<p>Hi, I'm currently a senior in high school from New Jersey planning on majoring in Music Education with a concentration in voice. I'm trying to register for my audition for UMass Amherst for December 4th and am confused about a couple questions. Here's the link to the audition form, in case you want to see it: UMass</a> Amherst: Department of Music and Dance: Audition Request Form</p>
<p>Anyway, what exactly should I write down for solo literature and technical studies? I began taking voice lessons about a year ago in order to prepare for my auditions, so should I write down the pieces I have worked on since then? Also, I have no idea about what to put for technical studies - do they mean the exercises and scales I've done or something?</p>
<p>I would really appreciate it if someone could reply soon; I tried emailing the professor in charge of auditions but he hasn't responded back yet, and my voice and piano teacher aren't sure what to put either. I really want to register in the next couple days so I can send in my prescreening cd, so I need to figure this out soon...</p>
<p>For solo literature, record the pieces that you have studied (along with the composer’s name). Ideally there will be a variety of styles and languages in that list.</p>
<p>For technical studies, you would ordinarily list etudes/studies that you have worked on. Some voice teachers choose not to do any studies (and some teachers of other instruments take the same approach–it is a pedagogical decision). If you have done exercises and scales from a certain method book or by a certain author, then list the method book or author. Do NOT list: G major scale, C major arpeggio etc…</p>
<p>I would not worry too much about that part of the application. The technical studies part is unlikely to have any significant impact on your admission. The quality of your audition is crucial.</p>
<p>The second part (i.e “technical studies”) is most definitely NOT music theory or ear training. Technical studies would include any repertoire which is ordinarily not performed in public concert (because of its limited musicality), but which is studied in order to facilitate the development of technique (i.e. control or mastery over one’s instrument)–e.g. for piano, the Czerny etudes; e.g. for violin, the Kreutzer & Dont etudes; e.g for voice, Concone & Marchesi.</p>