UNF School of Music Programs of Study

The School of Music, in collaboration with the College of Education and Human Services, offers the Music Education curriculum for the preparation of teachers of general classroom, instrumental, and choral music. All majors must pass a piano proficiency examination before enrolling in a full-semester internship. Graduates of the program receive the degree and are eligible to apply for a Florida Professional Certificate valid for five years to teach music in grades K-12. 

Upon successful completion of an audition and theory placement test and acceptance into the School of Music, freshmen and sophomore students interested in pursuing music education should consult with an advisor for music education in the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE). Junior and senior students should consult with an advisor for music education in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Music Education major prepares students for a life in music. Graduates will demonstrate mastery of music content knowledge and teaching skills that leads to effective instruction in music education. The core learning objectives of the program are correlated to the National Association of Schools of Music standards and the Florida Accomplished Practices at the pre-professional level.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

Clarinet

1. Two movements from the following list of solos, preferably from two different solos:
   • Weber Concerto No. 1 
   • Mozart Clarinet Concerto 
   • Weber Concertino 
   • Poulenc Sonata

   OR

   One movement from above list and one contrasting Rose 32 etude.

2. All major scales and arpeggios.

Percussion

Repertoire should include keyboard percussion, snare drum, and timpani.

1. Keyboard:
   • Two Mallet solo from Koshinski, Becker or G.H. Green Xylophone Solos or 2 mallet Bach suite movement
   • Representative/Suggested 4 mallet Marimba solos: Abe Michi or Wind in the Bamboo Groves, Burritt October Night or Preludes, Musser Etudes, Sammut Rotations, Tanaka Two Movements for Marimba, Rosauro Concerto for Marimba, Trevino Song Book or Strive to Be Happy
2. Snare Drum:
   • Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, Delecluse Etude no. 1 or 6 from Douze Etudes, Peters Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Studies
   • Wilcoxon The All American Drummer or Modern Swing Solos

The Jazz Studies curriculum prepares students for a life in music. Graduates hold positions in all aspects of the music industry, including performing in the nation’s top professional military ensembles, composing and arranging for the industry’s leading artists, touring internationally, and serving as leading pedagogues in music education.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Great American Jazz Series

A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series, which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents. This series, along with other opportunities, has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 and 2 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists, such as Herbie Hancock, The Count Basie Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Louie Bellson, Dr. Billy Taylor, Arturo Sandoval, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Doc Severinsen, among others. Complete list from 1989 to present. 

Audition Requirements

The faculty reserves the right to decline any application if the auditionee is not prepared in the specified requirements.

Saxophone, Trombone and Trumpet

1. Auditionees should prepare six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
2. Auditionees should prepare a transcription or etude, medium swing or up, at least 16 bars long.
3. Auditionees may be asked to improvise one F or Bb blues (one head and two solo choruses, medium tempo) and one American Songbook or jazz standard; performed with a rhythm section or play along.
4. Students who play multiple instruments should demonstrate their proficiency on the secondary instrument. One brief prepared piece or étude on each secondary instrument is sufficient.

Bass

1. Auditionees should prepare six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
2. Auditionees may be asked to improvise one F or Bb blues, walking basslines, head and soloing optional; American Songbook or jazz standard walking basslines, head and soloing optional; performed with a rhythm section or play along. 
3. Auditionees who play acoustic and electric bass should demonstrate their proficiency on each instrument. One brief prepared piece or étude on each instrument is sufficient.
4. Auditionees who are bass players must demonstrate proficiency in various styles such as Swing, Bossa Nova, Samba, and Funk. Please perform brief excerpts of these styles.

