Music
Trombone Audition Requirements
For New Trombone Students
In order to study Trombone 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. This audition gives us an opportunity to hear the level you have achieved in your musical skills and it gives you the opportunity to discuss your development with collegiate instructors. Performance entrance standards may be found at the bottom of the page. For more details about the admissions process pleas visit our Music Program Auditions & Admissions page.
For Students Pursuing an Education or Liberal Arts Degree
Please prepare and perform a solo that best highlights your current abilities. It is desirable to choose material that is competitive at the district or (preferably) state contest level, and demonstrates both technical and musical skill. It is strongly recommended that you select and prepare your audition material under the supervision of your private instructor and/or music director. Though there are many pieces that are technically and musically more difficult than those suggested below, please carefully choose material that best represents what you can perform well, NOT what you have yet to learn. If you have any questions about audition repertoire, please e-mail Dr. John Neurohr.
Requirements:- One solo OR
- Two contrasting etudes (one lyrical, one technical) that demonstrates the student's highest level of technical AND musical achievement.
Some examples include:- Tenor Trombone Solos
- Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique
- Barat, Andante et Allegro
- David, Concertino (mvt. 1&2)
- Tenor Trombone Etude
- Bordogni/Rochut, Melodious Etudes for Trombone
- Voxman, Selected Studies for Trombone
- Blazhevich, Clef Studies
- Bass Trombone Solos
- McCarty, Sonata
- Selmer-Collery, Barcarolle et chanson
- Capuzzi, Andante and Rondo
- Bass Trombone Etudes
- Gillis, 70 Progressive Studies for the Modern Bass Trombone
- Tyrell, Advanced Studies for BBb Bass
- Bordogni/Rochut, Melodious Etudes for Trombone (played 8vb)
- Tenor Trombone Solos
For Trombone Students Pursuing a Music Performance Degree
- One solo, OR two contrasting etudes (one lyrical, one technical) that demonstrates the student's highest level of technical AND musical achievement.
- Jazz Improvisation** – two contrasting charts (Blues in F or Bb, and a jazz standard from the “RealBook”), OR
four contrasting excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire.
- Mozart, Tuba Mirum from the Requiem (2nd trombone solo)
- Berlioz, Hungarian March (2nd trombone)
- Wagner, Ride of the Valkyrie, B Major Section (1st trombone)
- Ravel, Bolero (1st trombone solo)
**If you select to perform a Jazz Improvisation portion of an audition, a taped accompaniment or Aebersold play along disc is acceptable and encouraged.
Transfer Students
Transfer students who wish to be admitted at the 364 level, or higher, must demonstrate competencies equivalent to those listed on the appropriate Performance Standards section below.
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.
Large Ensemble Audition Requirements
For new and returning trombone students wishing to play in a large ensemble, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphonic Band auditions will take place during the first week of of each new quarter. Fall auditions have specific materials for all who intend to play in a large ensemble. For the schedule, and further details, please visit our Ensemble Auditions page. Auditions for Winter and/or Spring will be announced as needed. Check our Audition Excerpts page for specific trombone excerpts.
Contact Dr. John Neurohr for more information.
Jazz Band & Combos
Information for Jazz Bands and combos can be found on the Jazz Auditions page.
Performance Standards, Trombone
The literature listed below for both the etudes and solos are purely suggestions that imply a general level of fluency for the transfer student interested in entering into the Junior Year of study, or 300 Level of achievement. Transfer students are NOT limited to only those solos/etudes listed below.
If you are considering a transfer to CWU it's very important that you review the information on our Transfer Student Information for Music Majors page as well.
"The man who think he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right" - Henry Ford
Junior level
- Range
- Bb1 - D5
- General Technique
- All Major/Minor Scales, 2 octaves, quarter note=80 (16th note patterns), with appropriate use of alternate positions, playable in 6 minutes
- Clefs
- Fluency in Tenor Clef, familiar w/ Alto Clef
- Etudes
- "36 Studies"; Tyrell
- "40 Progressive Studies"; Blazhevich
- "Clef Studies"; Bordogni/Rochut
- "Melodious Etudes, Bk. 2"
- Solos
- Serocki, "Sonatine"; Grondahl
- "Concerto"; Jongen,
- Aria and Polonaise"; Pryor
- "Thoughts of Love"
- Orchestral Excerpts
- General familiarity of at least 5 common orchestral excerpts or jazz standards
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