Piano Audition Requirements

Piano (BM, BME, BA)

A prescreening video is required of all applicants as explained below. All applicants applying for a music major and/or scholarship must audition for the piano faculty. Additionally, all first-year undergraduates invited to audition will be considered for the Nordan Young Artist award. Learn more about the Nordan Young Artist Award program.

For prescreening submission requirements, a minimum of two selections of contrasting styles should be submitted as part of the School of Music Admission ApplicationPrescreening recordings must be unedited, with a fixed camera position, and audio must be of high quality. (Audio only will not be accepted)

For admission into the TCU School of Music and scholarship consideration, applicants are encouraged to audition in person before the TCU piano faculty.

BM Piano Audition Repertoire

Prepare repertoire chosen from:

  • One prelude and fugue by J.S. Bach.
  • One movement from a sonata from the Classical period.
  • One representative work from either the Romantic period (e.g. Chopin, Brahms, Schumann) or the 20th or 21st centuries.
  • Length of audition is 15 minutes. All music must be performed from memory.

Live auditions are recommended. If you cannot attend one of the live general audition dates, you may submit video audition recordings. You will have the option to upload videos different from those you submitted for the prescreening round.

BME and BA Audition Repertoire

Prepare repertoire chosen from:

  • One work from the Baroque period of the minimum difficulty of an Invention by J.S. Bach
  • One movement from a sonata from the Classical period
  • One work from the Romantic period or the 20th or 21stcenturies
  • Length of audition is 15 minutes. All music must be performed from memory.

Live auditions are recommended. If you cannot attend one of the live general audition dates, you may submit video audition recordings. You will have the option to upload videos different from those you submitted for the prescreening round.

Learn more about the piano program at TCU.

For questions regarding specific piano audition repertoire, contact Dr. Ann Gipson at a.gipson@tcu.edu.

Masters candidates – Audition Requirements

A prescreening video is required of all applicants as explained below. You will be notified if you advance to the audition round.

All applicants applying for graduate studies and scholarship consideration must audition for the piano faculty. 

All auditions must be completed by February 18.

For admission into the TCU School of Music and scholarship consideration, applicants are encouraged to audition in person before the TCU piano faculty.

MM Piano Students Prescreening Video Requirements*

  • A recording of a minimum of three stylistic periods should be presented, to include a complete sonata or other large-scale composition.
  • The prescreening recording must be a minimum of 20 minutes.
  • All music must be performed from memory.
  • For prescreening submission requirements, recordings meeting the audition repertoire below should be submitted as part of the School of Music Admission Application. Prescreening video recordings must be unedited, with a fixed camera position, and audio must be of high quality. (Audio only will not be accepted.) Recordings should be from the last two (2) years.

Invited Piano MM Students Audition Requirements*

  • A program of a minimum of three stylistic periods should be presented, including a complete sonata or other large composition. The prepared program should be at least 30 minutes in length.
  • Length of live audition is 20 minutes
  • All music must be performed from memory.
  • Applicant must present a dossier at the audition which must include the audition program, a vita, and a repertoire list.

*Final MM Auditions are by invitation only following review of the applicant’s prescreening recording and application materials.

Learn more about the piano program at TCU.

For questions regarding specific piano audition repertoire, contact Dr. Ann Gipson at a.gipson@tcu.edu.

DMA candidates – Audition Requirements

A prescreening video is required of all applicants as explained below. You will be notified if you advance to the audition round.

All applicants applying for graduate studies and scholarship consideration must audition for the piano faculty. 

All auditions must be completed by February 17.

For admission into the TCU School of Music and scholarship consideration, DMA applicants are required to audition in person before the TCU piano faculty.

DMA Piano Students Prescreening Video Requirements*

  • A recording of a minimum of three stylistic periods should be presented, including a major work from the classical period.
  • The prescreening recording must be a minimum of 30 minutes.
  • All music must be performed from memory.
  • For prescreening submission requirements, recordings meeting the audition repertoire below should be submitted as part of the School of Music Admission Application. Prescreening video recordings must be unedited, with a fixed camera position, and audio must be of high quality. (Audio only will not be accepted.) Recordings should be from the last two (2) years.

Invited Piano DMA Students Live Audition Requirements*

  • A program of a minimum of three stylistic periods should be presented, including a major work from the classical period. The prepared program should be at least 60 minutes in length.
  • Length of live audition is 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute interview.
  • All music must be performed from memory.
  • Applicant must present a dossier at the audition which must include the audition program, a vita, and a repertoire list.

*Final DMA Auditions are by invitation only following review of the applicant’s prescreening recording and application materials.

Learn more about the piano program at TCU.

For questions regarding specific piano audition repertoire, contact Dr. Ann Gipson at a.gipson@tcu.edu.

A prescreening video is required of all applicants as explained below. You will be notified if you advance to the audition round.

All applicants applying for a music major and/or scholarship must audition for the piano faculty.  Applicants are encouraged to audition in person before the TCU piano faculty.

All auditions must be completed by February 18.

Piano Artist Diploma Students Prescreening Video Requirements*

  • A recording of a minimum of three stylistic periods should be presented, including a major work from the classical period.
  • The prescreening recording must be a minimum of 20 minutes.
  • All music must be performed from memory.
  • For prescreening submission requirements, recordings meeting the audition repertoire below should be submitted as part of the School of Music Admission Application. Prescreening video recordings must be unedited, with a fixed camera position, and audio must be of high quality. (Audio only will not be accepted.) Recordings should be from the last two (2) years.

Invited Piano Artist Diploma Students Final Audition Requirements*

Artist Diploma candidates should prepare repertoire chosen from:

  • One work from the Baroque period
  • One complete sonata from the Classical period
  • One major work from the 19th century
  • Two etudes of virtuosity, one of which must be by Chopin
  • One work from the 20th or 21st century
  • Length of live audition is 20 minutes
  • All music must be performed from memory

*Final Artist Diploma Auditions are by invitation only following review of the applicant’s prescreening recording and application materials.

Learn more about the piano program at TCU.

For questions regarding specific piano audition repertoire, contact Dr. Ann Gipson at a.gipson@tcu.edu.