Piano Audition Requirements


For New Piano Students

In order to study Piano at CWU, you must first audition for the music faculty. This step is required to complete your acceptance into the CWU Department of Music program. Performance entrance standards may be found at the bottom of the page. For more details about the admissions process please visit our Music Program Auditions & Admissions page. Transfer students may request an audition with the piano faculty and will be accepted at their appropriate level. Contact Dr. Yerin Kim for more information concerning piano auditions.

Admissions Audition Registration

Before you can audition you must register for an audition time. Please visit our Music Program Auditions & Admissions page for further information.

Audition Requirements

Undergraduate

Applicants must prepare two contrasting works of their choice. Chosen repertoire could include selections from Baroque or Classical era and the contrasting piece could be a Romantic, 20th, and/or 21st century work. Additional repertoire may be included.

An example program:

  • A Prelude and Fugue from J.S. Bach’s WTC Book I & II
  • One work or movement from the early to late Romantic or 21th century

Masters of Music in Piano Performance

Applicants must prepare at three contrasting works from different periods including one etude of their choice.

An example program:

  • One movement of Baroque or Classical period work
  • One work or movement from the early to late Romantic or 21th century
  • One etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Bartok, Legeti, Unsuk Chin

Masters of Music in Collaborative Piano

  • Vocal Track:
    • One complete aria
    • Three standard art songs, choosing from works that represent French, German, English, Italian, and Spanish language repertoire
  • Instrumental Track:
    • One movement of an instrumental concerto
    • A complete standard instrumental sonata/duo
  • All applicants will also be asked to perform:
    • Sight-reading
    • A short piece that will be emailed to you two weeks prior to the audition date
    • An interview with the piano faculty

Entrance Standards, Piano

The suggested literature below is applicable to transfer students wishing to enter at the 300 level.

"The man who think he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right" - Henry Ford

Junior level

To begin your studies at the 364 level in the Piano Studio at CWU, you must demonstrate proficient keyboard skills and performance abilities appropriate to the Junior level. Students not meeting these standards may be placed in the 164 or 264 level based upon the discretion of the auditioning faculty.

  • One Concert Etude (Chopin, Liszt, Chin, Rachmaninoff)
  • Sight-read 4-part voice
  • A Classical Sonata (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert)
  • A 21st C piece

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