Audition Requirements
Auditions include the following components:
Principal Instrument/Voice - Secondary Auditions - Basic Musicianship Test
Principal performing instrument or voice:
Prepare two or three pieces in contrasting style that best show technical and musical potential. Performing from memory is highly recommended in voice and piano auditions. Scales, arpeggios and sight reading are requested at the audition in all studios. Percussionists should prepare in three areas, including snare drum or multi-percussion, mallet percussion and timpani. Voice studios request that at least one work be in foreign language.
Students are accepted at MU in the following performing areas: voice, piano, violin, viola, violoncello, bass, guitar, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or cornet, French horn, trombone, baritone or euphonium, tuba, and percussion.
- In addition to your primary instrument, all students will be evaluated in voice as well. Please bring music for this audition. A simple folk song, carol, hymn or patriotic song will be sufficient for prospective students who have not studied voice.
-
If you have taken piano lessons at any time in your life we recommend that you take a piano placement exam on the day of your audition. This is especially important for Vocal Track students in the Music Education program. Please indicate on the audition form if you will be taking the piano placement exam.
- Both the vocal and piano audition have a bearing on acceptance into the program since vocal ability is considered an essential function in the music field and since piano skills are required for all degrees in music. Given the competitive nature of our music admissions, demonstration of these skills can be a factor in determining the difference between one applicant and another in any given studio.
This diagnostic test helps us determine your music theory background and aids in your placement in theory courses. It includes the following components:
1. Key signatures
2. Intervals, chords, and scales
3. Recognition of rhythmic patterns
4. Ability to write a simple melody from memory
2007-08 Audition Dates
- Monday, Nov 17
-Saturday, Dec 1
-
Monday, Dec 6
-
Saturday, Jan 17
- Monday, Jan 26
-Monday, Feb 9
-Saturday, Feb 21
-Monday, Feb 23*
-Monday, March 9
Set up an Audition Time
* Indicates last day for automatic scholarship consideration
Transfer Students
Mansfield University’s Music Department welcomes transfer applications for students interested in any of our degree programs. You must be accepted by both the university and the music department to gain admission to any music program. Be aware that 50% of your major requirements must come from Mansfield University in order to graduate with a degree from MU.
Undergraduate general education credits will be evaluated by the University Transfer Office in Admissions. Music transfer courses are evaluated by the chair of the music department at both the undergraduate and graduate level. At the graduate level, only 6 graduate credits may be accepted in transfer.
All transfer credits in music must have earned a grade of C or better and come from an accredited NASM institution. Transfer credits in studio lessons will be awarded based on the level of performance demonstrated at the audition. Some music courses may be accepted in degree areas, elective areas or they may not be accepted at all.
We recommend all transfer students apply to MU prior to their music audition and send transcripts to both the music department and the university for evaluation in advance of their live audition.
All other aspects of the audition are the same for transfer students. Please refer to audition requirements for further information.
Other Important Information
Primary Instrument/Voice - Students are admitted to the Department of Music with the understanding that they will be given private studio instruction on one principal performance medium. While many students may have ability on more than one instrument, it is imperative that they develop excellence on one primary medium. It is our strongest recommendation therefore, that students audition on just one instrument, placing their best effort into one area where their passion is best exemplified.
Taped auditions - In exceptional cases where distance prohibits a live audition, taped auditions are acceptable for provisional acceptance. In these cases, the recording must be unedited and include a minimum of two works of contrasting style and a minimum of all major and natural minor scales. A timed theory test will be made available to you on-line as part of your application process. Students accepted provisionally under these circumstances must pass a live audition when they arrive on campus and must complete the sight reading element of the audition process. For additional information write to the chairperson of the Music Department.
Letter of Recommendation - The music department requests that all applicants have a minimum of two letters of recommendation. Print out the form and have your recommenders mail the completed form to:
MU Music Department – Audition Committee
110 Butler Music Center
Mansfield, Pa 16933.
These may also be brought to the audition in sealed envelopes with the author’s signature across the seal.
Personal Interview - If you wish to speak with the department chairperson or a designee at the audition please request this before the audition and we will schedule this for you. Much information will be shared at the general department meeting and with the auditioning faculty, but we are happy to speak with you personally should the need arise.
Audition Results Notification - The Music Department Chairperson will notify prospective students concerning their audition status within by early January for November and December auditions, March 1 for January and February auditions, and within 2 weeks for auditions after that.. Official notice concerning the status of the application will also be sent to the Admissions Office.
Rolling Admissions Policy - Rolling admissions is a term used to indicate that new student enrollment is based largely upon seating availability. Essentially, we have a limited seating capacity in our various music programs. The limits are by studio as well as degree. As students complete or leave our program, they create an open seat. So, each year we plan for graduation and internships of our various majors and can make a plan for the total number of students we can accept. We have target enrollments for every studio, with an average of 4 or five seats being open in each studio, each year. Our average freshmen class size is approximately 70 students.
Because studio space is at a premium, instead of notifying students within two weeks of their audition results, we notify students twice annually of their status (Once in January, once in March*). Students may be accepted, wait listed, or rejected. Students who are accepted at MU in music tend to accept their seat. This makes it difficult for students who were wait-listed to gain a seat, even though they may be completely qualified. As Mansfield University gains recognition as being one of the finest music schools in PA, the competitive nature of the audition process will increase. This is why we strongly recommend early auditions!
*Auditions beyond March 3 are possible, but seating is limited and most decisions are made by March 3rd.
|
