Prospective Students

Listed below are suggestions that will help ensure the success of your vocal scholarship audition.

• You should arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the audition time in order to have appropriate warm-up time.
• You should have your music memorized, if possible.
• You should seek help from your voice teacher, minister of music, or high school choral director in the selection and preparation of music. These professionals will know vocal literature that will best suit your voice, assuring, therefore, a better audition on your part, and as a result, a better vocal scholarship.
• You should be prepared to sing two selections, preferably from art song (classical) or music theatre (Broadway) literature. It is not required that you sing in a foreign language although it is permissible. All-region and All-state solo literature is acceptable.
• You may bring your own accompanist or we will be pleased to assist you with one of our staff accompanists. Piano accompaniment is preferable to taped accompaniment.

Students are encouraged to follow the above listed guidelines.  It has been established that the most effective development of the singing voice is best achieved through the study and singing of classical literature.

Our goal is to assist the student in the development of a superior vocal technique. Once this vocal technique is mastered, the student should be capable of singing a variety of types of music with equal artistry.

Listed below are suggestions that will help ensure the success of your instrumental scholarship audition.

• You should call to set up a scholarship audition date and time.
• You should arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the audition time in order to have appropriate warm-up time.
• You should have two selections prepared, one lyrical and one technical. The selections can be from solo repertoire or etudes used for Region or All-State auditions.
• Solo literature may be performed with or without an accompanist. An accompanist will not be provided by Ouachita for your audition.
• With your prepared selections we will require you to sight read selections which we will provide. To prepare for the sight reading portion of the audition you should practice reading etudes and other literature for your instrument.
• The University scholarship deadline is February 15. Make sure you have turned in scholarship forms and scheduled your audition before February 15.
• You should seek the help of your band director or private lesson teacher in preparing for your audition and in the selection of your audition literature.

Instrumental scholarships are awarded to Music Majors and non-Majors. The Band Scholarship service award requires participation in the Marching Band and the Symphonic Band and enrollment in at least one semester of private lessons. Other scholarship money is available for participation in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Basketball Pep Band and Small Ensemble Program.

Auditions for these groups will be held at the beginning of each semester. Instrumental Music Major Scholarships adhere to the standards set by the Division of Music.

Listed below are suggestions that will help ensure the success of your piano scholarship audition:

• You should arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the audition time in order to have appropriate warm-up time.
• You should have your music memorized, if possible.
• You should seek help from your piano teacher in the selection and preparation of music. These professionals will know piano literature that will best suit your talent, assuring, therefore, a better audition on your part, and as a result, a better piano scholarship.
• You should be prepared to perform two selections in contrasting/different styles preferably from the classical music repertory. If you have questions about the selections you should perform, contact the Keyboard Studies Coordinator, Dr. Ouida Keck, [email protected] or call 870-245-5352.
• You will be expected to sight-read a composition selected by the faculty suitable for your level of performance ability.

Students are encouraged to follow the above listed guidelines.  The most effective development of performance ability on the piano is best achieved through the study and performance of classical literature.

Our goal is to assist the student in the development of a superior technique and performance ability. Once this technique is mastered, the student should be capable of performing a variety of types of music with equal artistry.