<p>"All prospective undergraduate students will be asked to sight read a short musical phrase, as well as repeat short melodic passages (first played on the piano) to demonstrate tonal memory capabilities." - How important is this part of the audition in determining acceptance to a music program and or scholarships? My d believed she did great on the songs for audition but stumbled a little in the sight reading and tonal memory.</p>
<p>It all depends on the school and the talent pool.</p>
<p>This sounds like Univ of Michigan. My D auditioned there too and said the first phrase was very easy, but the second was weird and unharmonious. I wonder if they gave all auditionees the same unusual phrase?</p>
<p>It was Baylor University</p>
<p>I would guess the sight singing isn’t that important; however, the tonal memory I would think would be important as a measure of innate musicality. </p>
<p>Of course if you missed some of the more atonal ones i’m sure it won’t be a problem.</p>
<p>I would think that the sight singing and tonal memory portions of the audition are not nearly as important as the performance parts. While they will add to the overall picture the faculty forms of the candidate they are not the most important features. The school wants to ensure that they do not accept vocal performance majors that cannot read music at all (and some singers do have significant struggles with music reading). Some slight stumbles are normally expected on sight singing unless the selection was very easy.</p>
<p>Normally the sight-reading and tonal memory portions of the audition are meant to gauge where the singer is at in those areas. I’ve had either or both at each voice program I’ve auditioned for (6 total) and had been told that the assessments weren’t meant to count against me. I didn’t audition at Baylor, though, and can’t say for sure if that is also their philosophy!</p>