School of Music Admissions

Step One: Apply for Admission to Stetson University

Step Two: Schedule an Audition

Step Three: Prepare for Your Audition

Step Four: Receive Admissions Decision and Commit!

Step One: Apply for Admission to Stetson University

Step Two: Submit Video Auditions

Step Three: Schedule Faculty Meeting

Step Four: Receive Admissions Decision and Commit!

Brass

Brass candidates must prepare two selections. One selection should highlight technical facility and expertise while the contrasting selection should demonstrate lyrical playing. Both selections will be evaluated on execution of fundamentals, preparation, and musical maturity. The audition will also consist of scales, sight-reading, an ear-training exercise, and an interview.

Guitar

Candidates for classical guitar study should be able to play all major and minor scales (Segovia Edition); studies corresponding in difficulty to those of Sor, Carcassi and Brouwer; and perform two contrasting solo works from memory. Candidates will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate knowledge of the rudiments of music.

Keyboard

• Organ: Candidates should be able to play works such as: The Eight "Little" Preludes and Fugues of Bach, chorale preludes from Bach's Orgelbüchlein, the Chorale Preludes of Brahms, Op. 122, or works of comparable difficulty. Pianists with a desire to study organ should demonstrate proficiency by performing Two-Part Inventions of Bach, Sonatas by Beethoven or Mozart, or works of comparable difficulty. Strong potential should be demonstrated in aural training.
  
  
• Piano: Candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios, including dominant and diminished sevenths in a moderately rapid tempo. Repertoire should include: a work from the Baroque style period (for example, from J.S. Bach a Two-or Three-Part Invention, a dance/movement from a Suite or Partita, or a Prelude and Fugue); a movement from a Classical sonata (for example, Clementi, Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven); and a work from either the 19th or 20th century. Audition material must be performed from memory. Candidates may be asked to sight-read and/or demonstrate scales and arpeggios.

Music Composition

Music Technology

In Spring 2019, the music technology program was changed from a major to a minor-only program. The music technology major has been discontinued and will no longer be admitting students. Our new music technology minor can enhance other majors in music or any other degree program on campus but does not require an audition or portfolio for admission. Students who still desire a related major should consider the degree programs in digital arts.

Music Theory

Candidates interested in the Music Theory major are still required to complete a successful audition on their respective instrument or voice part. Music Theory majors must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all theory courses, make a C- or better in all aural training courses and in Introduction to Composition, in order to advance to the junior level.

Many of our music theory majors find it suitable to double major in composition or performance. If you would like to know more about the music theory program, please contact Dr. Alexander Martin at [email protected] or Dr. Peter Smucker at [email protected]. 

Percussion

Candidates for percussion study should provide their own sticks, mallets and music. Candidates should know all major scales (minors preferred as well), and be prepared to sight read on mallets and snare drum. The music chosen and prepared for the audition should represent the candidate's current playing ability on mallets (two and/or four mallets), snare drum (a concert solo or étude is required, additional rudimental solo optional) and timpani (tuning required). Performance on any other instrument in the percussion family is welcomed, but not required.

Strings

• Violin: Étude comparable in difficulty to Kreutzer, Mazas or Dont. A movement from J.S. Bach Solo Sonata or Partita. A movement from a concerto from the standard repertoire, such as Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Vieuxtemps, Dvorak, Bruch, Wieniawski, Paganini, Kabalevsky, Lalo or Barber. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.
  
  
• Viola: Studies comparable in difficulty to Fiorillo, Kreutzer or Bruni; concerti such as Hoffmeister, Stamitz or J.C. Bach and/or solo works of similar difficulty. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.
  
  
• Cello: Studies comparable in difficulty to Popper, Schroeder and Duport. Candidates should prepare a movement of a Bach Suite and a movement from a standard concerto such as Boccherini, Saint Saëns, Haydn C or Lalo. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.
  
  
• Double Bass: Étude comparable in difficulty to Simandl 30 Études or Bille 18 Études, and two contrasting movements from a standard sonata or concerto (candidate may substitute two contrasting short works from the standard repertoire). All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.

Voice

Candidates for voice study must prepare two contrasting selections. One selection will preferably be in English, while the contrasting selection may be in Italian, French, German, Latin, or Spanish. Both selections should be sung with classical technique including good diction, correct phrasing, and musical intelligence. Audition material must be performed from memory. The audition will also consist of sight-singing two or three brief lines of music, as well as demonstrating other musicianship skills through exercises in rhythm, ear-training, and keyboard.

Woodwinds

Woodwind candidates must prepare two selections. One selection should highlight technical facility and expertise while the contrasting selection should demonstrate lyrical playing. Both selections will be evaluated on execution of fundamentals, preparation, and musical maturity. The audition will also consist of scales, sight-reading, an ear-training exercise, and an interview.