Audition Procedures

Applicants of both Undergraduate and Graduate studies in String Program should use the following as guide to apply for degree pursuit in the Department of Music, College of Arts & Letters, California State University, Los Angeles.

FOR DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

(Please include all materials in one mail package)

1. A  letter of interest in applying for desired degree, addressed to Department Chair, CSULA-Music, 5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032

2. A letter of interest in applying for desired degree, addressed to Director of Strings, with the same street address.

3. A brief musical biography and resume.

4. Two letters of recommendation from professional musicians familiar with your musical excellence.

5. A demonstrative recording in CD or DVD format. Performing the required repertoire chosen from the Audition Repertoire Requirement, according to degree pursuit.

6. A Department of Music Application form filled.

FOR THE UNIVERSITY

(Please mail or file separately. Go to www.calstatela.edu for application aid)

1. Apply to California State University, Los Angeles, using the online method only.

2. Request from your graduating high school, and (if transfer) previous college academic transcripts, and have your schools mail the transcript directly to CSULA Admission Office in sealed envelopes.

3. If you are International student, submit your TOEFL score (must be above 500 for Undergraduate and above 550 for Graduate), a Financial Aid Support Affidavit from a private sponsor who proves to have at least US$20,000 ready for your need. You must also file International Student Application.

4. If you need, you should file Financial Aid application.

APPLICATION RESULT

1. You will hear from the Department of Music and the Director of Strings on your application to the String Program. 

2. You will hear from the Cal State University Los Angeles regarding your application to the University. Until your application to the University is granted, you are not considered to be an officially admitted student and cannot register in any class.

3. After receiving admission into the University and the String Program, you would need to make an appointment with Director of Strings, Prof. Jay Zhong, immediately for advisement.

4. You are highly encouraged to attend the "Welcome Week" events a week before Fall Quarter starts. This event allows you to be quickly oriented into the Department of Music.

5. You should visit Financial Aid office to make sure all of your financial aid application paperwork is on the right track.

6. You are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces of your choice to play the Ensemble Placement Audition on the first week of school in Fall Quarter.

7. You must make an appointment with Undergraduate Advisor (if you are an Undergraduate applicant), or, with Graduate Advisor (if you are a Graduate applicant) during or before the first week of school.

SCHOLARSHIP

Because CSULA is a state-funded university, tuition is kept at minimum level to ensure accessibility of the school.. There are however a number of sources that you can apply and receive scholarship to aid your study. 

Audition Repertoire

Violin

BM in performance entrance:

1)      A complete concerto by one these composers: Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Bruch, Mendelssohn

2)      Imposed sight-reading at the audition interview

BM in education entrance:

1)      A significant work for violin by one of these composers: J.S. Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Tartini, Leclair, Bruch, Mendelssohn, Beethoven

2)      Imposed sight-reading

BA – General Studies

1)      Two contrasting pieces of applicant’s choice

2)      Imposed sight-reading

MM in performance entrance:

A short recital with piano accompaniment of 45 minutes in length, with the program including the following:

1)      a complete work by J.S. Bach for solo violin;

2)      one movement of a selected sonata for violin and piano by one of these composers: Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Debussy, Franck, Grieg, Mozart, Ravel;

3)      a virtuosic showpiece of applicant’s choice.

Violin-MA in education

Entrance:

 See MUS 415 Entrance requirements for BM in education option

 Violin-MA general

 Entrance:

 See MUS 415 Entrance requirements for BA general option

Viola

BM in performance entrance:

1)    A complete movement from a solo work by one of these composers: J.S. Bach, G.P. Telemann, C.P.E. Bach, F. Hoffmeister, K. Stamitz, R. Schumann, E. Bloch, P Hindemith

2)    Any three octave scale and another scale in double stops (3rds, 6ths, or 8ths)

          3)    Imposed sight-reading at the audition interview

BM in education entrance:

    1)      A significant work for viola by one of these composers: J.S. Bach, G.P. Telemann, G.F.         Handel, F. Hoffmiester,  K. Stamitz, J.N. Hummel

    2)      Imposed sight-reading at audition interview

MM in performance entrance:

    1)      A complete concerto by one of the following composers: W. Walton, P. Hindemith, B.    Bartok

    2)     A complete work for unaccompanied viola by J.S. Bach

    3)     A different virtuoso work from one of these composers: F. Hoffmeister, B. Campagnoli, L. Fuchs, P. Hindemith,  I. Stravinsky, N Paganini, H.  Vieuxtemps, M. Bruch, E. Bloch, G. Enesco, W. Primrose (arr.), V. Borissivsky (arr.)

Cello

BM in performance entrance:

    1)      A complete concerto by one of the following: Vivialdi, J.C. Bach, Goltermann, Saint Saens

    2)      Imposed sight-reading at the audition interview

BM in education entrance:

    1)      A major work by J.S. Bach, Bach, J. Hayden, Beethoven, Saint-Saens

    2)      Imposed sight-reading at the audition interview

MM in performance entrance:

    1)      A complete concerto by one of the following composers: Boccherini (B-flat), Haydn (D Major or C Major), Lalo, Saint-Saens, Schumann

    2)      One of 6 suites of J.S. Bach for unaccompanied cello

    3)      Etude from one of 40 studies by Popper

Double-Bass

Bass—BM in performance  

1)      First movement of a concerto of applicant’s choice

2)      Three two-octave scales in both major and minor plus arpeggios

Bass--- BM in education

1)      One two-octave scale in both major and minor

2)      One etude from Simandl Book I, or similar level method book

    1) A two Octave Scale in Maj and Min

    2) Etude from Simandl Book I

Guitar

Guitar---BM in performance

Requirements for Entrance to Guitar Studio

Entrance to the applied guitar studio is by audition. The student must be highly motivated and able to demonstrate previously acquired skills in order to fully benefit from the weekly lessons. Two works should be presented, one of which may be written by the student. Sample repertoire could include a Sor or Carcassi etude, or a work from the Renaissance Guitar by Fredrick Noad. Memorized performance is preferable..The applicant should know music's basic chordal and scalar resources, and have a workable technical approach to the instrument. In addition, a demonstration of sight reading will be presented at the Audition.

Guitar---BM in education

The work expected by a student in the BM in education will be similar as above, but substantially less of the same. By the end of the program, it will be expected that the student will be able demonstrate sufficient fluency and knowledge on the guitar.