Applying to NJCU
Prospective students must submit an application to both the university and to the Music, Dance and Theatre Department before an audition will be granted. For more
details on applying to NJCU, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions page or the Graduate Studies page. The Music, Dance and Theatre Department application can be found in the Forms and Documents section of this page.
A placement exam is required of all auditionees and is for placement purposes only. NJCU's Music, Dance & Theatre Department will not accept or transfers music credits from other schools until the placement test is taken, and/or comparable knowledge obtained. Placement exams will be scheduled following your acceptance to the program
To schedule an audition, please contact the Coordinator for your area of specialty.
Audition Dates for Spring 2013
The Music, Dance, and Theatre Department will hold auditions for Brass, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Vocal Studies, and Woodwind performers.
- Saturday, February 9, 2013
- Saturday, March 23, 2013
- Saturday, April 13, 2013 - Snow Date
Please find specific audition requirements below for the following areas of study:
Brass
Dr. Gilles Bernard, Coordinator of Brass Studies
(201) 200-2081
The audition requirements below apply to all brass instruments
(trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba).
Undergraduate applicants should prepare a program that includes the
following:
- Major scales (two
octaves where applicable).
- Two contrasting selections. One selection must be from the solo
repertoire; the other one can be an etude.
- Sight-reading.
Graduate
applicants for the M. A. in Music Education should prepare a program that
includes the following:
- Two contrasting
selections from the standard repertoire. One can be an etude.
Graduate applicants
for the M. M. in Performance should prepare a program that includes the
following:
- One complete major
work from the standard repertoire (sonata, concerto)
- One etude
For questions
concerning the repertoire, contact the area coordinator.
Guitar
Dr. Ana María Rosado, Coordinator of Guitar Studies
(201) 200-2099
Audition requirements for the guitar program are to be discussed with the coordinator of the program. The audition will comprise classical guitar studies and repertoire as well as scales and other aspects of technique as suitable. Studies by Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Leo Brouwer and Heitor Villa-Lobos will be appropriate.
Jazz
Dr. Edward Joffe, Coordinator of Jazz Studies
(201) 200-3091
In addition to performing all major and minor scales, the prospective student will be asked to perform selections from the repertoire lists by memory, along with sight-reading. A faculty rhythm section will accompany all performances. A piano, guitar amp, bass amp and drum set will be provided.
Musical Theatre
Marc G. Dalio, Coordinator of Musical Theatre Studies
(201) 200-3435
Applicants must prepare (from memory) two contrasting Musical Theatre pieces, at least one of which should be from standard Musical Theatre Repertoire. Applicants must also prepare a 2 minute monologue from a published play or musical. Candidates may be asked to perform all of the listed material or sections of each. Finally, applicants must perform a movement/dance combination will be taught on the audition date.
Percussion
Greg Giannascoli, Coordinator of Percussion Studies
(201) 200-2021
Students interested in pursuing a music degree in percussion at New Jersey City University must demonstrate proficiency in one or more areas of percussion: Snare Drum, Keyboard Percussion, and Timpani.
A personal audition/interview with a member of the NJCU percussion faculty must take place for acceptance into the percussion program. All instruments will be provided and students are expected to supply appropriate sticks, mallets, and music. Audition material should demonstrate contrasting styles, technique, and musicality. Students may choose selections from the acceptable repertoire list.
Piano
Dr. Min Kim, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies
(201) 200-2025
Undergraduate B.M. applicants must prepare an audition program to be performed from memory. The audition repertoire should include:
- One work by Bach that contains a fugue
- One complete classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert (except Beethoven sonatas Op. 49 and Op. 79)
- One 19th century work
- One work from the 20th or 21st century
- Sight-reading
Graduate M.M. applicants must prepare a program that is approximately 45 minutes in length. It must be performed by memory and include at least three works representing contrasting styles. Applicants will also be asked to sight-read.
Applicants for the B.A. in Music Education, B.A. in Music without specialization, or B.A. in Music Business must prepare and present an audition program that includes the following (one of these two works must be performed from memory):
- One work from Baroque or Classical Period
- One work from Romantic or 20th/21st century.
- Sight-reading
Strings
Dr. Min Kim, Coordinator of String Studies
(201) 200-2025
Applicants are required to prepare two contrasting movements of works at or above the level of these suggested repertoire selections. All applicants will need to demonstrate the ability to play major and minor scales (minimum of two octaves; three octaves recommended).
Vocal Studies
Dr. Donna Connolly, Coordinator of Vocal Studies
(201) 200-2018
Undergraduate applicants must prepare two memorized songs, which may be performed from either the classical or Broadway repertoire. One item should be sung in a language foreign to the singer. Candidates may be required to sing only one of the prepared works. Operatic repertoire is not required. Some art song examples are listed below:
- English: American folk songs or sacred songs or selections from beginners anthologies
- Italian: Selections from 26 Italian songs and arias or other Italian collections of the 16th- 19th Centuries, single composer collections such as Donaudy, Tosti, Vivaldi, Scarlatti
- German: Brief, simpler lieder selections of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn
- French: Brief, accessible mélodie of Chausson, Chaminade, Faure, Hahn
- Spanish: Folk song settings of Spanish songs, Granados, de Falla, Rodrigo
Graduate applicants must prepare three pieces in three languages, one of which must be an aria. All applicants are required to take placement tests in music theory, ear training and keyboard. Auditioners should bring sheet music to the auditions. An accompanist is provided.
Woodwinds
Dr. Min Kim, Coordinator of Woodwinds
(201) 200-2025
Each student will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of all major and minor scales performed in different rhythms and articulations. Undergraduate applicants are expected to perform two prepared selections, an etude and a major work from the repertoire list, along with a sight-reading selection. Prospective graduate students are required to perform three prepared selections—an etude and two major works—along with a sight-reading selection from the repertoire list. Applicants for the Master of Music in Multiple Woodwind Performance degree program must choose one selection from two of the four instrumental categories / repertoire provided. (Only one double reed instrument may be chosen.)