Northern Illinois University

School of Music

String Audition Information

Violin:  two 3-octave scales; any three advanced studies (Kreutzer, Donor, Gavinies); two movements of a sonata, concerto, or from solo literature

Viola:  two 3-octave scales; two movements from any solo literature of differing composers and periods

Cello:  two 3-octave scales: two etudes such as Duport or Popper; two movements from solo repertoire

Double bass:  two 2-octave scales; two studies from an etude book such as Simandl; two movements or pieces of differing styles selected from bass literature

Jazz bass:  Please prepare: 1) A blues, 2) Two or three jazz standards where you walk, play at least one melody, and be able to solo over these selections, 3) A swing selection, 4) One straight eighth feel composition.  There may also be sight-reading.

Harp:

Technique (one from each category):
Major scales, arpeggios and tonic glissandos
Any of the following etudes:
Conditioning Exercises by Carlos Salzedo, Method for Harp - Carlos Salzedo,
Preludes Intimes - Carlos Salzedo, Bochsa Etudes

One each from the following category:
Ballet excerpt: Waltz of the Flowers cadenza from The Nutcracker, opening of Act 2 Giselle - Adophe Adam
Orchestral excerpt: Capriccio Espangnol, Rimsky-Korsakov;  Scottish Fantasy, Bruch
Opera excerpt: Madama Butterfly - Puccini, or any standard excerpt from a Wagner opera

Solo material-choose one or more from the following:
Aria in Classic Style - M Grandjany
First movement of Concerto in B-Flat - Handel
Suite of Eight Dances - C Salzedo
Sonatine - M Tournier
Colorado Trail - M Grandjany
Sonatine - Dussek
Sonata in C minor - Peschetti