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Alyssa is Laurier's Faculty of Music Auditions Coordinator. She graduated from Laurier’s BMus program in 2021 (French horn). Her goal is to ensure all applicants and students feel empowered in their postsecondary choices.
Should you have questions about your application, which program to apply to on OUAC, audition repertoire or what to expect on the day of your audition, don't hesitate to email her at musicauditions@wlu.ca.
Most applicants will hear from us once all audition candidates for their instrument have been auditioned. In some cases, this may not be until late April or May.
If your audition is successful, you will receive an email from the Faculty of Music recommending you for admission. This is not a guarantee of your acceptance. Providing that you meet all academic admission requirements of the university and you have received a recommendation from the Faculty of Music, Laurier’s Recruitment and Admissions Office will send you your official offer of admission.
If your audition is unsuccessful, you will be automatically considered for an alternate offer of admission to another Laurier program and contacted by Recruitment and Admissions.
Regardless of outcome, the Faculty of Music will contact all students by email with their audition results.
Piano proficiency is not tested at your audition; however, faculty may discuss Laurier’s keyboard facility requirements during your audition or interview.
All Bachelor of Music students (except those whose major instrument is piano) must meet Laurier’s keyboard facility standards. Failure to meet these standards by the beginning of a student’s third year can result in withdrawal from the program.
All incoming Bachelor of Music students will be required to sign up for a keyboard placement interview during Orientation Week to discuss Laurier’s keyboard facility standards and in some cases to prove they have met our requirements.
During this interview students can:
If students are unable to pass the keyboard facility exam or do not opt to attempt the test we recommend they take the Laurier keyboard facility workshop. This workshop is offered to assist students to prepare for the equivalency exam, which is administered as part of the workshop. This workshop does not count towards academic credit. This workshop runs each term and may be taken for up to four terms (i.e. up to the end of second year).
Should you decide to pursue piano studies on your own in lieu of taking the workshop, you must arrange to retake the keyboard facility exam or present a RCM Grade 6 piano certificate before you enter your third year of study.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Perform one sonata (two contrasting movements, one fast and one slow) with piano accompaniment from this list:
Perform one étude from the list below without accompaniment:
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Select one work from each group:
Repertoire may be substituted with permission from the Faculty of Music. Contact musicauditions@wlu.ca.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Admission to the Bachelor of Music is based on the collective results of your audition, academics, theory and ear training test, interview, reference and optional portfolio.
Audition repertoire should be solo classical guitar works performed at a Grade 7 RCM level equivalent or higher, from memory. Students must possess the ability to read music. Please feel free to contact us at musicauditions@wlu.ca with any questions regarding repertoire, as repertoire does have some degree of flexibility.
RCM formal training and exams are not required.
You must play your audition pieces on a classical guitar. This means you must play on a nylon-string classical guitar with at least six strings, without any accompaniment.
Prepare one piece from three of the four categories:
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
You must play two contrasting pieces and a study, or a third piece plus the technical requirements at a minimum RCM Grade 8 level.
Sight reading will also be included.
Prepare four pieces, one from each of the following groups. At least two works must be memorized; memorization of all four is advised.
OR
OR
Note: Other Baroque genres are ineligible even though they may appear on Conservatory examination lists.
OR
OR
All, or portions only of pieces, may be heard at the audition, depending on time. You may choose what you like to begin with. In addition to playing your prepared pieces, you will be asked to sight-read a short passage.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required. Acquiring a rudimentary knowledge of reed-making prior to the start of the program is strongly advised.
Please pick one selection from each of the following lists. Aim to choose repertoire that showcases your strengths and also shows a variety of scope within your playing. Substitutions are allowed, but must be approved by the oboe faculty. Email musicauditions@wlu.ca for substitution approval.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Prospective students shall audition on snare drum, timpani, and mallet percussion. Instruments for auditions will be provided. Please bring at least one copy of sheet music for the audition panel. Students should be prepared to speak briefly about their repertoire selections. We recommend that you prepare by making sure you have done some research on the composers of your pieces. You will also be asked to comment on your musical interests and career aspirations.
Snare Drum
Timpani
Mallet Percussion
Drum Set (optional)
Students may also demonstrate drum set proficiency. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the following styles with fills:
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Choose a fast and contrasting slow movement. You may audition on other saxophones but you must have an alto saxophone if you are admitted to Laurier.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Perform a study which demonstrates your highest level of technical and musical ability.
Suggested solos written for tenor trombone:
Transcriptions for tenor trombone:
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Repertoire:
Possible works include:
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Perform a study which demonstrates your highest level of technical ability.
Perform two contrasting movements (slow/fast, lyrical/technical). Movements can be from the same piece if preferred.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
These are only guidelines; any program of comparable difficulty is acceptable.
Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.
Sight-reading may be requested.
The private instruction in the common year BMus voice program is largely classically based, although students may cover a broad range of repertoire and genre throughout their degree as they develop their voice. What we look for in the audition is:
1. Three songs (memorized) with piano accompaniment.
Choose selections from the standard classical/musical theater vocal repertory in contrasting styles and languages, one of which should be in English and at least one other selection in a language other than English. Variety is key!
Possible Repertoire: (this is only an example of 5 possible choices; any similar program is acceptable):
2. Applicants will be required to sight read a short passage.
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