Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development (CMED)

Audition & Interview Requirements

Audition	Portfolio Review	Program Interview	Music Skills Assessment	Music Theory Diagnostic
An audition paneled by Conservatory Faculty members.	A review by Conservatory Program Faculty members of submitted artistic creations. Portfolio must be submitted a minimum of 2 weeks prior to interview.	An interview paneled by the Conservatory Program Faculty members for the degree of application.	A short, in-person assessment of an individual’s ability to clap, count, and sing basic rhythms.	A computerized theory diagnostic that assesses an individual’s music theory knowledge. This diagnostic is used only for theory class placement purposes.
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Interview Requirements

Prospective Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development (BA) students will complete an interview with the Director of Contemporary Music. The interview will assess the student’s oral communication skills, leadership potential, musical knowledge, goals and other elements that may contribute to success in the profession. Interview results are used in conjunction with academic criteria, applied audition results and music skills assessment results to determine admission to the program.

Music Skills Assessment & Written Theory Diagnostic

All students must complete a music skills assessment as part of their audition schedule. This assessment involves sight-singing, tonal memory and rhythmic skills.

In addition to performing the audition requirements listed below, at the audition, students will also complete a short diagnostic.

Audition Requirements

Please see the appropriate section below for your chosen instrument specialization.

Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Two songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (Pop, R&B, Latin, Soul, Country, etc.) on acoustic or electric guitar:

• One song/piece in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expression and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include a third original composition

Diagnostic:

• • Reading a chord progression written using chord symbols
  • Playing/singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
  • Identifying chord qualities by ear
  • Improvising over a common chord progression

Bass Guitar

Two songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (Pop, R&B, Latin, Soul, Country, etc.) on bass guitar:

• One song/piece in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expression and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include a third original composition

Diagnostic:

• • Reading a chord progression written using chord symbols
  • Playing/singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
  • Identifying chord qualities by ear
  • Improvising over a common chord progression

Drum Set

Two songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (Pop, R&B, Latin, Soul, Country, etc.) on drum set:

• One song/piece in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expression and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include a third original composition

Diagnostic:

• • Reading short notated rhythms
  • Singing back short rhythms by ear
  • Improvising a one-minute drum solo

Piano/Keyboard

Two songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (Pop, R&B, Latin, Soul, Country, etc.) on piano or keyboard:

• One song/piece in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expression and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include a third original composition

Diagnostic:

• • • Reading a chord progression written using chord symbols
    • Playing/singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
    • Identifying chord qualities by ear
    • Improvising over a common chord progression

Singer-Songwriter

Two contrasting original songs, each approximately 2 minutes in length, in which you accompany yourself on either acoustic/electric guitar or piano/keyboard:

• One song in a slower tempo to demonstrate your vocal expression and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include as an optional third song a cover song arranged to fit your style and voice

Diagnostic:

• • Reading a chord progression written using chord symbols
  • Playing/singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
  • Identifying chord qualities by ear
  • Improvising over a common chord progression

Voice (non-Singer-Songwriter)

Two songs of contrasting styles and genres (Pop, R&B, Latin, Soul, Country, etc.), each approximately 2 minutes in length, in which you accompany yourself on either acoustic/electric guitar or piano/ keyboard, or sing along to an accompaniment track:

• One song in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expressivity
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy

Diagnostic:

• • Reading short notated melodies and/or rhythms
  • Singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
  • Improvising over a common chord progression

Cello, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Viola and Violin

Students who want to continue classical study but pursue a degree in CMED are also encouraged to apply. The audition requirements will follow those already listed for each instrument in the Classical Idiom section. The interview and audition process will include the Director of Contemporary Music and faculty from the appropriate instrumental area. Important to note is that the CONTEMPO ensemble will perform a wide variety of music outside of classical and that not all pieces will require your instrument.