SCSU Band Scholarship Information

South Carolina State University offers Band scholarships to qualified Musicians. Band scholarships are designed to help meet part of the cost for attending South Carolina State University.

First time scholarship awards are based primarily on performance ability and/or recommendation(s) by your band director and/or private teacher. Subsequent awards are made because of the student’s demonstrated musical ability while successfully participating in all assigned ensembles. To qualify for a band scholarship, the student must do the following:

       1. Be admitted to South Carolina State University.
       2. Complete a South Carolina State University Band Application.
       3. Submit an audition tape or audition in person.
          *Students submitting tapes may receive a conditional award based on
            their tape; however, they will be required to play an audition upon their
            arrival on campus to receive the actual award.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

       1. University Admission Applications may be obtained from:

Office of Admissions
SOUTH CAROLINA University
Orangeburg, SC 29117
www.scsu.edu

       2. Band Applications and Video Tape Audition Procedure sheets may be obtained from:

Eddie Ellis, Director of Bands
South Carolina State University Bands
300 College St.
P.O. Box 7067
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC 29117

Call the band office at (803)536-8828 if you have any other questions or concerns.

NOTE: YOU NEED NOT BE A MUSIC MAJOR TO RECEIVE A BAND SCHOLARSHIP. HOWEVER, MUSIC MAJORS MAY, IN ADDITION, APPLY FOR A MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP.

AUDITION CRITERIA

The South Carolina State University Band Scholarship Audition is divided into three areas: Tone Quality,
Rudiments and/or Scales and Arpeggios, and Musical Expressions. Please follow the instructions
for each area.

TONE QUALITY:

 To demonstrate your tone quality, please do the following:
      1. Choose any major scale.
      2. Place your metronome on 60 beats per minute or estimate a similar tempo.
      3. Play the scale two (2) octaves (up and down) in half notes.

    SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS: 

To demonstrate your range, dexterity, and ability toarticulate and slur, please play the following:
      1. Place your metronome on 80 beats per minute or faster or estimate a similar tempo.
      2. Play the concert C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, and Ab major scales and their arpeggios two (2)
          octaves (if possible) up and down in eighth notes. Please slur the scale up and tongue the
          scale down without breaking the tempo.
      3. Play the chromatic scale from your lowest note to two or three octaves above it, if
          possible, at your own tempo.

MUSICAL EXPRESSION:

 To demonstrate your ability to interpret music, please do the following:
       1. Choose a solo or any piece of music that is level two (2) or above.
           The piece can be any style.
       2. Play at least one minute of the piece, omitting any extended rests.

   MELODIC PERCUSSION:

Same scale as above and from the Modern School for Xylophone by Goldenburg:
       1. Play page 28, Exercise III in 2/4, quarter note = 72 beats per minute.
       2. Play page 94, “Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor” down to letter (B). Quarter note =
           between 112 & 120 beats per minute.
       3. See MUSICAL EXPRESSION above.

SNARE DRUM REQUIREMENTS:

Open and close the following Rudiments listed below:
• the Single and Double stroke rolls
• 5, 7, and 9-stroke rolls
• the Paradiddle and Flam Paradiddle
• the Flamacue
• the Flam Tap
• the Flam Accent
• the Single Ratamacue
• the Drag

If you are submitting a taped audition, please follow the VIDEO TAPED AUDITION PROCEDURE that follows. It is recommended that you audition either by tape or in person prior to your arrival in August since Band Scholarships are awarded in June of the calendar year. This will increase your chances of an award (based on your audition).

VIDEO TAPE AUDITION PROCEDURE

South Carolina University Band Scholarship Awards are based primarily on performance ability and/or recommendation(s) by your band director and/or private teacher. Subsequent awards are made because of the student’s demonstrated musical ability while successfully participating in the assigned ensembles. If you are submitting a taped audition for scholarship consideration, please follow these guidelines:

      1. Select a high-quality video cassette tape.
      2. Record the following information at the beginning of the tape:
             A. “My Name Is… (state your name)”
             B. “My Address Is… (give your house number and street)
                  (give your city, state and zip)”
             C. “My Social Security Number Is… (give your SS#)”
      3. Proceed to play your audition as indicated. Please announce everything you play.
      4. Review the tape and label it with your name and instrument.
      5. Mail tape to:

Mr. Eddie Ellis, Director of Bands
300 College St. NE
P.O. Box 7067
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC 29117