Most schools require pianists to perform four octaves of major and minor scales, major and minor arpeggios, two to three memorized classical pieces and at least one intermediate-level sight-reading exercise. Additional requirements might be necessary in some schools, where judges require performers to play additional compositions from baroque, classical, romantic or modern eras. More challenging schools, such as the School of Music and Dance in San Francisco, require pianists to improvise piano pieces with stylish decoration, such as arpeggios and scales and provide historic background detail of the pieces they play.
Vocalists are often required to memorize at least three songs or arias in contrasting styles. Most schools prefer at least one of the pieces to be an Italian composition; other foreign songs should be in German or French. At least one of the songs should be sung in the English language. Some schools allow one musical theater piece, while others do not allow jazz, pop or entertainment songs at all. Most schools will give the vocalist at least one sight-reading piece to perform, and judges will test the vocalist's ability to perform scales and arpeggios. Piano accompanists are typically provided for vocal auditions, but since the vocalist will not have the opportunity to rehearse with the pianist before the audition, some schools allow vocalists to bring their own accompanist.
Schools often recommend that stringed instrument players perform a series of technical studies to display their abilities. In addition to performing major and/or minor scales and arpeggios, performers must play between two and five pieces from different eras, including baroque, classical and romantic; some schools might allow modern era compositions as well. Bach and Mendelssohn are two of the most common composers stringed players typically play during an audition. Not all schools require stringed instrumentalists to memorize their pieces, while other schools strictly require it. Some schools also prefer that string performers play a piece with an accompanist, but this is not necessarily a requirement.
Most woodwind and brass instruments must perform one or two major or minor scales and one chromatic scale that spans the entire range of the instrument. At least two repertoire pieces are required, including one etude (which is more technical and designed for study) and one solo piece (which is more melodic and composed for performance). Some universities also require a selection from an orchestral work and require students to transpose a simplistic melody into a different key to test their theory skills.