Gospel Chorus performing at Hertz Hall
For information about Music 168 (private lessons for music majors) and other performance opportunities in the department, please scroll down.
Ensemble Audition Information
Music 116: Jazz Theory and Performance
Contact Ben Goldberg at ben.goldberg.music@berkeley.edu.
Music 140: Javanese Gamelan
Prospective students are tested for ability to match pitch and rhythm in the first class meeting. New students attend section 1.
Music 141: University Symphony
Complete audition requirements here.
Music 142: University Wind Ensemble
Additional information and requirements can be found on the UCBWE page.
Music 143: Gospel Chorus
Auditions will be Wednesday, August 23rd and Friday, August 25th (11:30 am to 1:30 pm in 250 Morrison Hall); please sign up here. Please send inquiries about auditions to gospelchorusauditions@gmail.com
Music 144: University Chorus
All forms and audition information can be found here.
Music 145: Chamber Chorus
All forms and audition information can be found here.
Music 146B: Balinese Gamelan
Students’ ability to learn by ear, to match pitch and rhythm, and listen to the other players in the ensemble will be assessed over the first two to four class meetings.
Music 148: African Music Ensemble
Come to first class meeting.
Music 149: University Baroque Ensemble
Complete the audition form for University Baroque Ensemble.
Music 165: Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective
Auditions for MU 165, The Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective will be held on Thursday, August 24th, from 1pm – 4pm, in Morrison 134. Please contact Prof. Melford to sign up for an audition, and to ask any questions you may have about the audition process: mmelford@berkeley.edu
Music 168 Series Courses (Private Lessons) Audition Information
Please note that the Music 168 series (private lessons) are open to Music Majors only and an audition is required at the beginning of each semester. All students, both new and returning, who want to enroll in Music 168 must complete an online application (currently under revision). More information about the 168 program can be found on the Music 168 page. Audition details are below:
Music 168A (orchestral instruments)
See info regarding University Symphony: Music 141.
Music 168B (voice)
See audition information here.
Music 168C (piano)
Complete the audition form (including audition questions)
Music 168D (world music instruments)
Complete the Music 168D, Music 168E, and Music 165 Audition Sign-up Sheet (coming soon).
At the audition, students interested in Music 168D will be asked to perform a piece or section of a piece for the supervising faculty member. There is no standard for length or degree of difficulty. The supervising faculty member will discuss ensemble performance with the student, though that discussion will vary greatly, depending on the musical tradition to be studied. Choosing a 168 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising faculty can provide guidance.
Music 168E (individual lessons in jazz and improvised music)
MU 168E, Individual Lessons in Jazz Performance, will be held on Thursday, August 24th, from 1pm – 4pm, in Morrison 134. Please contact Prof. Melford to sign up for an audition, and to ask any questions you may have about the audition process: mmelford@berkeley.edu
Music 168G (classical guitar)
Contact Mark Shaw at MusMgr@berkeley.edu. If you are interested in auditioning for jazz guitar, please audition for Music 168E instead of 168G. If you are not sure whether you want to audition for jazz or classical guitar, you may audition for both 168G and 168E and decide after you have been accepted into the 168 program.
Music 168H (Baroque instruments)
Complete the Baroque Ensemble audition form.
Music 168I (organ)
Contact George Emblom, instructor, at organlessons@berkeley.edu to arrange an audition.
Other Performance Courses
Carillon study (Music 40, 41A, 41B, and 42)
All carillon classes are being taught this semester.
Music 40, Beginning Group lessons in carillon
Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, August 29 & 30. Contact ucbells@berkeley.edu for further information. Music 40 is a prerequisite for the rest of the carillon series.
FOR SECTIONS 1 & 2 (beginner level):
Auditions will be held in person during the first few weeks of the semester. Auditions will close at the end of the 2nd week of classes. If you are already enrolled, you must audition to remain enrolled– look for announcements via bCourses about audition dates and times. If you are NOT registered yet and would like to do a walk-in audition the first day class meets, please put your info on this list– you will receive audition dates/times via email.
Students should prepare to sing one verse or chorus of any song in any language. Students will not be asked to sing an entire song. Instead, students will be asked to follow simple singing commands (such as singing a single pitch played by the instructor, singing scales played or sung by the instructor, singing “Happy Birthday”, and singing some simple guided harmony). And, if the instructor feels the need to hear a bit more, she will ask you to sing the verse or chorus you prepared.
FOR SECTION 3 (advanced level):
No prior formal experience is required to be admitted to Section 3 (Music 44:003), though the instructor will be listening for voices that demonstrate some level of maturity, developed informally or formally. Students in this section generally range from intermediate to advanced levels of vocal maturity and comfort singing. Before the semester begins, interested students should first put their information on this Google Sheet using their berkeley.edu account, then submit a pre-audition video to music44advanced@gmail.com. Videos can be submitted up to one week before the first Wednesday class meets– thereafter, students must audition in-person with peers at open audition times or during the first two class meetings. Open audition dates/times will be announced by email to students signed up on the Google Sheet. Details on what to include in the audition video are below. Note: in-person auditions will not include an accompanied portion– everything except vocal exercises will be sung a cappella.
The video should be 1 minute in total length, including 2 contrasting songs, 30 seconds each. The songs can be performed in any style and any language that best represents the student’s ability. The instructor will use the video to assess 2 primary things: 1) the ability to sing in tune consistently, and 2) the level of vocal development. Other factors considered include one’s comfort singing as a soloist, the ability to stylize and/or improvise, the ability to hear and sing harmony. For students who have extensive singing experience, after you’ve signed up on the Google Sheet, please email a link to performance recordings/videos online instead of submitting a recording. Thank you!
Song 1: Must be sung a cappella (without instrumental or vocal accompaniment being played in headphones or on a speaker).
Song 2: Must be sung with an instrumental-only track playing out loud. Please make sure there is no vocal playing on this track.
You can find a variety of free instrumental (karaoke) accompaniment tracks on YouTube and Spotify. For your reference, some examples of different styles are listed below. Feel free to use these or others that fit your voice and preference.
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Summertime (Jazz version)
Dear Theodosia (from Hamilton)
Amazing Grace (hymn)
Like I’m Gonna Lose You (John Legend & Meghan Trainor)
Students will receive notification from the instructor within 5 business days of their submission — the instructor will advise whether the students should 1) proceed to enroll, 2) be heard in-person at the beginning of the semester, or 3) choose a different pathway to work on singing (e.g., enroll in the beginner section, or enroll in Music 20, Introduction to Musicianship to work on sight singing ear training, or use online resources to work on pitch-matching).
Music 45M is a class intended for Music Majors enrolled in Harmony 151A or higher. Non-majors enrolled in harmony or other music classes requiring piano skills may be considered for the class if space permits.
Individual meetings for placement in Music 45M will take place on Friday, August 25th, from 11:00am – 12:30pm and 1:00 to 3:00pm, in Room 64 (Practice Room area, lowest level of Morrison Hall). Please sign up here and bring with you a completed 45M Placement Exam Form (the reviewer will need the hard copy on which to write during your appointment.) These forms will be available outside Room 64.
Other performance opportunities
Summer Symphony auditions
Auditions take place in mid-to-late June of each year. See summer symphony page for details.
Piano competition
This is a biennial competition. No auditions are scheduled at this time.
DeCal classes
For policies for participation and audition information about any required auditions, check the DeCal website under “find a course” at the beginning of each semester.
Student Musical Activities (SMA)
Check the SMA website for specific audition information for each group.