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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Music Audition Requirements

Vocal 

All prospective music majors must complete a music application and audition for the music faculty!

  • Two memorized works. Contrasting styles are preferred. Vocal District and State contest repertoire are encouraged. One foreign language song is highly encouraged, but not required.
  • Vocalize as requested.
  • Sight-read a passage of music (on solfege, numbers, or la,la,la).
  • Sing the Star-Spangled Banner or another traditional song unaccompanied as requested.
  • Please include a repertoire list of solo pieces with your music application.
  • Please let the music division office know if you need an accompanist when you set up your audition. (Please be sure to bring copies of your sheet music with you to the audition for the accompanist.

To schedule an audition or for more information please contact:

OBU Music
405.585.4300
music@okbu.edu

Vocal Music Coordinator

Dr. Stephen Simms
Associate Professor of Music
stephen.sims@okbu.edu

Instrumental

All prospective music majors must complete a music application and audition for the music faculty!

Wind and String Instruments

  • Winds only: play a chromatic scale the full range of the instrument.
  • Major Scales
    • Winds: C,F, B-flat, E-flat, A-Flat, D-flat, G, and D (concert keys)
    • Strings: C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat and E-flat (3 octaves)
    • Perform a prepared solo or two etudes of contrasting styles; may be done with or without accompaniment.
  • You will be given examples to sight read.

Percussionists

  • Perform one etude each on snare drum, timpani, and mallet/keyboard instrument.
  • Be prepared to perform any of the Thirteen Snare Drum Rudiments.
  • Play all of the above listed scales for Winds on a mallet instrument.
  • You will be given examples to sight read on each instrument.

*Those desiring to audition for the Bison Jazz Orchestra should be prepared to play an appropriate selection from the High School Jazz Ensemble folder. Those desiring to play drum set should be able to play several styles including swing, bossa nova, samba, and shuffle.

To schedule an audition or for more information please contact:

OBU Music
405.585.4300
music@okbu.edu

Instrumental Music Coordinator

Dr. Timothy Kaiser
Director of Instrumental Activities
timothy.kaiser@okbu.edu

Keyboard 

B.M. in Piano Performance with Emphasis in Pedagogy

Repertoire Requirements (all three works from memory):

  1. A piece from the Baroque era. Suggested works include an invention, sinfonia, or prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach.
  2. A piece from the Classical era. Suggested works include a sonata movement by Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven.
  3. A piece from the Romantic or Contemporary eras. Suggested works include a song without words by Mendelssohn, a nocturne or prelude by Chopin, Toccata by Khachaturian, or The Cat and the Mouse by Copland.

Additional Requirements:

  • Play one to two scales of your choosing
  • Sight-read an excerpt provided by the keyboard faculty
  • Be prepared to discuss goals with keyboard faculty

B.M. Education (Piano Primary)

Repertoire Requirements (at least one work from memory):

  • Two to three contrasting pieces/movements

Additional Requirements:

  • Sight-read an excerpt provided by the keyboard faculty
  • Be prepared to discuss goals with keyboard faculty

B.M.A. (Piano Primary)

Repertoire Requirements (at least one work from memory):

  • Two to three contrasting pieces/movements

Additional Requirements:

  • Sight-read an excerpt provided by the keyboard faculty
  • Be prepared to discuss goals with keyboard faculty

B.A. Worship Studies (Piano Primary)

 Repertoire Requirements (at least one work from memory):

  • Two to three contrasting pieces/movements

 Additional Requirements:

  • Sight-read an excerpt provided by the keyboard faculty
  • Be prepared to discuss goals with keyboard faculty

For questions about auditioning, repertoire requirements and more please contact:

Keyboard Area Coordinator

Dr. Mark Franklin
Assistant Professor of Music
mark.franklin@okbu.edu
405.585.4314

Music Composition

The audition for prospective Music Composition majors consists of submitting completed, legible musical scores (and recordings, if possible) that the student feels are representative of their work. Works can be in any style; as long as they are legible, computer-generated scores are encouraged, but not required. The composition faculty will peruse the submitted compositions and, at audition, will provide feedback and use the audition and the submitted compositions to determine admission to the program.

A student wishing to audition as a Music Composition major should submit:

  • Two to four written scores of original compositions. Contrasting styles is preferred.
  • A performance (or DVD or file of a performance – mp3 or .wav files are acceptable) of one or more of the above.
  • A completed Music Audition Form.

It is preferable that the form, scores, and recordings be sent at least two (2) weeks ahead of any audition date. The materials will be returned to you if you wish. Please include your name on all copies of music and recordings.

To schedule an audition or for more information please contact:

OBU Music
405.585.4300
music@okbu.edu

Application and Audition Process

  1. Apply to Oklahoma Baptist University. While Music will hear your audition at any time, we will not be able to admit you into music study or offer financial aid until you have applied and been accepted to the university.
  2. Submit an application to Music. This is the first step to scheduling an audition.
  3. Following your audition, you will receive two notices by mail from Music. The first will communicate your readiness to pursue a degree in music from OBU. The second will detail information related to financial aid offered to you by Music.