TAC Auditions

Welcome, TAC students!

Below, you'll find the audition requirements for the TAC area. For full audition and application information, please visit the Application & Auditions page.

Audition Dates

All live auditions will be held on-campus in San Francisco. Please visit the Application & Auditions page to view dates.

Pre-Screening Requirements

All TAC applicants are required to submit prescreening requirements detailed below with the application. Applicants will be informed if they are invited to attend an audition or have been denied in prescreening.

One notated musical score that demonstrates original musical thought and the fundamentals of compositional technique
One self-produced recording of your original work (can be made using any combination of acoustic and virtual instruments)
One or more additional work samples: We want to get a sense of how you think and interact with various disciplines and technologies. Please include anything that might paint a bigger picture of your creativity or interests. Multimedia art, interactive digital art, literary interests, improvisation, and computer-generated compositions are encouraged.

Two essays

What are some recent developments in music technology that you are most excited about? Why? (200-250 words)
How did you hear about the TAC Program? (200 words max)

Final Audition

For all TAC applicants:

You will need to demonstrate your piano proficiency at the final audition. You do not need to upload piano recordings for prescreening.
If piano is not your primary instrument, you still need to fulfill the piano proficiency at the final audition, but may also perform or submit recordings of you performing on your primary instrument.
Applicants may make updates or additions to the prescreening scores and recordings for their Final Audition portfolio.

Be prepared to discuss your notated score and uploaded media with the faculty.

Performance of one or two selections of music on piano or keyboard that demonstrates basic knowledge of music theory and hand coordination. If piano is not your primary instrument, please perform a short piece on your primary instrument or share a recording of you playing it. This is in addition to the piano performance requirement.

Piano pieces can vary in difficulty. The following are examples of beginner to intermediate pieces that could be performed with a few months of practice for non-pianists. The entire work does not need to be performed, only selections. Total performance time should be at least five minutes.

Bach Notebook for Anna Magdalena
Bartok Mikrokosmos
Kabalevsky Pieces for Children, Op. 27
Stravinsky Les cinq doigts

Virtual Interview/Audition

For those who are approved for a virtual Zoom interview, a recording of you playing the piano must be uploaded no later than 11:59 pm PST prior to your audition date. If piano is not your main instrument, an upload of you playing your primary instrument is also required.