Audition repertoire requirements (graduate programs)

For your auditions

Brass (D.Mus., M.Mus. PG Art. Dip., GDP)

D.Mus. (Brass)

Screening
  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus, PG Art. Dip., GDP (Brass)

Screening

N/A

Conducting (D.Mus., M.Mus., Choral Cert.)

D.Mus. (Conducting)

Screening

30-minute video (camera facing the conductor) showing 15 minutes of rehearsal and 15 minutes of performance excerpts featuring a minimum of two contrasting works.


M.Mus. (Conducting)

Screening

30-minute video (camera facing the conductor) showing 15 minutes of rehearsal and 15 minutes of performance excerpts featuring a minimum of two contrasting works.


Choral Conducting Certificate

Screening

30-minute video (camera facing the conductor) showing 15 minutes of rehearsal and 15 minutes of performance excerpts featuring a minimum of two contrasting works.

Early Music (D.Mus., M.Mus. PG Art. Dip., GDP)

D.Mus. (Early Music)

Screening

Early Music Voice

Record seven contrasting pieces, in four major languages, representing song repertoire and opera or oratorio (or both). Two pieces may be post-1800. All repertoire should be performed from memory.

  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

All other instruments

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus. Early Music

Screening

Early Music Voice

As of September 2023, screening is no longer required for this program.

Early Music Instruments

Early Music instrumentalists are exempt from the screening requirement for this program.


PG Art. Dip. , GDP

Screening

Early Music Voice

As of September 2023, screening is no longer required for this program.

Early Music Instruments

Early Music instrumentalists are exempt from the screening requirement for this program.


Guitar (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Guitar)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Guitar)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Guitar)

Screening

  • N/A

Harp (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Harp)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Harp)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Harp)

Screening

  • N/A

Jazz (D.Mus., M.Mus., GDP)

D.Mus. (Jazz)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Jazz)

Screening

All instruments must submit 3 contrasting pieces. Original compositions are not required but appreciated. You must improvise on all the “jazz” selections.

Brass:

Play one piece from each of the three categories below:

  • A be-bop composition
  • A classical étude
  • A piece of your own choice

Saxophone:

Play one piece from each of the three categories below:

  • A be-bop composition
  • A transcribed solo with the recording
  • A piece of your own choice

Piano:

Play one piece from each of the three categories below:

  • A ballad
  • A up-tempo swing (200 BPM minimum)
  • A piece of your own choice (any style)
  • At least 2 pieces must be performed with a live rhythm section (best possible level!) (Play-along recordings accepted only in cases where such musicians cannot be found by the applicant)
    • 1 piece can be solo piano piece (appreciated but not required) 
    • At least 1 piece must be a jazz standard

Drums:

Prepare three contrasting pieces

  • 2 of the 3 pieces should have a swing feel (with 2 different tempos)
  • 1 piece of your own choice
  • These pieces must be performed with live musicians - no play-along recordings.

Bass:

Play one piece from each of the three categories below:

  • A blues (examples: Billie's Bounce; Au Privave, Straight No Chaser, Tenor Madness, Sonny Moon for Two, Blues Walk).
  • A jazz standard (examples: Solar, All the Things You Are, Green Dolphin Street, What Is This Thing Called Love, Stella by Starlight, Four, Night and Day). · A tune with a contrasting feel from the above. This could be either: - A ballad (examples: Body and Soul, What's New, I Can't Get Started, I Fall in Love Too Easily) - A latin or str. 8th tune (examples: Blue Bossa, Corcovado, The Girl From Ipanema, Recordame) or - A tune in 3/4 (examples: Someday My Prince Will Come, Alice In Wonderland, Bluesette, A Child Is Born).
  • These pieces must be performed with a live rhythm section (i.e. piano or guitar, and drums) NO PLAY-ALONG RECORDINGS
  • The blues and the standard should be contrasting tempos, one medium and one medium-up. · For each piece, demonstrate your ability to accompany a soloist and take an improvised solo.
  • Walk a bass line in 2 and in 4 for the blues and the standard.
  • Play the melody for at least two of the pieces.

In addition, a solo classical etude played with the bow may be included if you wish but is not required.

Electric bass players may perform the optional etude without the bow.

Voice and any other instruments:

Choose 3 pieces from these 4 categories (maximum one tune from each):

  • A blues
  • A ballad
  • A jazz standard
  • An original composition

Organ (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Organ)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., PG Art. Dip., GDP (Organ)

Screening

  • N/A

Percussion (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Percussion)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Percussion)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Percussion)

Screening

  • N/A

Piano, Collaborative (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Piano, Collab)

For auditions to the McGill-UdeM Piano-Vocal Arts Residency, please follow the guidelines here: McGill-UdeM Piano Vocal Arts Residency

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Piano, Collab)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Piano, Collab)

Screening

  • N/A

Piano (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Piano)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Piano)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Piano)

Screening

  • N/A

Strings (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Strings)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Strings)

Screening

  • N/A

PG Art. Dip. (Strings)

Screening

  • N/A

Voice (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Voice)

Screening

Record seven contrasting pieces, in four major languages;

  • Record seven contrasting pieces, in four major languages, representing song repertoire and opera or oratorio (or both). All repertoire should be performed from memory.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., GDP (Voice)

Screening

As of September 2023, screening is no longer required for this program.


PG Art. Dip. (Voice)

Screening

As of September 2023, screening is no longer required for this program.


Woodwind (D.Mus., M.Mus. GDP, PG Art. Dip.)

D.Mus. (Woodwind)

Screening

  • Include a minimum of 20 minutes of music and at least two contrasting pieces.
  • You can include recent recital or professional performances.

M.Mus., PG Art. Dip., GDP (Woodwind)

Screening

  • N/A

 

Questions: Email us at graduateadmissions.music@mcgill.ca