Understanding Auditions and Admissions

To become a music major at GC, a student must:

Gain admission to the university
Gain admission to the music program through an audition process

1. Admission to the university – Admission is generally based on the student's academic credentials as exemplified by SAT or ACT scores, the student's high school college prep GPA, the quality of thought and expressions in the student's essay, and recommendations received from teachers and other persons who can speak for the student.

2. Admission to the music program – Students must audition for acceptance into the music program. The audition will also be used to place students into the appropriate level of applied study (private lessons).

Students must take a music theory placement test at the time of their audition. Those who are not prepared for college level study in music theory are required to take the Online Music Theory Prep Course, a self-directed program which will prepare them to begin the college theory sequence in the Fall.

Entrance Audition: Each prospective incoming music major, freshman or transfer, will be given an entrance audition and interview. The purpose of this audition/interview is to evaluate the student's level of preparation upon entering GC and to acquaint the music faculty with the student's potential. The audition must be completed before a student can be placed in the proper course work. For those students who have not auditioned before registration, an audition date will be arranged during the early part of the fall semester. If students do not audition, they will be placed in pre-music major coursework (does not count toward the major). Music Therapy students must undergo this audition in addition to any Music Therapy Entrance requirements. Any student not registered for applied lessons for more than two consecutive semesters must re-audition for acceptance into the program.

Requirements of the Entrance Audition/Interview: Prospective piano majors are expected to perform two compositions (performing from memory is strongly encouraged) of contrasting character from the classical piano repertoire. Prospective instrumental majors are expected to perform two solo compositions or etudes of contrasting character or two movements of a contrasting character from a large work. Prospective voice majors are expected to perform two songs from memory, at least one of which is from the standard classical vocal repertoire. Pieces with piano or orchestral accompaniment should be performed with piano accompaniment. If you choose not to bring your own, an accompanist will be provided. Music Therapy and composition majors who have an instrumental emphasis will audition on those instruments. At the audition, students will be asked to fill out a form that summarizes their musical training and experience (i.e. method books used, studies and literature studied). An audition tape may be used (audio or video) in cases where a live audition is impractical. However, such students, having been accepted into the department, will perform in an audition at the beginning of their first term, before they register for applied study.