Auditions – UA Trombone Studio

Start Here

1) Request a Trial Lesson
Meet Dr. Faske, play for feedback, and get personalized guidance before your audition.

2) Apply to the University of Alabama
Complete your general UA application and select Music as your intended major.

3) Schedule Your School of Music Audition
Choose one of the audition dates below through the School of Music portal.

👉 [Request a Trial Lesson]
👉 [Schedule School of Music Audition]

2026 Audition Dates

• January 31, 2026

• February 4, 2026

• February 21, 2026

• March 7, 2026

If none of these dates work for you, please email me — we can often arrange alternatives.

What to Prepare

We value musicality, curiosity, and potential above any single “required list.” Choose repertoire that shows who you are as a musician. Remember, no one is expecting you to be a “fully formed” musician. Dr. Faske has been playing trombone since 1991, and he is evolving as a performer. What’s good for the professor is good for the student!

Suggested Format

• REQUIRED: Two contrasting selections

  • 1 lyrical work (or section from a longer piece)

  • 1 technical work (or section from a longer piece)

• Performance Major applicants should also include two orchestral excerpts

  • Suggested excerpts for tenor trombone: Tuba Mirum from Mozart Requiem and Hungarian March from Berlioz Damnation of Faust

  • Suggested excerpts for bass trombone: Achieved is the Glorious Work from Haydn’s Creation and Hungarian March from Berlioz Damnation of Faust

• Solos, etudes, or excerpts are all welcome

• You may perform movements or complete works

Simple Preparation Checklist

• ☐ Select contrasting repertoire (lyrical + technical)

• ☐ Confirm audition date and format

• ☐ Bring copies of your music!

• ☐ Warm up and be ready to play something you enjoy

• ☐ Come with questions about the studio and UA

What I Listen For

If you’re a high school student, take a deep breath — I’m not expecting a finished professional. I’m listening for the musician you’re becoming, not the one you think you’re supposed to be today.

Here’s what matters most:

• A healthy, natural sound – a tone that balances core and overtones, shows good basics, and invites room to grow

• Steady rhythm – keeping a clear pulse, even if everything isn’t perfect

• Musical imagination – easy to hear phrase shapes, and clear attempts to play expressively

• Solid fundamentals – articulation, slide technique, and range that fit your current level

• How you respond to feedback – curiosity, focus, and a willingness to try new ideas

You don’t need the hardest piece ever written. Choose music that lets you play with confidence and personality. I care far more about your potential, attitude, and love for music than about a flawless performance.

A Note to Parents & Teachers

Auditions at UA are meant to be encouraging and educational. Many students leave with clearer goals, new practice strategies, and a better sense of life as a college music major.

You are an often overlooked element in this process, and I want you to have a voice and a “point of contact” on our campus. If I can ever answer any questions for you, please don’t hesitate to email me with your questions. I have included a Parent Information Page and a companion Student Information Page.

Can You Make a Living in Music?

Yes, and the definition of a “music career” is broader than ever.

The music profession is changing and our training is changing with it. While strong trombone playing remains the foundation, I help students build a musical life with multiple doors, not just one narrow path.

I encourage every student to explore skills that can grow alongside their playing:

• Do they enjoy video or audio editing?

• Are they interested in arranging, composing, or producing?

• Do they have a passion for teaching and mentoring?

• Are they entrepreneurial or creative in how they share music with others?

We work to develop these interests into part of their musical identity so that opportunities can expand in different seasons of life. A musician’s career often looks a lot like any small business: one skill leads to another, just as a lawn service might shift to gutter cleaning or holiday lights when the seasons change.

The single biggest predictor of success isn’t background or connections, it’s the willingness to work hard, adapt, and face uncertainty with curiosity. That’s true for doctors, engineers, teachers, and musicians alike. Music simply carries more myths and negative rhetoric, and part of my job is helping students see the real, practical possibilities.

If your student loves music and is willing to grow in more than one direction, there is absolutely a place for them!

Recorded Auditions

If you cannot attend in person, recorded auditions are welcome.

Recording Guidelines

• One continuous take per piece (no heavy editing) and string all selections into one long video

• Full view of performer and instrument

• Phone audio is acceptable; external mic preferred (Dr. Faske likes and uses the Shure MV88+)

• Upload to YouTube as an unlisted video and email the link to Dr. Faske

👉 Email Dr. Faske to discuss recorded options

Graduate Applicants

Graduate auditions require prescreening before an invitation to audition.

• Repertoire expectations vary by degree and background

• We’ll design a plan that fits your goals

• Excerpts, solo literature, and orchestral studies may be requested

👉 Email Dr. Faske to create your prescreen plan

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Music – Performance

• Bachelor of Music Education

• Master of Music in Trombone Performance

• Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance

• Many more offerings through our comprehensive School of Music! Check out the links below!

👉[All Undergraduate Degree Programs]

👉[All Graduate Degree Programs]

Million Dollar Band Auditions

Band placement is separate from the School of Music admission audition.
For marching band information, visit:
👉 [Million Dollar Band Auditions]

Questions?

I’m happy to help you choose repertoire, plan a visit, or talk about whether UA is the right fit for you.

📩 befaske@ua.edu