Woodwinds Audition Requirements

Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone

Prospective first-year students and transfer students from colleges and other universities are required to audition for admittance into the Music Program. All first-year applicants will demonstrate a level of performance equivalent to Royal Conservatory of Music Grade VI or higher.

All first-year woodwind applicants are required to present the following:

  1. Two pieces or etudes of contrasting style and tempo, or two contrasting movements of one composition.
  2. Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves when possible) up to and including four sharps and four flats.
  3. Chromatic scale.
  4. Sight-reading

 

Flute

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • J. S. Bach - Partita in A minor for Solo Flute, BWV 1013 - Sarabande
  • G. F. Handel - Sonata in G minor, op. 1, no. 2
  • J. Loeillet - Sonata in E minor, op.5, no. 1
  • A. Vivaldi - Sonata in C major
  • G. Fauré - Sicilienne
  • J. Ibert - Aria
  • M. Ravel - Piéce en forme de habanera
  • M. Conway Baker - Some Summertime

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.

 

Clarinet

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • G. F. Handel - Flute Sonata in G major - Adagio & Allegro
  • A. Vivaldi - Sonata in D minor
  • W. A. Mozart - Divertimento No. 1, K439b
  • J. Ibert - Aria
  • S. Rachmaninoff - Vocalise, op.34, no 14
  • G. Fauré - Berceuse, op. 16
  • R. Schumann - Folksong for Clarinet

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.

 

Oboe

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • R. Faith - Miniatures for Oboe and Piano - nos. 1, 5, and 7
  • J. Field - Nocturne
  • S. MacPherson - Romance, op. 55
  • K. R. Cole - Landscape for Laurie Lee
  • S. Fraser - First Repertoire Pieces for Oboe - Scherzino
  • K. Gekeler - Gekeler Method fo Oboe - nos. 6, 8, 11, 13, 18, or 20
  • G. A. Hinke - Elementary Method for Oboe - no. 23 or 27

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.

 

Bassoon

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • A. Vivaldi - Concerto in C Major, F VIII, no. 13 - Largo
  • J. S. Bach - Concerto in B flat major, W C83 - Two movements
  • P. Hindemith - Sonata for Bassoon and Piano - 1st movement
  • J. Ibert - Carignane
  • G. Fauré - Sicilienne
  • J. E. Galliard - Sonata No. 1 in A minor
  • J. Weissenborn - Fifty Bassoon Studies, op. 8, vol 2 - no. 15 

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.

 

Alto Saxophone

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • A. Vivaldi - Sonata in G minor - 3rd and 4th movements
  • G. F. Handel - Sonata No. 3 - 1st and 2nd movements
  • J. Ibert - Aria
  • J. Ibert - Histories - Le petit áne blanc, Bajo la mesa, or La cage de crystal
  • D. Milhaud - Dance
  • D. Shelley - Urban Sketches
  • S. Rachmaninoff - Vocalise, op. 34, no. 14

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.

 

Tenor Saxophone

Examples of repertoire appropriate for entry into the first (1st) year of the BMMA program

  • G. F. Handel - Sonata No. 6 for Violin and Keyboard - Adagio and Allegro 
  • J. S. Bach - Cello Suite No. 3, BWV 1009 - Two Bourrées
  • C. Saint-Saéns - Allegro appassionate
  • R. Schumann - Romance, op. 94, no. 1
  • A. Mayeur - Twenty Studies for Saxophone - no. 2: Andante; no. 4: Moderato, no. 6: Larghetto; or, no. 8: Moderato
  • H. Voxman - Selected Studies for Saxophone - Study in C major: Andante; or Study in F major: Allegro
  • L. Niehaus - Intermediate Jazz Conception for Saxophone - Etude no. 4, 10, 16, or 18

The above is only a guide. Instructors assisting students prepare for an audition should use discretion and make appropriate choices that best reflect the candidate's musicality and technical abilities.