<p>I am very interested in pursuing music. I know it is a very tough and competitive field but it has been my dream since i can remember. It is my passion and i have a very strong ear for music. Anyway, most schools i am considering require an audition on top of a common app. However, some schools such as the new school for jazz and contemporary music, give the option for a cd recording instead of a live audition. Now, my question is, does this cd have to be just voice and/or a single instrument recording, or can it be a composition you have put together using recording, midi software, etc.? I am no where near classically trained but have been writing songs for the past 5 years, and by using a mix of live recordings and fl studio software, i have put together many works. Would i be able to use these works or does it have to be the same sort of audition you would preform at a live audition? Thanks for any and all help and for reading this essay of a question!</p>
<p>The requirements for an audition based admit will be school specific and spelled out in detail on the website. The parameters will vary based on the discipline, be it voice, instrumental performance, or composition. A jazz tract will entail different audition repertoire than a classical one. </p>
<p>Read the website info, and if it is unclear, then call/email The New School.</p>
<p>There are posters with audition experience at that program within the [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums). I’ve asked the moderators to move your thread there.</p>
<p>the new school is pretty clear that you cant do that. they want to hear your playing, not what you can put together in a studio. Your tracks have to be uninterrupted and have either a full live band (as i learned from my prescreen there. not you and an accompaniest) or use the music minus one tracks they make available. You can’t do any kind of studio manipulation to them.
I’d imagine for a school focused on songwriting or production, that what you want to do would be perfect (for instance a supplement at your Berklee audition–the one music school that actually encourages a portfolio and music supplement in addition to the admission requirements/your application for their origional music scholarship).</p>
<p>OP, based on your experience and genre, be sure to check out some of the music technology with audition or music recording/electronic composing (portfolio only) programs out there as well. Eg. here are some of the “portfolio” programs we looked at that WANT electronically enhanced/hybrid originally composed portfolio work or that type of experience: Clive Davis at Tisch/NYU for songwriting/producing; Indiana Jacobs SOM for Recording Arts; University of Michigan Performing Arts Technology; Miami Frost Digital. Also, contemporary music emphasis at USC and recording/producing emphasis at Belmont.
For music technology, lots of music schools have great programs that will include live auditions, eg. Oberlin TIMARA, Steinhardt, McGill etc. Hope that gives you food for thought. Good luck!</p>