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Apply and Audition

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The Bailey School of Music at Kennesaw State University is an incredibly vibrant and engaging home for you to play, learn, and grow in your musical education and career! To apply to the Bailey School of Music, please review the information provided below including application deadlines, audition dates and requirements, and scholarship opportunities. 

  • Step 1: Review and Prepare Materials

    Review application deadlines, audition dates and audition requirements, scholarship opportunities, and other required materials listed below.

    Step 2: Apply to the University

    Complete your online application to Kennesaw State University. 

    After completing their application to the university, students may apply to the School of Music as soon as they receive their KSU ID number. Applicants may complete their application to the School of Music prior to receiving an admission decision from the university.

    Step 3: Apply to the Bailey School of Music

    After completing their application to the university, students may apply to the Bailey School of Music as soon as they receive their KSU ID number. Applicants may complete their application to the Bailey School of Music prior to receiving an admission decision from the university.

    In order to complete your online application, you will need the following:

    • Your KSU ID number
    • A professional résumé
    • A complete repertoire list
    • Completed essay per requirements listed in the application. See "Application Guidelines" in online application portal for specific essay prompt for your degree program.
    • For students applying for music education: name and email address of a music teacher who can provide a recommendation for you.

    Apply Now

    • After you submit your online application to Kennesaw State University, click here to look up your KSU ID number.

    • A repertoire list is a comprehensive list of the major works of music you have studied or performed. Include the title of the piece and the composer. Label those that you have from memory with an 'M' and those that you have performed with a 'P'. Only list ensemble pieces in which you had a featured solo or principal part.

    Step 4: Apply for Scholarships

    If you wish to be considered for merit-based scholarship from the Bailey School of Music, you must complete the university’s scholarship application.

    Questions?

    Contact the College of the Arts Office of Admissions at artsadmissions@kennesaw.edu. 

  • 2022-2023 Audition Dates

    • Friday, November 11, 2022
    • Friday, January 20, 2023
    • Friday, February 3, 2023
    • Saturday, February 25, 2023
    • Saturday, March 18, 2023
    • Friday, April 14, 2023

    *Before a student may be eligible to audition, he or she must complete the online application to Kennesaw State University.

  • The KSU Bailey School of Music will provide accompanists for voice auditions. No accompaniment is required or expected for instrumental auditions. Applicants to the jazz program should provide audio tracks on either CD or MP3 to play along with.

    NOTE: If you are not able to audition in person, an audition video may be accepted and must include all of the requirements as specified below.

    Questions regarding the application and audition process can be directed to the College of the Arts at artsadmissions@kennesaw.edu. 

    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works, one of which must be a complete movement from a concerto or sonata from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary period.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include two solo works. Suitable selections include, but are not limited to, works from the Royal Conservatory series volumes 4 and up, or studies by Sor, Carcassi and Brouwer. The first four scales from the Segovia edition of diatonic major and minor scales, or other fingerings of scales in two and three octaves are also required.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works, one of which must be a complete movement from a concerto or sonata from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary period.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works, one of which must be a complete movement from a concerto or sonata from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary period.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must demonstrate proficiency on timpani, snare drum and a mallet instrument - marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone. Snare Drum: Prepare an etude, such as Etude in 5/4 from Modern School for Snare Drum by Morris Goldenberg, or any from the Delecluse: 12 Etudes for Snare Drum. Also be prepared to demonstrate concert rolls at all volume levels. Mallet: Prepare a four-mallet solo piece, for example Rain Dance by Alice Gomez, Yellow After the Rain by Mitchell Peters or another similar piece, or a two-mallet etude from Modern School for Marimba, Xylophone and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg. Timpani: Prepare one piece for timpani, for example Exercise 72 from Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman or a similar piece.
    • Auditions will last 10-15 minutes, and must include two solo works representative of the baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic or contemporary periods. Music must be memorized. The audition will also include performance of scales and tonic arpeggios in four octaves, both hands together, in the keys of the pieces to be performed. Sight-reading will also be assessed at the audition. You must bring a typed list of your audition program in the order you will be performing to the audition.

    • Auditions for the saxophone studio must include one (1) movement from a sonata/concerto/aria written for the saxophone* and one (1) etude from “48 Famous Studies for the Saxophone or Oboe” by Wilhelm Ferling.

      *Suggested works:

      “Sonata for alto saxophone and piano” Op.19 Paul Creston
      “Aria” for alto saxophone and piano Eugene Bozza
      “Sonata for alto saxophone and piano” Lawson Lunde
      “Histories” Jaques Ibert

      Be prepared to play all major scales (two octaves where possible).

    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works written for the specific instrument. One work may be an etude or study. The other work should be a solo, sonata, or concerto, which specifically demonstrates a faster, articulate movement or section and a slower, lyrical movement or section. Be prepared to play all 12 major scales in two octaves where possible.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works, one of which must be a complete movement from a concerto or sonata from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary period.
    • Auditions must include at least two (2) solo works, one of which must be a complete movement from a concerto or sonata from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary period.

    • Auditions must demonstrate clear diction, accurate pitch, acceptable tone quality, breath control, a concept of phrasing, and an ability to communicate through song.

