School of Church Music Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Audition and Placement Preparation Master of Music in Church Music Master of Divinity with Church Music Concentration Master of Arts in Christian Education with Church Music Minor School of Church Music Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary During orientation, each student entering the School of Church Music will participate in auditions and placement examinations as well as advising. The following information is designed to help students prepare for those auditions and examinations. Students in the Master of Divinity with Church Music Concentration and the Master of Arts in Christian Education with Church Music Minor will follow all requirements for the Master of Music in Church Music degree. Master of Music in Church Music students are required to audition in conducting, piano, and voice as well as for ensembles. They will also take placement examinations in music history and music theory. Those students selecting an applied concentration (conducting, instrumental studies, jazz studies, organ, piano, and voice) will be required to audition to qualify for that concentration. The information is organized as follows: Auditions Required of All M.M.C.M. Students Conducting Piano Voice Ensembles Placement Examinations Required of All M.M.C.M. Students Music History Music Theory (including musicianship skills) Auditions and Qualifications for Students Selecting an Applied Concentration Composition Conducting Instrumental Studies Jazz Studies Organ Piano Voice Optional Examinations for Advanced Standing Church Music

2 Auditions Required of All M.M.C.M. Students CONDUCTING To complete the conducting audition successfully, the student must exhibit an overall coordination of the physical conducting gestures necessary to express all meter signatures (both symmetrical and asymmetrical) and all mechanics inherent in expression of the elements of music. A student must be able to: 1. Demonstrate a skillful coordination of the right hand and arm to conduct the traditional rhythmic meter designs of: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve beats per measure; 2. Demonstrate a skillful gesture to conduct all subdivisions of basic meter designs as well as the ability to meld smoothly from one beat design to another and from non-divided beats to subdivision and the reverse; 3. Demonstrate the ability to achieve through the conducting gesture a precise initial attack on any pulse or anacrusis of all meter designs; 4. Demonstrate the ability to achieve through the conducting gesture a precise release on any pulse or anacrusis of all meter designs; 5. Demonstrate a coordinated gesture to achieve with the right hand and arm any expressive element; 6. Demonstrate the effective cueing of any part on any pulse in any meter design; and, 7. Demonstrate a coordinated flow of the left hand and arm, either intermittent or continuous, to achieve all of the above mechanics in sympathy with the right hand and arm. A student with no previous coursework in conducting with enroll in CONDG 1622 Choral Conducting. A student not passing the conducting audition will enroll in CONDG 2671 Conducting Review. PIANO All students are required to attend the piano audition. A student may either attempt the Piano Proficiency or demonstrate their general level of proficiency in selected areas in order to determine placement. A student with no previous keyboard study is not required to play at the audition, but must still meet with the keyboard faculty to be assigned to the appropriate course number. Each student must demonstrate an acceptable level of piano proficiency before being allowed to graduate. To satisfy the Piano Proficiency (PIACL 4870), the student must: 1. Sightread an SATB open score in chorale style (one may practice by reading four-part anthems).

3 2. Play all major scales, their arpeggios, and all white-tonic minors (harmonic and melodic) and their arpeggios, in two octaves, with the correct fingering. 3. Play a I IV I 6 4 V I cadence in all positions in all major keys and white-tonic minors. 4. Transpose at sight a single part of any hymn up or down a step. 5. Supply at sight a simple chordal accompaniment to a melody using I, IV, and V chords. 6. Play from memory two hymns from the Baptist Hymnal (any edition) and one Bach chorale from an edition of the collected chorales. 7. Play from memory a polyphonic piece about the level of pieces in the Little Preludes of J. S. Bach and a homophonic piece, such as a simple sonata or sonatina movement from the standard literature. 8. Demonstrate the ability to play from a lead sheet by playing one of the two praise songs included at the end of this document. The student who has prepared thoroughly may take the proficiency examination at the audition. Students are not to attempt this option unless all items on the exam are prepared. Those students not prepared for the proficiency will either be granted permission to prepare for it independently or assigned the appropriate level of review study in piano lessons based on the audition. If a student is allowed to prepare independently, the proficiency examination must be taken during the first semester of study. Students requiring Piano Review must register for the appropriate section until the Piano Proficiency is passed. The Piano Proficiency must be passed before a student is eligible to register for Comprehensive Examinations. VOICE All students are required to sing for the voice audition. Students with previous vocal training should sing art songs or arias. Students with no vocal training may sing a solo song or hymn. An accompanist will be provided. Each student must demonstrate an acceptable level of voice proficiency before being allowed to graduate. In addition, four credit hours of voice instruction must appear on the student s transcript. To satisfy the Voice Proficiency (VOICL 4970), the student will perform two memorized songs representative of the student s highest level of study, demonstrating vocal and musical ability and

4 achievement. This performance will be evaluated in terms of the following criteria: 1. Accuracy of pitch and rhythm 2. Acceptable singing quality 3. Clear diction 4. Variety of tone color and dynamic range 5. Musical sensitivity If fully prepared to do so, the student may pass the Voice Proficiency at the time of the audition. Students who have voice on their transcript but are not prepared for the Voice Proficiency may make arrangements to take the Voice Proficiency during juries at the conclusion of their first semester. Students with no vocal study on their transcript will be required to take VOICL 1912 Class Voice I and VOICL 1922 Class Voice II. The successful completion of the class voice requirement will satisfy the Voice Proficiency. The Voice Proficiency must be passed before a student is eligible to register for Comprehensive Examinations. ENSEMBLES Students must audition for the ensembles in which they would like to participate, whether enrolling for degree credit or not. Ensembles include: Chapel Orchestra Chamber Orchestra Combo Lab Guitar Ensemble NewSound Orchestra Southwestern Master Chorale Southwestern Singers Placement Examinations Required of All M.M.C.M. Students MUSIC HISTORY In the area of music history, students must demonstrate knowledge of the following: 1. characteristics of each period in music history 2. representative composers and their works from each period 3. appropriate musical terminology of forms, genres, and techniques

