I am a high school student, and I`m preparing to go to college to study music education. I would like to be as ready as I can as early as possible. I understand that I must have an audition piece and I was wondering if anybody knew any pieces for Clarinet and Bass Clarinet that would be effective in an audition. Thank you.

I know it`s been over 5 years since college but I kind of used the pieces I played for state solo competitions for the audtions....that was after I called the clarinet professor of the university I wanted to attended and found out what they were looking for.

Well, the college that I am looking at said that these would be ok:

Concertino by Weber
Concerto no. 1 by Weber
Concerto no. 2 by Weber
Mozart`s Clarinet Concerto
Premiere Rhapsody by Debussy

they said that many others besides the ones they listed were ok too. I would say Weber would be a safe, strong, and smart choice.

I have no clue for bass clarinet though.

Hope I could help!

Hello.
I just had my college audition and I did a Rose etude for the technical piece and the second movement of Mozart`s Clarinet Conceto, and that worked perfectly. I`d really suggest you look around and find a piece that accents your strong points and hides your weaknesses. Those pieces did it for me, but it may be different for you.
Good luck!

In my Humble opinion to anyone reading this. Please don`t play the Mozart Concerto at your college audition (Especially Mvt. 2). Who has never heard this piece? I have heard every professional clarinet player blow this piece out of the water. It is quite difficult to get someone to notice you if you blend in musically with everyone else`s audition. I recommend the Copland Concerto for Clarinet, Weber No. 2 mvt. 1 or 3, Debussy`s Premiere Rhapsodie, Nielsen Concerto (for the very advanced) and Muczynski Time Pieces (for the very, very advanced). You need to show off your strengths and skills. Always choose a somewhat lyrical piece and a technical piece. ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP!!!! If you take the Copland Concerto in to a college audition, and think you`re playing that as your lyrical selection...you are WRONG! You might think it`s lyrical in the beginning, but as soon as they know what you are playing, they will ask you to play the freakishly hard cadenza. Make sure you know your pieces back to front. I am 25 years old. I just had my college audition this past November. When the clarinet professor asked me what I was starting with I told him that I was playing the Nielsen Concerto for Clarinet. His jaw dropped. He heard the opening sequences, then asked me to jump to a cadenza. After that he did not ask me to play my second piece at all. He also only had me play 2 of the 13 scales I was supposed to play. I don`t think I would have gotten that reaction if I was the next "Mozart Clarinet Concerto K. 622 Mvt. 2" player. Be bold, but be better than everyone else. P.S. I have a Full Scholarship from that audition

-Dennis (sarasotahair@yahoo.com)