Jazz Drumset

The UNF jazz drum set audition will be a live audition. Students should prepare the following:

1. Choose a 12 Bar Blues, such as Billie’s Bounce, Now’s The Time, or a jazz standard, such as Solar or All The Things You Are and be prepared to play the selection with a rhythm section, and take a 1 chorus drum solo on the song form.
2. Perform 30 seconds (each) in the following styles
   1. Slow swing (90 BPM)
   2. Medium swing (160 BPM)
   3. Fast Swing (220 BPM)
   4. Bossa Nova (120 BPM)
   5. Samba (240 BPM)
   6. Funk/Rock
   7. Latin Cascara
   8. Songo
    
3. Be prepared to sight read a big band chart excerpt in swing style, performing the selection as though you were playing in a big band.
4. For helpful audition tips, please view the full version of Professor Gottlieb’s “Ace The School Audition” video for Drum! magazine. Access video here.

 Jazz Guitar

All jazz guitar applicants are to attend a live audition. Students must demonstrate the ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section.

1. Required piece: the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie’s Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses). 
2. Perform three other selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection).
3. Demonstrate “comping” on a standard song of your choice.
4. Original compositions should not be included.

Jazz Piano

All jazz piano applicants are to attend a live audition. 

1. Auditionees should prepare six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
2. Auditionees must perform one 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie’s Bounce or Now’s the Time in medium tempo (play the melody once and improvise a minimum of three choruses).
3. Auditionees must play one American Songbook or jazz standard and performed with a rhythm section or play along. Tunes such as Solar, Blue Bossa, All the Things You Are or other jazz standards are acceptable. Auditionees should play the melody and improvise over the chord changes. 
4. Auditionees must demonstrate one chorus of “comping” on a standard song of your choice. It is fine to comp on the American Songbook song you have selected. 

The School of Music offers a comprehensive degree program in Piano Pedagogy to prepare students to teach piano to a wide variety of levels in diverse settings or to continue further study at the graduate level. The Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy maintains a strong performance curriculum in addition to the core music curriculum (music theory, aural theory, music history), liberal arts coursework, and eight semesters of work in piano pedagogy.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

1. A work from the Baroque style period (i.e. a Two- or Three-Part Inversion or Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach, a dance movement or suite, etc.)
2. A movement from a Classical sonata (i.e. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert)
3. A work from either the 19th, 20th, or 21st century
4. 4-octave scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys
5. Sight reading

Audition material must be performed from memory. Auditionees who submit CDs or videos must demonstrate abilities required by items 4 and 5 above upon their arrival to UNF.

The Music Technology and Production curriculum prepares students for a life in music. UNF Music graduates hold positions in all aspects of the music industry, including performing in the nation's top professional and military ensembles, composing and arranging for the industry's leading artists, touring internationally, and serving as leading pedagogues in music education. This concentration prepares students for careers in all facets of music technology and production, including studio recording and live sound engineering. 

The music performance concentration in Music Technology and Production prepares musicians to be sound engineers. While taking courses in music technology and production, students will also receive rigorous training in ear training, music theory, piano skills and private lessons on their primary instrument.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

Prospective students must submit a portfolio of 2-3 works they have produced, engineered or created to Dr. Joshua Tomlinson, Instructor and Music Technology and Production Area Coordinator, at j.tomlinson@unf.edu. The music in your portfolio may be original, but it is not required. You may choose to play your preferred instrument, but it is not required. Additionally, each work submitted must include technical notes that briefly describe the technology involved in the production (program notes are optional). Portfolios are due by your chosen audition day (e.g. If you audition March 5, you must email your portfolio to Dr. Tomlinson by 11:59 p.m. on March 5).

For students whose primary instrument is brass, woodwinds, strings, guitar, voice:

We will assess your musical skills to ensure that you can pass the core music courses (music theory, ear training, class piano). These classes require Music Technology and Production students to develop strong musical skills in addition to expertise in technology.

1. One or two pieces of your choice, in the styles of your choice.
2. Sight reading
3. Major Scales

*For questions about these audition requirements, contact the applied professor.

