Music at Muskingum

Auditions & Scholarships

The music program welcomes students from all backgrounds, skills, and experiences and generates paths to success across a diversity of interests and goals. The program does not require a performance audition for prospective majors (although scholarship auditions and portfolios are available for interested students). Instead, all students who are admitted to Muskingum may enroll in music classes and declare a Music or Music Education major. All declared music majors complete a performance jury and interview at the end of the second semester of study to discuss performance level and academic record and earn a recommendation for continued enrollment as a music major. Within the program, students work with faculty advisors to create an academic pathway that best aligns with their individual interests, experiences, and professional goals. This includes identifying the ideal classes, supplemental opportunities, and senior capstone projects.

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

The Muskingum University music department offers performance scholarships for music majors, music minors, and music participants in voice, brass, woodwinds, percussion, keyboard, string, jazz, and popular instruments. The department also offers non-performance scholarships for music majors and music minors who demonstrate musical skill in the areas of composition, conducting, research, production, or other area. Scholarship amounts are based upon a student's intended level of participation and musical ability. All scholarships are renewable, provided students meet departmental GPA and participation requirements.

Performance Audition Requirements:

The audition process includes a brief interview in addition to the audition itself. Applicants may complete the audition and interview in person, complete the audition and interview through a virtual platform, or submit a video-recorded audition and complete the interview either in person or through a virtual platform. Applicants should request the appropriate format(s) when scheduling the audition and send any recordings to the departmental administrative assistant at least one week before the interview date.

Applicants for music major and music minor performance scholarships should prepare the following:

Vocalists:       

  • 2 pieces in contrasting styles, 1 of which (preferably) is in a language other than English
  • Sight-reading and tonal memory

Instrumentalists:

  • 2 pieces in contrasting styles or 1 longer work with contrasting sections
  • At least 1 octave of selected major scales (all applicants) and arpeggios (pianists only)

Percussionists:       

  • A solo or etude for any 2 of the following instruments: snare drum, mallet percussion, timpani, drum set (prepared solo or style demonstration: rock, swing, Latin, etc.)
  • Select scales and/or rudiments as appropriate to instrument choice

If the repertoire requires piano accompaniment, applicants are welcome to provide their own pianist. A pianist will be provided by the music department providing a pianist has been requested and the music has been submitted to the departmental administrative assistant at least one week before the audition date.

Music participants are students with other academic majors who would like to take private applied lessons and participate in an ensemble. While participant scholarships are smaller than major/minor scholarships, they are at least enough to cover applied lesson fees. Applicants for participant scholarships may prepare 1-2 pieces of their choice OR should bring music from a current ensemble.

Note: Students are always welcome to audition for and participate in ensembles without auditioning for a performance scholarship.

Non-Performance Portfolio Requirements:

The portfolio process includes a brief interview in addition to the portfolio itself. Applicants may submit a physical portfolio and complete the interview in person OR submit a digital portfolio and complete the interview either in person or through a virtual platform. Applicants should request the appropriate format(s) when scheduling the interview and send any digital materials to the departmental administrative assistant at least one week before the interview date.

Applicants for music major and music minor non-performance scholarships should submit a portfolio that includes one or more of the following:

  • Composition (score and/or recording)
  • Conducting Demonstration
  • Audio/Recording Production
  • Research Paper or Presentation
  • Other material that demonstrates musical strength.

Application Process

Students who wish to be considered for any music scholarship should do the following:

Questions about scholarships, audition requirements, or related matters may be directed to the music department (music@muskingum.edu or 740-826-8095). We look forward to meeting you, hearing you perform, and/or learning more about what you do!

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