Undergraduate Percussion Audition Requirements:
A reference list.
This list was compiled for the 2003 PASIC clinic "Making the most out of your college audition" presented by John R. Beck and James A. Strain. (Click on the title link to see the entire handout.) All the information was collected from the web pages of the institutions listed, and is presented to give high school students a representative idea of what different schools require at an undergraduate percussion audition. Students should go directly to the official school web sites for accurate and up to date information.
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LSU - |
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Potsdam SUNY |
Berklee - |
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UNLV - |
U. of Windsor -
Ontario Candada
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University of
Wisconsin-Madison |
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Percussion Audition Requirements (Click the link or scroll down in order)
Percussion Audition Requirements:
All auditioning college and high school students should prepare etudes or solos on the following: snare drum (rudimental and orchestral), timpani, and keyboard (marimba, xylophone, or vibes). A multiple percussion solo may replace the snare drum solos. Sight-reading, timpani tuning, scales and rudiments will be a part of the audition. Drum set is optional and is not required for acceptance, but is the fourth major area of study in the high school and undergraduate program. Master's Degree applicants should prepare advanced solos in the three areas listed above, and at least one orchestral excerpt on snare drum, timpani, and xylophone. High school students who do not have access to keyboards or timpani should contact John R. Beck before scheduling an audition.
Suggested audition material includes, but is not limited to the following composers:
|
Snare Drum |
Timpani |
Keyboard |
|
Cirone |
Firth |
Goldenberg |
|
Schinstine |
Hochrainer |
Whaley |
|
Pratt |
Goodman |
Peters |
|
Wilcoxen |
Peters |
Delecluse |
|
Firth |
Friese/Lepak |
Handel |
|
Albright |
Delecluse |
Bach |
|
Delecluse |
Beck |
Musser |
|
Peters |
Ludwig |
Green |
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Aleo |
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Abe |
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Podemski |
Muczynski |
Any Concerto |
Undergraduate
1.snare drum etude (orchestral style), demonstrate orchestral roll
at varying dynamics
2.marimba selection- 2 mallet required, 4 mallet encouraged (if you
don't have mallet skills you should strongly consider not auditioning)
3.timpani etude, demonstrate tuning
4.sight reading
Graduate
1.snaredrum etude (orchestral style), demonstrate orchestral roll at
varying dynamics
2.marimba selections- 2 mallet and 4 mallet
3.timpani etude, demonstrate tuning
4.orchestral excerpts on snaredrum, xylophone
and timpani (Not twenty on each instrument! Just enough to
demonstrate your skills in this area.)
5.sight reading
Over the past year I have received
a lot of email asking what one should play when auditioning for the percussion
program at CCM. I hope these guidelines will help. This information is also
included in the info sent out by the University. If you have a specific
question that is not covered here feel free to email me. I will respond as my
schedule allows. Please be patient! Thanks
Russell Burge-Assistant Professor
of Percussion
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of
Music
Percussion
1.
Snare Drum
1.
A solo
2.
Rudiments (1-13)
2.
Mallets (Marimba, Xylophone, Vibraphone)
1.
A solo
2.
Major scales
3.
Demonstrate proficiency in one of the following:
1.
Timpani
2. Multiple Percussion
3.
Drum Set
4.
Sight reading
1.
Snare Drum
2.
Mallets
Percussion
*
one composition or movement from a composition on
marimba (xylophone) and timpani (demonstrating tuning ability)
*
an etude on a snare drum (demonstrating musicality as
well as technical ability)
*
and a multiple percussion composition
*
major and minor scales are required for mallet
instruments
Preferably, the compositions
should be works written specifically for the instrument, rather than
transcriptions.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in
performance and performance/music education
Mallets. 8 minutes. Marimba or vibes.
Marimba
*
Two-mallet étude, comparable to or chosen from the
following: Modern School for Marimba, by Morris Goldenberg ("39
Etudes" section); Tone-Row Exercises for Marimba, by Howard Zwickler; Style Studies, by John Bergamo.
*
Four-mallet solo (optional, but recommended).
*
Scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys (at least two octaves).
Vibes – étude,
chosen from Vibraphone Technique, by David Friedman (Etudes 1-10). Four-mallet solo. Scales and arpeggios in
all major and minor keys (at least two octaves).
Timpani. 8 minutes.
*
Etude, comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern Method for Timpani,
by Saul Goodman (pp. 46-60); Etuden für Timpani, by Richard Hockrainer
(nos. 10-25); Timpani Method, by Friese/Lepak
(Section 3, nos. 5-15); or a solo using four drums.
*
Tuning and intonation suggested study guide: Timpani Method, by Friese/Lepak (Section 3, pp. 35-43).
Snare Drum. 8 minutes.
*
Solo (concert style), comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern School
for Snare Drum, by Morris Goldenberg (pp. 44-51); Portraits in Rhythm, by
Anthony Cirone; 20th-Century Orchestral Snare Drum Studies, by Thomas McMillan.
