Audition Guidelines

All prospective students desiring to audition on wind or brass instruments are required to perform two selections that contrast in style.

Please prepare about 5-8 minutes of music. We typically ask for two contrasting works that best showcase your abilities. This could be contrasting études that you have played for an All-State competition or movements of a work that you have performed at a state solo/ensemble contest. For specific recommendations, please contact your prospective studio teacher in your area.  

All prospective students desiring to audition on piano or keyboard should demonstrate the ability to perform works of at least comparable difficulty to those listed below. The quality of performance is the principal factor in determining whether a student qualifies for the program, rather than the technical difficulty of the piece; however, more difficult pieces than those listed below are welcome.

Audition Guidelines

It is recommended that students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance in piano should include works selected from at least three of the four categories listed below.

Minors should choose two pieces, contrasting in style, from two of the four listed categories.

Non-major participants are not eligible for Fine Arts Scholarships, but are still welcome to audition for ensemble placement. Auditions will last approximately 10-15 minutes. Students may be asked to sightread and play scales and arpeggios at the discretion of our faculty.

Memorization of audition materials is recommended.

• Baroque: Inventions, Sinfonias, easier Preludes and Fugues, or easier suites of Bach. 
• Classical: Easier Sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven. 
• Romantic: Nocturnes, Waltzes, or Mazurkas of Chopin; Intermezzi of Brahms; character pieces of Schumann, Mendelssohn, etc. 
• Impressionistic and 20th-Century: Preludes of Debussy; Sonatinas of Bartok; various works of Ravel, Schönberg, Prokofieff, Shostakovitch, Dello Joio, etc. 

Audition Guidelines

Percussionists are asked to prepare 5-8 minutes of music that demonstrates their performance abilities on snare drum, mallets (two or four mallets), and timpani. Students may choose to play all or portions of works/études on each instrument to accommodate this time frame.  

Audition Guidelines

Violin & Viola: 

• Two contrasting repertoire movements/selections, such as unaccompanied works, concertos, or concert pieces.
• One major scale and one melodic minor scale OR an étude of your choice.
  
  Please contact Prof. Rebecca Vieker (rebecca.vieker@drake.edu) with any questions.

Cello:

• A movement of solo Bach.
• A movement of a classical or romantic work from the standard repertoire.
• An étude of your choice.

String Bass: 

• Any two-octave scale and arpeggio in any bowing combination. 
• A movement of a classical or romantic work from the standard repertoire. 
• An étude of your choice. 

Guitar: 

• I-IV-V7-I chord progressions in major: C, D, E, F, G, A, as well as relative minor.
• Two octave scale and arpeggio from the Giuliani 120 daily.
• An étude such as Aguado, Carcassi, Sor, or Giuliani.
• A movement from a concerto or representative work of Tarrega. 

For String Instrument Music Minors & Non-Major Participants

• Two contrasting pieces (no orchestral excerpts or chamber music).

Audition Guidelines

In order to qualify both for admission into the Department of Music and a Fine Arts Scholarship, all prospective students must audition by February, 2027, with the specific date TBA.

Prospective majors should prepare two pieces in contrasting styles (one in English and one in another language). Prospective minors/non-majors should prepare one piece.

Previous students have prepared from the following suggestions:

• Italian songs from the 17th and 18th centuries (i.e., those found in the Twenty-four Italian Songs and Arias). 
• German lieder (i.e., Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms). 
• Arts songs by American or British composers (i.e., Copland, Barber, Ives, Quilter, Britten, etc.). 
• Operatic/oratorio arias.

Pieces selected for audition should be contrasting in style and performed from memory. We prefer a live audition, but audio/video recording will be accepted in the case that students cannot travel to Drake University. Please also bring a copy of your most updated résumé to your audition.

An accompanist will be provided unless students wish to bring their own pianist. If you would like to collaborate with the accompanist provided, please bring them your prepared sheet music that is three-hole punched and in a binder. The sheet music should be clearly marked, and it can be single or double-sided. Our pianist will not accept incorrectly prepared sheet music. 

As mentioned above, Fine Arts Scholarships are available to qualified students (regardless of their major) in all areas of voice.

Audition Guidelines

Fine Arts Scholarships for the Concentration in Jazz Studies are offered to rhythm section players: piano, guitar, bass, and drums.

Guidelines:

• Piano/guitar: record two jazz standards with a backing track or iReal Pro. Play the melody, comp one chorus, then improvise over one or more choruses.
• Bass: record two jazz standards with a backing track or iReal Pro. Play the melody, walk one chorus, then improvise over one or more choruses.
• Drums: demonstrate swing at a medium and fast tempo. Play bossa and samba grooves. Add anything else that demonstrates your jazz skill set.

For further information concerning the Concentration in Jazz Studies, please contact Prof. Andrew Classen (andrew.classen@drake.edu).

The BA degree is specifically designed for students who wish to double-major in Music and another area of interest.

The Department of Music welcomes in-person auditions by special arrangement throughout the year. Whether you are applying late, have a scheduling conflict, can't make our Spring audition dates, or are considering transferring to Drake University, we encourage you to reach out by emailing musicadmin@drake.edu.

No. Not every student who is accepted into the program will receive a scholarship from the Department. Only selected B.A. Music majors or minors may be awarded a Fine Arts Scholarship.

Yes. As long as you continue to meet the criteria for maintaining your scholarship, your Fine Arts Scholarship can be renewed each year for your four undergraduate years.

All incoming first-year students are guaranteed a Presidential Scholarship, which range from $20,000–23,000 per year. All prospective students who have applied and been admitted by the priority deadline of March 1 are automatically considered for these awards. Recipients of tuition scholarships are chosen based on a complete review of the application for admission.

The Drake University National Alumni Association awards prestigious scholarships to top students regardless of major, including the National Alumni Scholarship Program. 

Yes. There are resources out there for finding additional scholarships. Many of our students have found Fastweb.com a good source of information for scholarship opportunities. We absolutely understand that the cost of higher education can be prohibitive. If finances are a concern in your decision-making process, our Financial Aid Office is happy to talk with you and your family about ways to make Drake University more affordable.