Doctor Of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) Audition Requirements
Major Instrument/Voice Required for D.M.A. in Performance and Composition
General Audition Guidelines for Woodwinds, Brass, and Strings
The audition should not exceed 20 minutes. Accompaniment is optional. Candidates should be
prepared to perform the following:
• All major and minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic) in one or two
octaves as appropriate to the tessitura of the instrument.
• One complete major work or concerto from the standard solo literature (can be
jazz for those who are interested in jazz studies).
• Two contrasting etudes or shorter movements from contrasting works in the solo
literature (can be jazz for those who are interested in jazz studies).
• Three to five orchestral excerpts from the standard literature.
• Sight reading.
General Audition Guidelines for Percussion
The audition should not exceed 20 minutes. Accompaniment is optional. Candidates should be
prepared to perform the following:
• All major and minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic) in two octaves on
mallets.
• All 40 of the basic rudiments established by the Percussive Arts Society.
• One major snare drum solo or movement from the standard, solo literature.
• One major mallet solo or movement from the standard solo literature.
• One major timpani solo or movement from the standard solo literature.
• One major orchestral excerpt on snare drum, timpani, and mallets.
• Sight reading.
General Audition Guidelines for Voice
The audition should not exceed 20 minutes. Applicants may either bring an in-person
accompanist or request an accompanist from Five Towns College for the audition.
Candidates should prepare three selections representing a variety of musical styles and periods
from the art song literature. These selections should include three different languages (English,
Italian, French, and German). Approximately 15 minutes will be allotted for performance. All
selections should be performed by memory. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in
sight-singing.
Please bring three (3) copies of the scores for the adjudicators, and one (1) additional copy if you
are requesting an accompanist.
General Audition Guidelines for Piano
Candidates should prepare a program with at least three compositions, and each composition
must represent different style periods. All works should be memorized and prepared in their
entirety, and the program should include:
• All major and minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic) in four octaves
• A prelude and fugue or comparable work by J. S. Bach
• A complete classical or Romantic sonata.
• One large-scale virtuosic work (approximately 10 minutes) or a group of shorter
pieces from the 19th or 20th centuries.
• Jazz pianists should prepare two (2) pieces of different jazz styles in lieu of two of
the required genres above (e.g. swing, and modal jazz).
• Candidates must also demonstrate competent sight-reading skills as well as
demonstrate competent knowledge of scales.