Music Student Advising

Music Department Orientation

New and returning music students on all campuses and students interested in private lessons are required to attend one of the following Mandatory Orientation and Audition sessions on the Plano Campus:

Monday, June 24 at 5 p.m., Room C103;
Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m., Room C103;
Monday, August 12 at 9 a.m., John Anthony Theatre. 
Click here to register.

Email music@collin.edu for all questions.

 

Audition Requirements for Applied Lessons and General Ensembles

Applied Lesson (MUAP) Audition Requirements for Music Majors
Applied Brass

  ·  Perform at least two contrasting works or segments of works

  ·  Be able to perform all major scales in two octaves ascending and descending, articulation and rhythm chosen by applicant

  ·  Sight read a short etude or excerpt

 

Applied Composition and Arranging 

  ·  Complete Music Fundamentals (MUSI 1303) level of music theory proficiency with emphasis on music notation skills

  ·  Demonstrate proficiency in Electro-Acoustic Composition: knowledge of sound synthesis techniques

 

Applied Guitar

  ·  Play a fingerstyle piece/song in any style;

  ·  Demonstrate a strumming pattern.

 

Applied Lessons in Jazz

  ·  Perform a prepared piece (jazz standard) including melody and improvisation

  ·  Additional requirement for Piano and Guitar: "comping" over chord progression

  ·  Additional requirement for Bass: walking bass line over chord progression 

  ·  Additional requirement for drum set: demonstrate a variety of styles and groove

  * Percussionists should perform works on multiple instruments including keyboard percussion (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone), snare drum, tympani, and/or drum.

 

Applied Keyboard

  ·  Perform two pieces in contrasting styles that best represent your ability. 

 

Applied Percussion

  ·  Perform at least two contrasting works or segments of works on multiple instruments including keyboard percussion (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone), snare drum, tympani, and/or drum set

  ·  Be able to perform all major scales in two octaves ascending and descending, articulation and rhythm chosen by applicant

  ·  Sight read a short etude or excerpt

 

Applied Strings
  ·  Perform a three-octave scale (shifting into 1, 2, 3, and 3 positions)

  ·  Perform Mazas/Kreutzer Etudes or any etude equivalent for cello and double bass

  ·  Play a solo piece

  ·  Demonstrate sightreading skills

 
Applied Voice

  ·  Perform one art song or aria in English from memory with accompaniment

  ·  Perform one art song or aria in either Italian, German, French or Spanish from memory with accompaniment

  ·  Sight read a short exercise in the treble or bass clef depending on voicing of applicant

 

Applied Woodwinds

  ·  Perform at least two contrasting works or segments of works

  ·  Be able to perform all major scales in two octaves ascending and descending, articulation and rhythm chosen by applicant

  ·  Sight read a short etude or excerpt

 

 

General Audition Requirements for Music Ensembles (MUEN):
Please note: Music Ensembles are open to all Collin College students that pass the audition requirements.
 

Demonstrated proficiency in the requisite instrument is required for all ensembles and will be assessed during the audition process. On the occasion when a student is unable to demonstrate the required proficiency to participate in an ensemble, the ensemble directors will offer appropriate options for students who are unable to meet the demands of the ensemble’s repertoire and rehearsal schedules. Beginner coursework is available to students in Class Guitar, Class Piano, and Class Voice.

 

Chamber Choir (MUEN 1153)

  ·  Singers may email a video of them singing an acapella song (no accompaniment or tracks) to show vocal range and intonation to ensemble director

  ·  Singers should demonstrate the ability to learn their music outside of class in order to be prepared for rehearsals. Sightreading is a plus, but not required

 

Chamber Ensemble (MUEN 1136)

  ·  Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate level of an instrument is required for all students in the ensemble

  ·  Perform at least two contrasting works or segments of works on your instrument (brass, keyboard, strings, voice, woodwinds)

 

Guitar Ensemble (MUEN 1137)

  ·  Play a fingerstyle piece/song in any style

  ·  Demonstrate a strumming pattern

 

Keyboard Ensemble (MUEN 1132)

  ·  Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate level is required for all students in the ensemble

  ·  Perform two pieces in contrasting styles that best represent your ability

New Music Ensemble (MUEN 1131)

  ·  Prescreening: Meet with Dr. Chris Morgan for placement as a composition student to compose and write music for a mixed media ensemble that performs experimental, avant-garde, electronic, and contemporary music

 

OneSound Pop Group (MUEN 1151)

  ·  Prescreening audition: Submit a video singing an acapella pop song of your choice to the ensemble director

  ·  Callback Auditions: Students will submit two videos carefully following guidelines that demonstrate:

            o  Choreography: students will learn a routine utilizing video resources and provide a video successfully dancing the choreography while singing the solo line

            o  Vocal Harmonization: students will submit a video with their own harmonization to a recording from the director demonstrating their ability to harmonize in tune with a melodic recording

 

Opera Workshop (MUEN 1152)

  ·  Perform one art song or aria in English from memory with accompaniment

  ·  Perform one art song or aria in either Italian, German, French or Spanish from memory with accompaniment

  ·  Sight read a short exercise in the treble or bass clef depending on voicing of applicant

  ·  Demonstrate the ability to learn music outside of class in advance of rehearsals to prepare roles for staged productions

 

String Ensemble (MUEN 1139)

  ·  Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate level is required for all students in the ensemble 

  ·  Play a 2-octave scale (showing two shifts, ability to use 3rd position mandatory)

  ·  Play three minutes of a solo piece

  ·  Demonstrate the ability to sightread exercises within 1st position

 

Symphonic Wind Ensemble (MUEN 1122)

  ·  Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate level of an instrument is required for all students in the ensemble 

  ·  Perform at least two contrasting works or segments of works

  ·  Be able to perform all major scales in two octaves ascending and descending, articulation and rhythm chosen by applicant

 

Jazz Combo (MUEN 1140) and Jazz Lab Band (MUEN 1121)

  ·  Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate level is required for all students in the ensemble  

  ·  Prepare and perform the melody, an improvisation, appropriate comping of a jazz standard

  ·  Prepare and perform an excerpt from a big band arrangement 

 

 

Departmental Advising Contacts

Collin College Music Field of Study Advising • Prof. Casey L. Carter • ccarter@collin.edu
Choirs, Theory, and General Music Advising • Prof. Kathy Morgan • kmorgan@collin.edu
Composition, Commercial Music Majors and Certificates • Dr. Chris Morgan • cmorgan@collin.edu
Frisco Campus Music Studies • Dr. Kimberly Harris • kharris@collin.edu
Guitar Studies • Dr. Fernand Vera • fvera@collin.edu
Jazz Studies • Pete Weise • pweise@collin.edu
Keyboard Studies Advising • Dr. Brian Allision • ballison@collin.edu
McKinney Campus Music Studies • Dr. Alicja Usarek • ausarek@collin.edu