For students whose primary instrument is drum set:

Students are required to prepare the following:

1. Assorted drum set styles:
   1. Light rock
   2. Funk
   3. Boss nova
   4. Samba
   5. Swing (moderate tempo)
   6. Swing (fast tempo)
   7. Jazz waltz
    
2. Trade 4’s in swing: Repeatedly play four bars of time followed by four bars of fill/solo
3. Trade 4’s in rock: repeatedly play four bars of time followed by four bars of fill/solo
4. One published snare drum solo: rudimental or symphonic. Recommended sources are:  
   1. Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
   2. 14 Modern Contest Solos by J. Pratt
   3. Portraits in Rhythm by A. Cirone
   4. The All-American Drummer/ 150 Rudimental Solos by Charley Wilcoxon (prepare two short selections or one long selection (entire page)
    
5. Perform all major scales and arpeggios on piano, xylophone or any other instrument in one octave

In addition to the above, students will be asked to do the following (required):

1. Sight read a basic swing chart with recording (both provided by the committee)
2. Sight read on snare drum
3. Briefly demonstrate ability to match pitches by humming or singing pitches (one note at a time)

Students may also augment their audition (optional) by:

1. Performing a xylophone or marimba solo
2. Playing all of the major scales and arpeggios in 2 octaves on marimba or xylophone

*For questions about these audition requirements, contact the applied professor.

For students whose primary instrument is percussion: 

Snare Drum:

One concert etude from Cirone, Peters or similar

Mallets:

1. Major scales and arpeggios in 2 octaves
2. Two mallet solo on marimba or xylophone, grade 4 or higher (Green, Bach, Hatch, Schinstine)

Timpani:

Choose 1 solo or etude from Peters, Hochrainer, Firth or similar

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

1. 4 mallet etude or solo
2. Rudimental SD solo (Pratt, Wilcoxon)
3. Demonstrate basic drum set ability

Applicants will be asked to sight read on mallets and snare drum.

For students whose primary instrument is piano:

There are two tracks in piano. The audition option you choose makes a potential impact on how many piano-related courses you will take as part of the program. The audition requirements for both tracks require two repertoire pieces of contrasting style. Both should be based on printed sheet music (please bring a copy with you to the audition). At least one should be classical music.

Audition Option A:

1. Two contrasting solos (min. 1 classical) at a Level 2 or higher - i.e. Works by Gurlitt, Kabalevsky, etc, or comparable to Bartok's First Term at the Piano or Mikrokosmos, Book 2.
2. Prepare scales in all major keys, 1 octave, hands together

If admitted via Audition Option A, to meet the Applied Piano requirement you would take Class Piano 3 and 4 your first year, and two years of applied (private) piano in your second and third years.

OR

Audition Option B:

1. Two classical solos in contrasting styles comparable (or more difficult) to Clementi's Op. 36 Sonatinas, the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, or the Burgmuller Arabesque.
2. All scales (major and harmonic minor) 2 octaves, hands together.

If admitted via Audition Option B, to meet the Applied Piano requirement you would take two years of private piano lessons.

*For questions about these audition requirements, contact the applied professor.

The Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance is a four-year program intended for students who wish to become professional musicians or continue further study in music at the graduate level. The Bachelor of Music program consists of a core curriculum (music theory, aural theory, music history), applied study (lessons, ensembles, piano accompanying, senior recital) and a strong liberal arts foundation.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

1. A work from the Baroque style period (i.e. a Two- or Three-Part Inversion or Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach, a dance movement or suite, etc.) 
2. A movement from a Classical sonata (i.e. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert) 
3. A work from either the 19th, 20th, or 21st century 
4. 4-octave scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys
5. Sight reading.

Audition material must be performed from memory. Auditionees who submit CDs or videos must demonstrate abilities required by items 4 and 5 above upon their arrival to UNF.