*
Solo (rudimental style), comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern
Rudimental Swing Solos, by Charles Wilcoxon; 14
Modern Contest Solos, by John S. Pratt.
Drum Set (optional, but
recommended). 6 minutes.
Demonstration of
knowledge of various contemporary styles, including jazz (swing), rock, various
Latin beats.
The audition normally is 30
minutes (drum set included). Substitutions for any of the above may be made by
advance consultation with Gordon Stout, (607) 274-3427.
Requirements for all other music
degrees
Concert Snare
Drum Solo.
*
Illustrating use of closed rolls, flams, ruffs, and
rhythms.
*
Sight-reading.
Timpani Solo. Illustrating
use of rolls and rhythms.
Timpani Ear
Training. Demonstrating the ability to
match pitches and tune the drums with the intervals of seconds, thirds,
fourths, and fifths.
Mallets.
*
Two-or four-mallet solo. Select music you feel represents the best of what you
can perform at the time of your audition.
*
All major and minor scales and arpeggios.
*
Sight-reading.
Perform solos on snare drum,
timpani and a mallet instrument, representative scales and arpeggios on a
mallet instrument, rudiments, and tune timpani. Multiple percussion or drum set
may be played for extra consideration, but is not necessary.
Percussion Audition
Procedures/Repertoire
Related Links
Percussion Degree Sequence Plans
How to Apply
Percussion Department
Orchestral Performance (Graduate
Program)
Listed below are the audition
procedures as well as the various audition requirements/repertoire for each
degree level.
Audition Procedures
Auditions are approximately 20
minutes in length for freshmen applicants and all others are approximately 30
minutes. Each applicant chooses a first work. The faculty will choose other
works from the repertoire list provided by the applicant. Three (3) copies of
prepared materials are requested.
Undergraduate Audition
Requirements
1.
Three solos or studies (one each on snare drum, mallets, and timpani) selected
to display level of advancement.
2.
Sight-reading.
Graduate Audition Requirements
1.
Four solos or studies (one each on snare drum, 2 mallets, 4 mallet, and timpani)
selected to display graduate level of advancement.
2.
Selected standard orchestral excerpts.
3.
Sight-reading.
Orchesral Performance (Graduate Program)
(Please see Orchestral Performance
page for information about this program.)
Doctoral and Professional Studies
Audition Requirements
1.
Present portions of a full-length recital. The audition must include works of
contrasting style for mallets, timpani, snare drum, and multi- percussion.
2.
Orchestral repertoire for all instruments at the professional level
3. A
video of multi-percussion setups should be submitted to augment the live
audition.
PERCUSSION:
Undergraduate Audition
Requirements
*
Snare solo or etude - symphonic / orchestral style (i.e. Cirone, Peters, Delecleuse)
*
Snare solo or etude - rudimental (traditional; i.e. Wilcoxon,
Pratt)
*
Four mallet solo (i.e. Peters, Gomez, Zivkovic,
Musser)
*
Two mallet solo (i.e. McMillan, Green, Breuer, Hatch)
*
Timpani (Carroll, Peters, McMillan, Whaley)
*
Sight-reading on snare drum and keyboard
*
Tuning on timpani
Graduate Audition Requirements
*
Keyboard: Significant solo repertoire
*
Timpani: Advanced solo or etude and/or orchestral excerpts
*
Snare Drum: Advanced etude repertoire such as Delecleuse
and/or excerpts
*
Multiple Percussion: Please send
videotaped performance prior to the live audition. Multiple
percussion will not be heard at the live audition.
*
Optional: Demonstrate other areas of expertise (i.e. drum set, hand drumming,
etc.)
Percussion Audition
Requirements
Undergraduate: Be prepared to play
a solo piece in each of three categories: mallets, snare drum, and timpani. The
mallet selection should be chosen for musical content and technical difficulty
(two- and four-mallet work is desirable). Scales, arpeggios, and sight-reading
may be required. The snare drum selection should clearly demonstrate your level
of technical ability. Rudiments, including an orchestral roll, at all dynamic
levels are required. The solo timpani selection should utilize two or more
drums. Rolls with different dynamic levels on different drums should be
demonstrated. Intonation and sight-reading abilities will be tested.
Graduate: Applicants should
demonstrate a high level of performance on timpani, mallets (two and four
mallets), snare drum, and multiple percussion. Be
prepared to play an advanced solo in each category as well as excerpts from the
standard repertoire in each category. Examples:
Timpani: Carter Etudes
Mallets: Stout Two Mexican Dances
Snare: Studies by Delacluse
Percussion
Prepare solos or etudes that
demonstrate your experience in the following areas of percussion:
Snare drum
Mallets
Timpani
You will also be asked to
demonstrate fundamental skills in these areas of percussion, including
rudiments, scales, timpani tuning, and sightreading.
If desired, you may also prepare
selections to show additional skills in the areas of drum set, multiple
percussion, or hand drums.