Audition Information - MSU College of Music - Michigan State University

Keyboard Audition Information

Piano Performance (BM)

Prescreening recording by Dec 1 (video required).  If video is not possible, please write the College of Music Admissions Office to request an exception.  If you are a pianist auditioning for a non-performance degree (composition, music education, Bachelor of Arts in Music), a prescreening recording is not required.  Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the piano area beginning the week following the December 1st deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability and should contain three majors works of contrasting periods.

Live audition:

• A work by J.S. Bach (two or three part invention, a Suite, or equivalent);
• A fast movement from a Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven sonata;
• A 19th or 20th century composition;
• Be prepared to play all major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios in parallel motion, four octaves;
• Memorization is expected

Updated on 10/03/2018