The Bachelor of Music in Strings Performance curriculum prepares students for a life in music. Graduates hold positions in all aspects of the music industry, including performing in the nation's top professional and military ensembles, composing and arranging for the industry's leading artists, touring internationally, and serving as leading pedagogues in music education.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

1. Prepare a solo of appropriate difficulty. Auditions should display musical maturity through expression, technique and stylistic interpretation. Solos need not be memorized but should reflect a high degree of familiarity and careful preparation by the performer. The use of an accompanist is optional, but recommended.* 
2. Auditionees will be asked to perform major and minor scales and arpeggios in various keys. 
3. Auditionees will be required to sight-read. 
4. Auditionees will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of common musical terms and symbols, keys, and time signatures. 
5. Upon arrival to UNF, accepted auditionees who submitted recordings must demonstrate abilities required by items 2, 3 and 4 above.

Violin

1. One movement from an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita. No repeats.
2. One movement from a standard violin concerto
3. Sight-reading

The Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance curriculum prepares students for a life in music. Graduates hold positions in all aspects of the music industry, including performing in the nation's top professional and military ensembles, composing and arranging for the industry's leading artists, touring internationally, and serving as leading pedagogues in music education.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

1. Please prepare three classical selections in contrasting styles.
2. Stylistic preference should be given to standard art songs and/or arias from the baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century classical repertoire. Musical Theater and folk song selections sung in English are also acceptable.
3. At least one selection must be in a language other than English with linguistic preference given to Italian, German, French, Latin or Spanish. Classical selections in Portuguese, Russian, Czech, or Polish are also acceptable.
4. The entire audition should be memorized and performed with live piano accompaniment. If you need an accompanist, one will be available at the audition. Please bring a copy of your music and $35 cash or check for the accompanist fee.
5. Applicants will also be required to sing short sight-singing excerpts and vocal exercises led by the faculty.
6. Applicants are required to wear appropriate and professional audition attire.

Video auditions are not be accepted in the Voice Area. If you cannot attend one of the audition days, please contact Courtney Diaz at schoolofmusic@unf.edu.

The Bachelor of Music in Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Performance curriculum prepares students for a life in music. Graduates hold positions in all aspects of the music industry, including performing in the nation's top professional and military ensembles, composing and arranging for the industry's leading artists, touring internationally, and serving as leading pedagogues in music education.

Osprey Map [Course Sequence Guide]

Audition Requirements

Clarinet

1. Two movements from the following list of solos, preferably from two different solos:
   • Weber Concerto No. 1
   • Mozart Clarinet Concerto
   • Weber Concertino
   • Poulenc Sonata

    

   OR

   One movement from above list and one contrasting Rose 32 etude.

2. All major scales and arpeggios.

Percussion

Repertoire should include keyboard percussion, snare drum, and timpani.

Keyboard

• One two-mallet solo from Koshinski, Becker or G.H. Green Xylophone Solos, or a Bach solo suite movement
• One four-mallet solo: Representative/suggested repertoire includes: Abe Michi or Wind in the Bamboo Groves, Burritt October Night or Preludes, Musser Etudes, Sammut Rotations, solos by Rosauro or Trevino 

Snare Drum

• Choose one etude from the following: Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, Delecluse Etude no. 1 or 6 from Douze Etudes, Peters Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Studies
• One rudimental etude from the following: Wilcoxon The All American Drummer or Modern Swing Solos

Timpani

Sight reading required.

Woodwinds and Brass

1. Prepare a solo of appropriate difficulty. Auditions should display musical maturity through expression, technique and stylistic interpretation. Solos need not be memorized but should reflect a high degree of familiarity and careful preparation by the performer. The use of an accompanist is optional, but recommended.* 
2. Auditionees will be asked to perform major and minor scales and arpeggios in various keys.
3. Auditionees will be required to sight-read. 
4. Auditionees will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of common musical terms and symbols, keys, and time signatures. 
5. Upon arrival to UNF, accepted auditionees who submitted recordings must demonstrate abilities required by items 2, 3 and 4 above.