We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15.
Audition Repertoire
Undergraduate auditions typically consist of scales and prepared selections, which should include one or more movements from the standard solo, sonata or concerto repertoire. Auditions must include every component listed below. All students are asked to bring three copies of their music with them to the audition.
Snare Drum
- Concert Solo (comparable to Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm or Delecluse's Douze Etudes)
- Rudimental Solo (optional) (comparable to Wilcoxon's All-American Drummer, Tompkins' French-American Rudimental Solos, or Pratt's 14 Modern Contest Solos)
Marimba (specific pieces mentioned are meant to guide towards difficulty expected, and should not be interpreted as a requirement)
Demonstrate 2 and 4 mallet technique:
- 2 Mallet (Bach's Violin Concerto in A Minor, Creston's Concertino for Marimba, Kreisler's Tambourin Chinois, a G.H. Green Rag, or comparable)
- 4 Mallet (Stout's Two Mexican Dances, Abe's Michi, Smadbeck's Rhythm Song, Sammut's "Rotation IV", or comparable)
Timpani
- One four-drum timpani etude/solo from Vic Firth's The Solo Timpanist, Richard Hochrainer's Etuden Fur Timpani (Book 2 or 3) or a comparable work.