5 Students who do not pass the music history exam may: 1. Retake the placement exam the next time it is offered during orientation (the music history entrance exam may only be taken twice); or 2. Take a leveling course without graduate credit with a grade of C or higher as early in their program as possible. All leveling work must be completed before a student is eligible to enroll for Comprehensive Examinations. MUSIC THEORY In music theory, students will be examined in the following areas: 1. Harmony 2. Ear Training 3. Sight Singing Students not passing these exams will be assigned leveling courses to be taken without graduate credit. Such courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher as early in the program. All leveling work must be completed before a student is eligible to enroll for Comprehensive Examinations. These placement exams may not be retaken. Additional exams are required for all M.M.C.M. students, except those pursuing a concentration in jazz, in the following areas: Form Counterpoint Instrumentation Post-Tonal Theory If students have completed courses in these areas, they will take placement examinations to verify their comprehension of the subjects. A student may attempt these exams a second time during the following semester s orientation period. Students who do not pass these exams will take the appropriate courses as leveling requirements. All leveling courses will be taken without graduate credit and must be completed with a grade of C or higher. They should be completed as early in a student s program as possible. All leveling work must be completed before a student is eligible to enroll for Comprehensive Examinations. Students whose transcripts do not document coursework in these areas will take the respective courses. Students may receive Advanced Standing through challenge exams (not the placement exams), which can be scheduled in consultation with the chair of the music theory department. Music theory review courses may not be audited.

Auditions and Qualifications for Students Selecting an Applied Concentration Those students selecting an applied area in composition, conducting, instrumental studies, jazz studies, organ, piano, or voice must receive the approval of the department of the proposed applied area based on an audition. Prerequisites for an applied concentration on the M.M.C.M. are the completion of an undergraduate degree in the applied area and the performance of a senior recital. Leveling work may be completed at Southwestern if those prerequisites are lacking. 6 COMPOSITION The student must meet with the chair of the Composition and Theory Department during orientation for an interview. The student should bring a portfolio of works and recordings for review. CONDUCTING The student should inform the department chair of their intention to pursue a conducting concentration at the time of the general conducting audition during orientation. During the first semester, all prospective conducting concentrations must complete an application for the M.M.C.M. conducting concentration with the department chair and be evaluated by a personal interview. Further evaluation will be made at the conclusion of CONDG 4602, at which time the eligibility for the concentration will be confirmed or denied. INSTRUMENTAL STUDIES The student should perform at least two contrasting pieces, etudes, or collection of orchestral passages demonstrating their ability to perform at a graduate level. Accompanists are optional and are the responsibility of the student. Sightreading may also be required. JAZZ STUDIES The student should improvise several choruses of at least two contrasting tunes that demonstrate their ability to perform jazz at a graduate level. Students are responsible for bringing their own accompaniment or play-along recording. Sightreading may also be required. In the absence of an undergraduate jazz recital on the student s transcript, a portfolio of materials may be submitted to demonstrate an equivalent level of performance. The portfolio may include audio and/or video recording(s), printed programs, or PR materials documenting the student s participation in significant small-group jazz performances. The director of jazz studies will determine whether the necessary level of proficiency has been achieved to satisfy the Improvisation Proficiency (JAZCM 4210). If not, a 30-minute leveling recital will be required before ensembles and applied study can be taken for credit toward degree requirements.

7 ORGAN The student must have a bachelor s degree in organ or the equivalent. The student should be prepared to perform a twenty- to thirty-minute entrance audition. The repertoire should include at least three pieces from different periods and styles (one of them should be a larger work by J. S. Bach) representing the highest level of achievement. Memorization is not required but strongly encouraged. Sight-reading and hymn playing is also required. In addition, the student should bring recital programs and recordings for review if available. Keyboard Proficiency Examination for Organ Concentrations Organ concentration students in the M.M.C.M. degree must pass a practical Keyboard Proficiency Examination. This must be accomplished no later than the semester before the recital semester. To satisfy the Keyboard Proficiency Examination, the student must: 1. Play scales and arpeggios 2. Transpose at sight a hymn up or down a whole step 3. Realize a figured bass in four-part texture 4. Sightread a four-part (usually SATB) open vocal score 5. Modulate to G major from any key 6. Sightread additional material as required PIANO The student should be prepared to perform from memory at least two (2) pieces from different periods and styles, representing the highest level of achievement. Sightreading may also be required. In addition, the student should bring recital programs and recordings for review if available. Technical Jury for Piano Concentrations Piano concentration students in the M.M.C.M. degree must pass a practical technical jury, demonstrating skills in the following areas: scales, arpeggios, octaves, transposition, open score reading, and sightreading. This must be accomplished no later than the semester before the recital semester. VOICE The student will sing from memory three selections from art song, opera, and oratorio literature, one of which must be sung in English. In addition, the student should bring recital programs and recordings for review if available.

8 Optional Examinations for Advanced Standing CHURCH MUSIC Students have the opportunity to qualify for advanced standing in each of the following areas of church music if they have completed an equivalent course on the undergraduate level and pass an examination verifying mastery of that subject: 1. Congregational Song 2. Philosophy in Ministry 3. Worship Advanced standing examinations are offered during orientation and may be taken during the initial orientation period or during a later one. Students should not delay, however, in either qualifying for advanced standing or taking the appropriate class. Advanced standing allows the student to substitute a course in the area of church music but does not decrease the number of hours required for the degree.

9 Appendix Piano Proficiency Praise Songs Play one of the two praise songs below, playing only the chords (not the melody), one chord per beat.