University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Department of Strings

Undergraduate Requirements and Dates

Piano accompaniment is neither required nor provided for string auditions.
Applicants to the Performance: Strings Major (Curriculum B) will also be scheduled for an interview with a representative of the Department of Music Education.

Cello

Prepare an etude representing your current level of technical development, two contrasting movements from one of the Bach unaccompanied suites, and an allegro movement from the standard cello concerto literature. Both the Bach and the concerto should be played from memory.

Double Bass

Prepare an etude representing your current level of technical development, a movement from a standard concerto, a contrasting work, or movement of a work, of your choice, and a few minutes of excerpts from standard orchestral repertoire. One of the solo works or movements should be played from memory.

Guitar

Note: The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance does not offer a degree in classical guitar performance. It is possible for jazz guitar to serve as a principal instrument within the Jazz Studies and Jazz and Contemplative Studies degree programs. Jazz guitar audition requirements are listed with the Department of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation.

Harp

Prepare ALL of the following:

four octaves of ascending and descending arpeggios in two keys, alternating hands

four octaves of a scale in one key, hands together

one etude

two substantial works of contrasting style and/or time period. All solo literature must be performed from memory.

Viola

Prepare an etude and two movements in contrasting styles from the standard viola repertoire other than the Telemann Concerto or Bach's First Suite. One movement must be memorized. Sight-reading and three-octave scales and arpeggios may be requested.

Violin

Prepare the first movement of a concerto (including cadenza if one is written), two contrasting movements of a Bach sonata or partita, and one caprice chosen from:

Paganini Caprices, op. 1

Wieniawski Caprices, op. 18

Wieniawski Ecole Moderne, op. 10

Dont Etudes, op. 35

All solo literature must be performed from memory. Sight-reading may be assessed at the audition.

Recorded Auditions

We strongly encourage applicants to audition in Ann Arbor. However, applicants who live more than 300 miles from Ann Arbor may upload a recorded audition.