Applying to Morehead State University

There are three steps to the application process for incoming music majors and minors, regardless of whether you want to pursue jazz studies, classical saxophone, or both: 
  • Apply to the university online.    You can do that here if you didn't do it above.
  • Apply to the music department online, and schedule an audition time.   You can do that here.
  • Practice hard, and play a great audition! All students must audition before the faculty before being officially admitted
             to the program. No auditions will be held after the final cut-off date.

Things to keep in mind:
  • Earlier is better.  Students who audition at the earliest dates have first priority for music scholarship money.
  • $cholar$hips.  For information on university scholarships and financial aid, check this out.
  • Take a test drive.  It's important for you to go to school where you "fit," and you know that you will get what you need in order to be successful in your life after school. If you would like, you can contact us to set up a day to shadow an undergraduate saxophone student to really see what it is like to be a saxophone student at Morehead State--you can even get a lesson while you are here. We can also provide you with a school excuse if need be.

Auditions for the 2018 School Year

There are three official audition dates for the 2015-2016 school year.
  • Friday, January 29, 2016, 10:30 AM - 3 PM, Baird Music Hall 
  • Saturday, February 13, 2016 as a participant of Concert Band Clinic 
  • Saturday, February 20, 2016, 10:30 AM - 3 PM, Baird Music Hall or by appointment 
  • NOTE:  Auditions are also scheduled in conjunction with selected educational music events hosted on the MSU campus.  Further, since music scholarship awards are contingent upon University admission, prospective students are strongly encouraged to complete their MSU admission application file prior to February 1
Students may schedule an independent audition with Dr. Taylor and the woodwind or jazz faculty at another date in advance if these dates are not acceptable; however, those who wish to be considered for scholarships must audition no later than Saturday, February 20. No auditions for the saxophone studio will be heard for the 2016 school year after March 20.

 Information for undergraduate auditions

Concert Saxophone Information

 Your audition will consist of the following:
  • A full-range chromatic scale (low B-flat to high F or higher)
  • Major Scales in all 12 keys
  • Prepared Solo — two contrasting compositions, or two contrasting movements within one work. See the list below for examples of solo works appropriate for audition.
  • Sight-reading
  • Brief question and answer session

Click here to download suggested audition pieces
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Jazz Studies Saxophone Information

Your audition will consist of the following:
  • A full-range chromatic scale (low B-flat to high F or higher)
  • Major Scales in all 12 keys
  • Transcription of a solo on jazz standard — suggestions include solos by (alto) Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond, Cannonball Adderly, Kenny Garrett . . . (tenor) Dexter Gordon, Stan Gets, Stanley Turrentine, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson .  .  . Memorization is optional. Please bring copies of your transcription with you to your audition. The transcription may be professionally created or done by you, but must be clearly printed with changes
  • Improvise over the chord changes on tune of your choice, approved at least 24 hours in advance by Dr. Taylor
  • Sight-reading excerpt from a big band chart
  • Brief question and answer session

Graduate Information

Graduate Students need freedom to explore their own creativity, while continuing to hone their technical ability. To allow that freedom, we do not propose specific pieces and technical exercises for auditions at the graduate level.  Keep in mind, admission is competitive, and few students will be accepted in order to allow for the greatest amount of one-on-one time with faculty, so repertoire choices should be bold, and authentic to your own ideas about music. 

Prospective Master of Music students will be evaluated by audition in two areas:  technical facility and artistic point of view.

Technical facility:
 Scales
  -Major, Harmonic Minor (diatonic 3rds and 4ths optional, but encouraged)
  - Chromatic (into the altissimo register to E-flat)
  -As evidenced by repertoire choice

Artistic Point of View:
 Choose a program of approximately 30 minutes that demonstrates your identity as an artist and musician. Before or after your performance, you will have an opportunity to comment on your choices, and share your future plans. It is important that you play at a high level, but also that you have a focused mission as an artist. The pieces that you choose are of equal importance as the way that you play them. Please note, piano accompaniment is not necessary, nor will it be provided. Please take this into account as you choose your program. Pieces with fixed electronics will be accommodated. If you are interested in the Master of Music in Performance, please contact Dr. Taylor for more specific guidance. 

Graduate Assistantships
Morehead State University awards graduate assistantships only following acceptance to the University and Department. These assistantships do not come in the form of tuition remission, but rather in the form of bi-monthy payments. The current rate is $5,000 per semester, or $10,000 per year. If you live frugally, it is possible to avoid significant debt, as the tuition rate is very low compared to most other programs and MSU does not charge out of state tuition for graduate work.  For more information, you can download the 2014-2015 Cost of Attendance.