Flute
- Choose two (2) pieces or études that demonstrate your musical and technical abilities and represent various styles, tempos, and time periods. You are encouraged to choose pieces demonstrating your technical facility and melodic lyricism.
- Major scales in two octaves and a full range chromatic scale.
Oboe
Technique:
- Major scales (at least 2)
- Minor scales (at least 2)
- Chromatic scale (low B-flat to high F, as for the All-State audition tapes)
- Scales should be played from memory. Accuracy, tone, and pitch are more important than speed.
Repertoire: Two contrasting pieces of solo repertoire (which may include an etude) that best demonstrate the student’s skills. These pieces do not need to be memorized. One piece should feature the applicant’s technical agility; the other slower piece should demonstrate lyrical and artistic playing.
All of the following factors are considered by faculty when listening to an oboe audition:
- technique (speed, articulation)
- accuracy (pitch, rhythm)
- tone quality (color and consistency)
- dynamic range and control
- understanding of style, musical line
Examples of repertoire (a single movement from two different pieces is acceptable): Sonatas and concertos by Handel, Telemann, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Marcello; Schumann Romances, sonatas by Saint-Saëns, Hindemith, Poulenc; Mozart Concerto in C, or Oboe Quartet in F; Haydn Concerto in C; Cimarosa Concerto in C minor; other repertoire similar in difficulty level. Many successful applicants in the past have used the same repertoire prepared for district or state solo contests.
Sight-reading: A brief melodic excerpt from an etude book or solo repertoire will be presented to the student to sight-read. Sight-reading is an opportunity to demonstrate the solidity of your basic musical skills – rhythm, meter, key signature, etc., independent from the process of preparing a piece over a long period of time.
Clarinet
Technique:
- Play three octave F major scale in quarter notes (slurred, MM=60) demonstrating tone quality.
- Play three octave chromatic scale in eighth notes, beginning on E (slurred, MM=120) demonstrating correct fingering.
- Play 2 1⁄2 octave G major scale in quarter notes (slurred, MM=80) demonstrating legato tonguing.
Repertoire: The student should prepare two contrasting movements of pieces from the standard clarinet repertoire, including at least one piece from the Classic or Early Romantic Era (1750-1825). The pieces may be chosen from, but are not limited to works by the following composers:
- Bernhard Crusell
- Franz Krommer
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Carl Stamitz
- Johann Stamitz
- Carl Maria von Weber
Sight-reading: The student will play short excerpts in duple and/or triple meters with common rhythmic features applicable to works from the late eighteenth century. Difficult technical passages will not be a factor.
Saxophone
- Technique: Prepare two contrasting movements of pieces from the standard saxophone repertoire, including at least one piece from the Classical repertoire.
- Repertoire: Play short excerpts in duple and/or triple meters with common rhythmic features applicable to works from the late eighteenth century. Difficult technical passages will not be a factor.
- Sight-reading: Play short excerpts in duple and/or triple meters with common rhythmic features applicable to works from the late eighteenth century. Difficult technical passages will not be a factor.
Bassoon
Technique:
- Chromatic scale, three octaves, starting on low B-flat.
- Major scales through four sharps and four flats, two octaves.
- One etude from J. Weissenborn, Fifty Bassoon Studies, Op. 8, Vol. II
Repertoire: One movement from any of the following:
- Mozart, Concerto in B-flat, K. 191
- Telemann, Sonata in F minor
- Hindemith, Sonata
- Weber, Concerto in F
- Vivaldi, any concerto
Sight-reading: Be familiar with tenor clef.
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If no appointments are available, contact the admissions coordinator at somtadmissions@pdx.edu.