• Sight-reading is used at the Pre-Area and Area auditions and accounts for 20% of the total score.

• The sight-reading audition will occur in a separate round.

• The level of difficulty shall parallel Oxford Folk Song Sight Singing Series, Book II

• The typical sight-reading selection shall have no more than eight measures.

• The sight-reading exercise shall be written in one of the following key signatures: C, G, D, A, E, F, B flat, E flat or A major.  There shall be no modulations.

• The meter will be 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4.

• Before the sight reading audition all students shall be given these written instructions:

“You will be instructed by the audition recording to look at the sight-reading exercise. The recording will play the tonic triad in broken fashion (do-mi-sol-mi-do), followed by the starting pitch.  A 30-second study period shall follow.  You will be allowed to tap, chant, or sing during this study period.  You will not be allowed to use any tuning device or any additional materials as aid during the study period or in singing the exercise.  You may not write on the exercise for any reason.

• At the end of the 30 second study period, the audition recording will play the tonic triad again in broken fashion (do-mi-sol-mi-do), followed by the starting pitch.  You will begin immediately to sing the exercise using your preferred method of sight-reading (syllables, numbers, neutral syllables, or any combination).  No additional study time is allowed.

• If you start and stop over, the judges will judge you on what was your first attempt through the point where you stopped.  The judges will resume judging with any new material you attempt for the first time.  You will have only one chance to sing the exercise unless there is mechanical failure with the playback system.”