonstrate sight-reading ability on snare drum, marimba, and drum set. Students will also be asked to play two-octave major and minor scales and arpeggios. Please bring one (1) copy of your audition music for the panel.

*We recommend selections from the following; however, comparable alternates may be performed:

Snare Drum

Modern Rudimental Swing Solos – Wilcoxon

Portraits in Rhythm – Cirone

12 Studies for Snare Drum – Delecluse

Timpani

Concepts for Timpani – Beck

Etudes for Timpani, Vol. 3. – Hochrainer

Graduate Percussion Audition Requirements

Applicants for the MM degree or DMA degree must perform one major solo in each of the following instrumental areas: Snare Drum (concert style), Marimba, Timpani, Multiple-Percussion or Hand Drums, and Drum Set. (An audio recording and score can satisfy the Multi-perc. requirement.) On Drum Set, students will be evaluated based on their musicality, improvisational, and technical skills in regard to the following genres: jazz, Afro-Cuban (son, guaguanco, songo, bembe, mozambique), odd meter (7/8, 5/4, 9/8), funk, Brazilian (bossa, samba, partido-alto), (a prepared solo is not required but jazz drum solo transcriptions are encouraged.

In addition, each applicant must prepare contrasting orchestral excerpts for snare drum (2), xylophone (2), and timpani (2), and demonstrate sight-reading ability on snare drum, marimba, and drum set. Please provide one (1) copy of your audition music for the panel.

Strings

Contact John Fadial, (307) 766-5242

Students should be prepared to play two contrasting works or movements of the same work. Students are encouraged to prepare scales to demonstrate technical proficiency, though this not a requirement. Accompaniment is not required for auditions. Students can complete their audition by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). High quality audio recordings are acceptable, but video recordings are preferred. 

Woodwinds

Contact Dr. Nicole Riner, (307) 766-5242

Incoming students will be asked to perform major scales and two short pieces in a contrasting style.  Students should choose one piece that is slow and lyrical and one that is faster and more technical. If students are unsure if their selections are appropriate they may contact the woodwind area coordinator or the applied teacher. Students can complete their audition via Zoom (preferred) or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

 
Contact Us

Department of Music

University of Wyoming

1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3037

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-5242

Fax: (307) 766-5326

Email: musicdpt@uwyo.edu

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)