Percussion Auditions
Audition material should be challenging to the candidate and, particularly in the case of marimba, very carefully prepared. Neither memorization nor piano accompaniment is required for percussion auditions.
Undergraduate
Undergraduate auditions typically consist of scales and prepared selections, which should include one or more movements from the standard solo, sonata, or concerto repertoire. Etudes may also be included. Sight-reading may be requested. Selections need not be memorized, and piano accompaniment is optional.
Undergraduate percussion auditions consist of the following music and techniques:
Snare Drum
- Solo (Comperable to Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm)
- Rudiments
- Sight reading
Marimba
Demonstrate 2 & 4 mallet technique
- 2 Mallet (Bach's A minor Violin Concerto, Creston Concerto, or comparable
- 4 Mallet (Peter's Yellow After the Rain, Stout's Mexican Dances, or comparable)
- Sight reading
Timpani
- 4 Drum Solo (The Carter, a Fifth etude, or comparable)
Graduate
Graduate applicants are expected to have a bachelors degree in music, demonstrate special competence in a major and perform an audition on their major instrument. The graduate auditions should feature one selection each on snare drum, marimba, and timpani, and may include orchestral excerpts. Audition content should be approved in advance with the Director of Admissions.
Graduate percussion auditions consist of the following music and techniques:
Snare Drum
- Solo (Delecluse Douze Etudes is recommended)
- 3 excerpts
- Rudiments
Marimba
- 2 & 4 mallet Solo (Bach Violin Concerto or Cello Sonata or Partita is recommended for one of your selections)
Timpani
- Solo (Carter, Bergamo are recommended)
- 3 excepts
Xylophone
- 3 excepts
Glockenspiel
- 3 excepts
Tambourine
- 2 excepts
Cymbals
- 2 excepts
Sight-reading (on any of the above)
Jazz Drum Set
Undergraduate Jazz drum set auditions are not required. A separate audition can be scheduled for the Chair of Jazz Studies. Graduate Jazz drum set applicants are required to audition on drum set, yet need not perform a classical audition. In the drum set audition you should be prepared to: sight read portions of two big band charts or jazz etudes, at tempo, with the use of a metronome; alternating of four measure phrases of time keeping and soloing, swing style, at quarter-note =120; alternating of eight measure phrases of timekeeping and soloing, swing style, at half-note=120; demonstration of various Latin and contemporary music styles. Please let us know if you want to schedule a jazz audition.
