Auditions FAQ

• What if I can't attend any of the four in-person audition dates?

  If you are unable to attend any of the in-person audition dates, please email us at GSMAuditions@okstate.edu as soon as possible. We will try to work with you to schedule an audition at a later time with your applied area faculty. Please be aware that your audition must be completed by February 29 to be considered for a scholarship or out-of-state waivers.

• I'm applying as an international student... is there anything in particular I should know?

  As with all other universities in the United States, for full acceptance to OSU, all international applicants must meet or exceed a minimum English language proficiency exam score. The minimum scores for undergraduate admission are a TOEFL IBT score of 61, an IELTS score of 5.5, or a PTE Academic Score of 46. Master of Music students must meet the OSU Graduate College minimum scores of 79 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS.

   

  International students are not only eligible for undergraduate scholarship funds or graduate assistantships, but may also be awarded generous Non-Resident Tuition Waivers that lower tuition costs by over 60 percent. The awarding of such financial aid is based primarily on the quality of each student’s live or video audition, assuming the auditioning student has been fully accepted through the university admissions process. 

   

  For more information, visit the International Studies sites for undergraduate studies and Graduate College.

• Which instrument/music area has specific audition dates?

  For spring 2024 auditions, the following instrument/music areas have limited audition dates:

  • Piano auditions will only occur on Saturday, February 3 and Saturday, February 10 after the High School Piano Competition.

  • Horn, Trombone, Tuba and Euphonium auditions will only occur on Saturday, February 17 or Friday, February 16 by appointment only.

  • Non-major/minor Percussion Auditions for OSU Drumline, please click here.

   

• What should I bring?

  • Instrumental performance auditionees must bring their own instrument to their audition, with the exception of the piano and drumset.

  • All vocal performance auditionees must bring their cleanly copied music, hole-punched and placed in a binder. More information from the vocal area can be found here.

  • Composition applicants should bring their portfolio of work and be prepared to leave a hard copy with Dr. Karâca or provide a link to view all work online. 

  • Bring a relaxed and positive attitude! You got this!

• What should I expect?

  • You can check in anytime between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

  • There are practice rooms available on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors to warm up.

  • Auditions are about 10 to 20 minutes long, depending on your instrument or area. Graduate auditions can be 30-45 minutes long.

  • Music Majors and Minors can take their Music Theory Placement Exam before or after your scheduled audition time. Allow yourself about 30 minutes to complete your exam.

  • Vocal auditionees will be expected to sight read after their audition.

  • We'll have music service organizations in our lobby for you to meet with.

  • If you'd like a campus tour, contact Campus Tours to schedule.

• Do you offer Zoom auditions?

  The Greenwood School of Music primarily offers on-campus auditions for fall 2024 admission. This modality is subject to change based on inclement weather. For those unable to audition on campus, we offer a video submission option. 

• What are the requirements for video audition submissions?

  Music Majors and Minors

  Please be sure to include full takes of pieces, as detailed in the repertoire list. Videos of all singers and instrumentalists must show a full-body frame that allows for clear views of woodwind and brass players’ embouchure, hands, and face, for the head, hands, and feet of pianists, etc. Videos should feature the performer alone in a room without a live audience. Musicians must show a full-body frame with close-up shots of embouchure, hands and face. You should also include information about the instrument you’re playing.

   

  If you have questions about your video audition, please contact GSMAuditions@okstate.edu. For information regarding video submission for pianists, please contact the the piano area coordinator, Dr. Thomas Lanners at thomas.lanners@okstate.edu.

   

   

  Cowboy Marching Band

  Videos should be 3-5 minutes in length for those auditioning only for the Cowboy Marching Band. Your audition should demonstrate both lyrical and technical abilities as a player. Some appropriate suggestions, but not requirements, may include regional or state audition music, études, band music, or solo and ensemble repertoire. OSU Drumline Auditions, please click here.

   

  Video Format

  Please use the following format to create a file name for your video: yourfullname.instrument.date (example: PistolPete.clarinet.01.23.22)

   

  When you begin your video, please state:

  • Your full name
  • Where you are from (example - Pistol Pete High School, Stillwater, Oklahoma)
  • Why you are interested in music and/or the Cowboy Marching Band
  • What piece(s) you will be playing

  Please be sure to set the visibility to “Unlisted” on your videos when you upload it to YouTube. If they are set to private, we will not be able to view your audition videos.

   

  submit your video audition

• I'm auditioning for piano... Can my OSU High School Piano Competition performance count as an in-person audition?

  Yes! High school seniors participating in the OSU High School Piano Competition may elect to have their competition performance serve as their college audition. Students interested auditioning at GSM on Saturday, February 10, 2024 must also fill out an audition request form listed above in the How to Audition for the Greenwood School of Music Step-By-Step section. More information about the OSU High School Piano Competition can be found here:

   

  OSU HIGH SCHOOL PIANO COMPETITION

• I'm interested in the OSU Drumline only... where can I find more information about that?

  All first-round auditions for percussionists wanting to gain membership in the OSU Drumline will do their first audition via YouTube (or other video submission). Videos must be sent to percussion@okstate.edu by April 1, 2024.

   

  Audition material and helpful videos can be found here: http://percussion.okstate.edu/osup/Entrance_Auditions.html

   

  After the first-round videos have been reviewed, live auditions will occur at the Oklahoma State University campus on April 27, 2024 from 9am to 4pm and May 4, 2024 from 9am to 4pm.

   

  Questions? Reach out to Professor Wayne Bovenschen at wayne.bovenschen@okstate.edu

• What is a Music Theory Placement Exam?

  This exam has been designed to meet the needs of music students at several levels, from entering freshmen music majors to transfer students and graduate students. It is in the student’s best interest to be placed into the appropriate level of music theory studies. 

   

  It is our goal that you succeed at your music studies at Greenwood School of Music. We want you to be placed into the classes that will benefit you the most. There is no advantage to being placed into a class that is too advanced, if you fail and fall behind in your degree plan. There is also no advantage to being placed into a class that you do not need. 

   

  This is a “placement exam.” It is designed to measure your knowledge and skills on a typical day. You should not cram for this exam. If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip it and move on to the next one. The more that can be determined about what you know and what you don’t know, the better the recommendation that can be made to your advisor. 

   

  After the exam, a recommendation will be sent to all music advisors, regarding which courses a student should enroll. Students will meet with an advisor to  discuss their degree plan and begin scheduling their classes for the upcoming semester.

• Can I study for the Music Theory Placement Exam?

  We highly recommend studying and not cramming for the Music Theory Placement Exam. Students can study for their exam by signing up for a free account on uTheory.com.

   

  Sign up for a free uTheory account

• Where can I find information about scholarships and grants?

  For priority scholarship consideration, undergraduate students must complete their audition by February 29. This includes in-person and video auditions. Scholarship and grant information can be found here: 

   

  Scholarship Information

• I'm not planning to major or minor in music but want to participate in a music ensemble. Where can I find more information about ensemble auditions?

  Ensembles are open to ALL OSU students regardless of major. Each ensemble is made of music and non-music majors. The ensembles are solely decided upon ability and auditions are required. Auditions for ensembles (except for Cowboy Marching Band and OSU Drumline) are held the week before the fall and spring semester commences. More information can be found here:

   

  ENSEMBLE INFORMATION

• I have questions that aren't answered on this page...

  No worries! Email us or give us a call at (405) 744-8999. We'd love to help you out!