Audition on Percussion

To gain admission to the B.Mus. in Performance (Percussion), a student must pass an entrance audition before a faculty jury of three, to be appointed by the chairperson. The audition will occur near the end of the second semester of college and must demonstrate the student’s ability to perform well challenging repertoire representing several historical periods and styles. A student wishing to perform an entrance audition must notify the chairperson in writing at least three weeks prior to the audition. Only after passing the entrance audition may the student declare as a major the B.Mus. in Performance (Percussion). A prospective candidate for the B.Mus. in Performance (Percussion) may declare a major in Music prior to the semesters stated above but will be listed as a candidate for the B.A. Music until he or she passes the audition. A student who does not pass the entrance audition in the second semester may have a second opportunity in the third semester.

Repertoire Requirements

During the four years of study in the degree program Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Percussion), the following repertoire should be used as guidelines. The chosen repertoire needs to be musically and technically challenging, and the student should be equally proficient in all four major percussion categories of Snare Drum, Timpani, Mallet Keyboard, and Multiple Percussion. An entering student should show moderate expertise in at least two of the four categories. Repertoire for the entrance audition and lesson studies are to be comparable to the standard exercises in the following methods. Recital materials will be full-length pieces comparable to the most difficult etudes from these same method books. There shall be further studies of accessory percussion instruments such as tambourine, triangle, bass drum, cymbals, castanets, glockenspiel, and ethnic drums teaching basic orchestral performance repertoire.

Snare Drum