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Pop and Commercial Music

Students performing at the House of Blues

Students can audition on campus or virtually via Zoom. Registration for these events can be done though the Loyola Application Portal. 

Review the drop-down menus below for specific repertoire requirements.

 

On-Campus Dates

Virtual Dates

  • Saturday, December 2, 2023

  • Saturday, January 27, 2024

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024

  • Saturday, December 9, 2023

  • Saturday, February 3, 2024

  • Saturday, March 9, 2024
  • Perform 2 songs in varied styles- Memorized
  • We are listening for your voice: Unique, original and creative approaches to creating and interpreting music
  • Songs may be original or cover material
  • Be prepared to work through vocal exercises and demonstrate improvisation skills
  • Accompanists are not provided for on-campus auditions. You should bring backing tracks for your audition or you may self-accompany with guitar, piano, etc.

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.
  • Perform 2 songs in varied styles- Memorized
  • Pieces/songs may be original or cover material
  • Use effects pedals sparingly- We are interested in what you can do with the instrument alone
  • Be prepared to improvise, read music (notation and chord charts) and play scales
  • An amplifier will be provided for on-campus auditions

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.
  • Perform 2 pieces/songs that showcase your ability to play in various popular styles: Rock, funk, reggae, swing, bossa nova, etc.- Memorized
  • Use effects pedals sparingly- We are interested in what you can do with the instrument alone
  • Be prepared to improvise, read music (notation and chord charts) and play scales
  • An amplifier will be provided for on-campus auditions

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.
  • Perform 2 pieces/songs that showcase your ability to play in various popular styles: Rock, funk, reggae, swing, bossa nova, etc.- Memorized
  • Be prepared to solo in different styles, read music and test your rhythm
  • A drum set is provided for on-campus auditions- Applicants are advised to bring their own cymbals, hi-hat clutch and snare

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.
  • Perform 2 pieces/songs that showcase your ability to both perform solo tunes and to accompany- Memorized
  • Be prepared to improvise, read music (notation and chord charts), play scales and arpeggios
  • An electronic weighted keyboard with a pedal and amplification will be provided for on-campus auditions

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.
  • All applicants, regardless of instrument, will participate in various aural skills tests, which may include: Call-and-response exercises, singing scales and intervals, identifying harmonic progressions and singing a given example
  • The aural skills test typically takes 3 – 5 minutes
  • All applicants will be briefly interviewed in a conversational style: Be prepared to speak about your musical history, accomplishments and why you want to study at Loyola

 

For students auditioning virtually, you must have the following:

The right place:

  • A quiet, private area where you can audition undisturbed

The right equipment:

  • A strong internet connection
  • A laptop or desktop with a webcam
  • A USB microphone is highly recommended: Blue Snowball or Blue Snowflake are affordable options.

The right time:

  • Be prepared 5-10 minutes in advance of your scheduled audition time
  • Double check your time zone: All auditions are held in Central Time. If you’re in Pacific, Mountain, Eastern Time or another international time zone, you’ll need to plan for the time difference.