Placement Auditions and Assessments
Placement Auditions
The purpose of the placement audition is to assess your current skill level relative to the curriculum. This assessment will help the college place you into an appropriate ensemble and private lesson that will best support your educational needs, along with students of similar ability. You will audition with faculty members from your instrumental department and the Ensemble Department. While auditions differ by department, you are typically asked to perform with accompaniment as well as sight-read, improvise, and play or sing a short piece from your repertoire. Auditions will last about 15 minutes.
How to Sign up for Your Audition
Auditions will take place remotely from August 31 to September 3 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EDT using our YouCanBookMe site (login required). Students will be able to sign up for an audition time slot when slots open on Monday, August 24. The sign-up site will remain open until Friday, August 28 at 5:00 p.m.
Please note: The Ensemble Department holds various auditions throughout the semester, and entering students should not be signing up for additional auditions. Please only sign up for an entering student audition once the time slots open on August 24.
For late ratings auditions, send an email to enstaff@berklee.edu.
How to Prepare for Your Audition
- Review the preparation materials for your instrument.
- Students may perform any music for their assessment, including original songs and classical music.
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Vocalists may accompany themselves on acoustic guitar or piano (this is recommended only if you are highly proficient on your accompanying instrument). Alternatively, vocalists may use a backing track that has been downloaded and does not require internet access.
- This page is updated to include links to the audition packet for each instrument. This includes the sheet music for musical examples you will be asked to perform during your audition. Download and print the packet for your instrument.
In preparation for your audition, please do the following:
- Warm up on your instrument.
- Make sure your instrument is in tune.
- Log in five minutes early.
- Ensure your internet connection is working properly.
- Test the audio and video on your computer and review Zoom Audio Settings.pdf.
- Review your audition packet from below.
Preparation Materials
Download information about what you will be asked to perform during your audition.