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Audition Requirements

An audition is required for acceptance into all Bachelor of Music concentrations and for Music Education. Audition requirements vary by area:

Music Business

You have two options for your admissions audition:

  1. Match pitch with voice to be accepted in a choral ensemble; or
  2. Pass an instrumental audition to be accepted into an instrumental ensemble.

Traditional Music

Students in the traditional music concentration are required to audition on an instrument and have a brief test to match pitch with voice. You are not required to take a theory placement test.

Orchestral Strings

Students wishing to audition as a string major should prepare the following:

  1. Two 3-octave major scales (2 octave for double bass)
  2. One movement from a solo Bach sonata or partita (or similar)
  3. One movement from a standard concerto or sonata

You must also take a theory placement test.

For more information contact the Orchestra and Strings coordinator Michael Blaney by phone at 337-482-6050, or by email at blaney@louisiana.edu.

Woodwinds

Instrumentalists two etudes or solo works in contrasting styles. They will also be tested on major scales and sight reading. You must also take a theory placement test. For more information contact the Band Instruments (Wind Ensemble) coordinator Dr. William Hochkeppel by phone at 337-482-5669, or by email at hochkeppel@louisiana.edu

Percussion

Auditions for percussionists who intend to major in music should include one solo or etude of the student’s choice on each of the three main instruments, rudimental and/or concert snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani. Students should be prepared to sight read on snare drum and keyboard percussion as well as play major scales on keyboards and perform the following rudiments open-closed-open on snare drum:

  1. Double Stroke Open Roll
  2. Paradiddle
  3. Flam Accent
  4. Single Drag Tap

A free copy of the rudiments can be found at http://www.pas.org.

You must also take a theory placement test.

For more information contact the Percussion coordinator Troy Breaux by phone at 337-482-5212 or by email at tbreaux@louisiana.edu.

Non-music majors wishing to audition for the Pride of Acadiana and/or the Ragin' Cajun Drum Line should go to the marching band auditions page for information.

Jazz Percussion

Potential Jazz Majors should be prepared to demonstrate time keeping and soloing skills in as many of the following styles as possible: swing (jazz, bebop) both slow and up- tempo, shuffle, rock and funk, 6/8 rock and funk shuffle, Latin styles such as bossa nova, samba, mambo, songo, Mozambique, etc. Jazz Majors should also be prepared for chart reading. It is not required, but would be advantageous to demonstrate skills on snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani as stated above.

You must also take a theory placement test.

Voice Audition Requirements: Incoming Freshmen, Transfer, Graduate and Alternate Vocal Certification

Incoming Freshmen must be prepared to sing - from memory - two songs in contrasting styles and languages, one in English and preferably one in Italian. Those auditioning will also perform a sight singing exercise similar to that used in All-State Choir auditions. The Theory Placement Test will also be given at this time.

All incoming voice students, transfer students, and returning music students must also meet the above audition requirements. Students will be evaluated for acceptance and placement in their requested major.

Graduate students auditioning for the M.M. in Voice Performance, Performance/Pedagogy or Vocal Music Education are required to sing an Art Song in each of the standard languages – English, Italian, French, and German – and an operatic aria from the standard repertoire. Additionally they will be given an exam in German, French and Italian diction. At their audition, students will be evaluated for placement in undergraduate music courses for remediation when necessary.

Those wishing to pursue Alternate Certification in Vocal Music Education must sing from memory five songs: one art song each in English, French, German, and Italian and one operatic or oratorio aria. The level of evaluation will be that of a music education Barrier Jury. Accurate pronunciation of all languages and a solid vocal technique of posture, breath, freedom and beauty of vocal tone must be demonstrated for acceptance into the Vocal Alternate Certification program.

For more information contact the Voice coordinator Mr. Shawn Roy by phone at 337-482-5939, or by email at opera@louisiana.edu.

Theory/Composition

No audition is required to declare an Undergraduate Theory/Composition major; however, majors must pass Theory I and II (MUS 120 and 130) in order to take composition lessons. Majors are also required to take applied lessons, so an audition should be scheduled for your instrument or voice, and you must also take the theory placement test at your audition. Scholarship awards are available for students who demonstrate outstanding achievement in Theory/Composition. To be considered for a composition scholarship, portfolios (scores and recordings) comprising at least two contrasting pieces should be submitted to Dr. Wesley Bradford. For more information email wesley.bradford@louisiana.edu.

Graduate Theory/Composition Admission Requirements

  • a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • GRE scores acceptable to the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Graduate School
  • a scholarly paper in music theory and/or analysis (approximately 5 pages minimum)
  • samples of written compositions and audio recordings, if student wishes to focus on acoustic composition (not required of students intending to write a theoretical thesis)
  • audio and/or audio/visual recordings of work, if student wishes to focus on music media (not required of students intending to write a theoretical thesis)
  • a sufficient score on the graduate music theory placement exam
  • a sufficient score on an aural skills exam (for students applying to become a graduate assistant in music theory)
  • a keyboard test (for students applying to become a graduate assistant in music theory)

Choral Conducting (Graduate)

  • A conducting audition on campus with either the UL Chorale or Chamber Singers
  • A choral literature test and an interview
  • Applicants must also be prepared to sing one selection of their choice, in a language of their choice

For more information, please contact Dr. William Plummer at choir@louisiana.edu

Jazz Trumpet and Saxophone Entrance Requirements

  1. Play two contrasting jazz pieces; One of the two pieces should be a blues
    • Improvise over the blues piece
    • Improvising over the second piece is optional
  2. Play major scales
  3. Play chromatic scale
  4. Sight reading

You must also take a theory placement test.

If there are items here that you are unable to fulfill, we recommend that you audition anyway. It's still possible to pass the audition if you're strong in other areas.

For more information contact Dr. Paul Morton by phone at 337-482-5216, or by email at morton@louisiana.edu.

Jazz Trombone Entrance Requirements

  1. Two jazz standards
    • Perform a blues standard with backing track; Improvise over changes
    • Perform a jazz standard with backing track (bebop, rhythm changes, ii/V/I); Improvise over changes
  2. Scales
    • Major scales, two octaves
    • Blues scale, one octave (B♭, F, G, C, A)
    • Chromatic scale, full operational range (at least two octaves)
  3. Sight reading
  4. Theory Placement Exam

For more information contact Dr. Benjamin Yates, benjamin.yates@louisiana.edu

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Music Theory Diagnostic Exam

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Undergraduate Theory Diagnostic Exam is administered through the UTheory platform. After you have auditioned and been accepted to the UL School of Music and Performing Arts, visit this page to request access to the Music Theory Diagnostic Exam. The exam is online and is intended for students who are fully committed to attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Ideally, you should complete the exam prior to registering for your first semester of classes as a music major or minor. Completing the exam is required by the end of the first week of classes.

The UL Music Theory Diagnostic Exam will take approximately 90 minutes to complete and must be completed in one session. If you do not pass the exam, no worries! You can retake the exam up to 3 times. The highest score will be used for your placement. Finally, this exam is a diagnostic tool only and will help place you in a course where you can successfully move forward in your study of music theory. Click here for more information on the undergraduate music theory curriculum.

AP Credit for Music Theory

Students who have taken the College Board AP Music Theory Exam may be eligible to receive course credit. A composite score of 3 on the AP Music Theory Exam will earn credit for MUS 120 (Music Theory I), and a composite score of 4 or 5 will earn credit for both MUS 120 and MUS 130 (Music Theory I and II). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the test scores have been reported to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette registrar’s office so that the appropriate credits can be applied.