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BA with Popular Music Emphasis - Auditions

Viewing the world of Popular Music through the study of Social Media and Songwriting
Audition Requirements

An applicant must submit a link to a web-based video in which the applicant performs the required musical scales and work(s) - see below. Applicants will be judged based on the following criteria: evenness of tempo, musicality, performance ability, and the like. The video should not contain edits within individual scales or during the recording of the performed piece. The video image and the audio should be clear without distortion and without excessive environmental noise. Do your best to show yourself in the best possible light. If you feel that including additional scales or pieces would help the committee make a more accurate determination of your abilities please do so.

Minimum requirements for all instruments including electric guitar and electric bass (except voice and percussion):

  1. Perform the following scales: C major, G major, Bb Major, and C harmonic minor. (Keyboard players must perform with two hands simultaneously.)
  2. Perform an unaccompanied solo piece in any style. Please do not play along with a recording or a metronome for this portion of the audition.
  3. Sing a one-octave major scale.
  4. Sing "Happy Birthday."
  5. Play a "C" on a keyboard or other instrument and sing the pitch. Do the same with "Eb" and "A".
  6. Play a "D" and an "F#" one at a time on a keyboard or other instrument then sing them one right after the other.

Minimum requirements for voice

  1. Sing a one-octave major scale - unaccompanied.
  2. Sing "Happy Birthday."
  3. Play a "C" on a keyboard or other instrument and sing the pitch. Do the same with "Eb" and "A".
  4. Play a "D" and an "F#" one at a time on a keyboard or other instrument then sing them one right after the other.
  5. Perform an unaccompanied piece in any style. Please do not play along with a recording or a metronome for this portion of the audition.

Minimum requirements for percussion

  1. Demonstrate single, double, and closed rolls on snare drum
  2. Perform an unaccompanied piece in any style. Please do not play along with a recording or a metronome for this portion of the audition.
  3. Sing a one-octave major scale.
  4. Sing "Happy Birthday."
  5. Play a "C" on a keyboard or other instrument and sing the pitch. Do the same with "Eb" and "A".
  6. Play a "D" and an "F#" one at a time on a keyboard or other instrument then sing them one right after the other.

Although all performance auditions for the B.A. music degree are via web only, on-campus placement tests in music theory, aural skills, and piano proficiency are required. Please select a test date from the application.

The applicant must also demonstrate some level of working knowledge of social media by submitting any of the following or similar for consideration: a Facebook page, a MySpace page, a Twitter page, etc. that the applicant created.

For more information, please contact:
Music Department Admissions
musicadmissions@wpunj.edu
(973) 720-3466