      Applicants to the Bachelor of Music in Performance or the Bachelor of Music in Music Education must have two (2) solo songs in contrasting styles chosen from baroque, classical, romantic, or contemporary art song repertory, one of which would preferably be in English. (Audition repertory could include English and Italian art songs, German and French art songs, oratorio and opera aria, and contemporary English art songs.)

      Auditioning for a minor in Voice:

      Prepare and sing from memory one (1) traditional song from the classical repertoire OR a Golden Age Musical Theater song.  You may sing in a foreign language but not required.  Sing a selection that best demonstrates your range, tone quality and musical strengths. Bring sheet music and an accompanist will be provided.

      All music performed must be memorized, and an accompanist will be provided. Please bring a clear hard copy of your audition music with the piano part clearly visible for your accompanist. You will be provided an opportunity for a short rehearsal with your accompanist prior to your audition. Recorded accompaniment is not acceptable for the audition. All voice auditions include a sight-reading and tonal memory component.

    • All jazz applicants (excluding those auditioning on drum set) are expected to play all major, dorian, and mixolydian scales and arpeggios and will be asked to sight-read. Please provide the audition panel with play along tracks on either CD or MP3. There will be a speaker provided for playback.

      Jazz guitarists and jazz pianists should be prepared to “comp” the chords on their prepared pieces. Drummers are expected to demonstrate a variety of styles in the jazz idiom (swing, latin, jazz waltz, shuffle, rock and funk).

      • Applicants must play three jazz tunes (two of which should be written transcriptions) of contrasting styles including one blues (see the list below for suggestions). You will be expected to play the melody and improvise at least two choruses. You should also be prepared to “walk” a full chorus on swing tunes.

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz standards of contrasting styles including medium swing, samba, and ballad with brushes. You will be expected to improvise a chorus or trade fours on each of the three songs. Demonstrate knowledge of form, style, and comping within the three songs. In addition to the jazz standard, prepare a snare drum solo of your choosing from Charles Wilcoxon's "All American Drummer: 150 Rudimental snare solos," and a melodic étude, jazz standard, or classical piece for piano or vibraphone.

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • All jazz guitarists must play Major scales in 5 positions and Dorian and Mixolydian scales in 2 positions. Applicants will also be asked to play one chord melody and perform two jazz standards of contrasting styles demonstrating melody, comping and improvisation (see tune list below for suggestions). Please provide the audition panel with play-along tracks on either CD or MP3; playback equipment will be provided for your audition. Applicants should also be prepared to sight-read chord charts and single note melodies.

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz tunes of contrasting styles, one of which should be a blues (see the list below for suggestions). You will be expected to play the melody and improvise at least two choruses. Applicants must also demonstrate competency on their primary instrument via two contrasting (lyrical and technical) works in the classical idiom (one must be a movement from a standard solo work and an etude may be substituted for the other).

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz tunes of contrasting styles, one of which should be a blues (see the list below for suggestions). You will be expected to play the melody and improvise at least two choruses. Applicants must also demonstrate competency in technique and characteristic tone via two contrasting (lyrical and technical) works in the classical idiom (one must be a movement from a standard solo work and an etude may be substituted for the other).

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz tunes of contrasting styles, one of which should be a blues (see the list below for suggestions). You will be expected to play the melody and improvise at least two choruses. Applicants must also demonstrate competency on their primary instrument via two contrasting (lyrical and technical) works in the classical idiom (one must be a movement from a standard solo work and an etude may be substituted for the other).

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz tunes of contrasting styles, one of which should be a blues (see the list below for suggestions). You will be expected to play the melody and improvise at least two choruses. Applicants must also demonstrate competency on their primary instrument via two contrasting (lyrical and technical) works in the classical idiom (one must be a movement from a standard solo work and an etude may be substituted for the other).

        Suggested Standards

        Billie’s Bounce
        Recordame
        Tune Up
        Someday My Prince Will Come
        Bluesette
        Take the A Train
        Lover Man
        Tenor Madness
        Song for My Father
        Blue Bossa
        Oleo
        What’s New
        Mr. PC
        Watermelon Man
        Satin Doll
        Alice in Wonderland
        Anthropology
        Body and Soul

      • Prepare three jazz tunes of contrasting styles selected from standard jazz repertoire. An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
    • In addition to completing an audition on a principal applied instrument following the requirements detailed above, applicants to the B.M. in Composition must submit a portfolio of notated scores consisting of 2 to 3 compositions representing your best work and demonstrating substance and variety. Recordings of live performances, readings, or computer realizations of the works are recommended, but not required. Composition portfolios must be submitted along with this application by the deadlines for your desired audition date. 

    • In addition to completing an audition on a principal applied instrument following the requirements detailed above, applicants to Music Education will be asked to interview with a member of the Music Education faculty and to provide a letter of recommendation from a music teacher.

    • In addition to completing an audition on a principal applied instrument following the requirements detailed above, applicants to the B.M. in Music Theory must complete an interview with a music theory faculty member. A music theory faculty member will contact the applicant once their application has been received and processed.

  • Once you have been accepted to Kennesaw State University, you may apply for scholarships here. Your completed application will search for any and all scholarships for which you may be qualified.

    Music scholarship recipients will be notified via email from the Bailey School of Music director. 

Questions?

Contact artsadmissions@kennesaw.edu, or visit admissions.kennesaw.edu.

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