Music at Illinois - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Keyboard Audition Information

Piano

1. All major and harmonic minor scales in four octaves
2. At least one composition by J.S. Bach
3. At least one movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
4. At least one composition from a composer of the Romantic period or 20th century
5. Harmonization of a familiar melody to be selected by the audition committee
6. Sight reading

Scales are to be played from memory. Candidates for the major in piano performance or piano pedagogy are required to play all audition repertoire from memory. All other piano candidates are required to play one composition by memory.

Piano Pedagogy

Applicants interested in concentrating on piano pedagogy should consider applying for admission to the School of Music in the Bachelor of Music in Open Studies option. On the Supplemental Music Application, applicants should indicate any past experience as a teacher of piano, specific interests about piano pedagogy, etc. Be certain to inform the chairperson of the piano audition committee of the intention to focus on piano pedagogy.

Applicants will also complete an audition, comprised of the following:

1. All major and harmonic minor scales, in four octaves, played from memory.
2. One composition by J.S. Bach beyond the Invention level (e.g., Preludes and Fugues, English and French Suites, Italian Concerto, etc.).
3. One sonata movement by Haydn, Mozart (excluding K. 545), or Beethoven (excluding Op. 49, Nos. 1 and 2).
4. One composition by a composer of the 19th or 20th century.
5. Harmonization of a familiar melody to be selected by the audition committee.
6. Sight-reading of a short piano composition.

Candidates for the major in piano pedagogy are required to play all audition repertoires from memory.

Organ

Candidates may be admitted without previous organ study, in which case they must successfully complete a piano audition as outlined above. (Memorization of one work is sufficient.) Applicants already studying organ should audition on the organ, with repertoire including:

1. A work of Johann Sebastian Bach.
2. A composition form the 19th or 20th century.

Harpsichord

Candidates may be admitted without any previous harpsichord experience, provided they have had prior organ or piano training. Applicants should prepare three works that best show their interests and abilities, to include the following repertoire (memorization is optional.):

1. A composition by J.S. Bach, such as a suite or prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier

2. A piece from the French harpsichord school by L. Couperin, F. Couperin, or Rameau

3. A sonata by D. Scarlatti

Updated on09/07/2018