Undergraduate Percussion Auditions

The purpose of an audition is to demonstrate your talents, so choose literature that you are comfortable with and that you enjoy playing. Don’t try to play something that is too difficult for you. Play music that makes you sound great! Repertoire suggestions below are to be considered minimums.

Prospective percussion majors should prepare ALL Required material and as much of the Optional material as you are comfortable with. Jazz percussion majors should prepare ALL Required material plus Drumset and as much of the Optional material as you are comfortable with.

For more information and to register for an audition, please see Undergraduate Auditions.

Mallet Keyboard

Required:

• A 4-mallet marimba solo or study of your choice to demonstrate musicianship and technique
• All major and minor scales, two octaves

• A 2-mallet solo work or an etude from a method book such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg, a xylophone solo by George Hamilton Green, or a movement from a work by J.S. Bach
• 2-mallet sightreading

Optional:

• A second 4-mallet marimba or vibraphone solo in a contrasting style from the work above
• Demonstrate ability to improvise on a standard jazz or Blues composition on vibraphone, xylophone, or marimba

Snare Drum

Required:

• A solo or etude in concert style such as from Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony J. Cirone or Twelve Studies for Snare Drum by Jacques Delécluse
• Sightreading on concert snare

Optional:

• A solo or etude in rudimental style such as from 14 Modern Contest Solos by John S. Pratt, or a solo from an Individuals Competition such as DCI or PASIC
• A solo in contemporary style such as A Minute of News by Eugene Novotney or SyNc by Gene Koshinski

Timpani

Required:

• A standard work or study to demonstrate musicianship, such as from Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist by Garwood Whaley, Modern Method for Tympany by Saul Goodman, or The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth

Multi-Percussion

Optional:

• A standard work or study to demonstrate musicianship such as a movement from French Suite by William Kraft, etc.

Drumset

Optional for Percussion Majors: *Required for Jazz Majors:

• Demonstrate a variety of musical genres such as jazz, Blues, Latin, and Popular styles including playing time and solo fills in each style
• Demonstrate ability to play with a click track or metronome
• Sightreading of a standard big band arrangement

*Prospective Jazz Majors must perform a drumset audition for Jazz Faculty

Additional Percussion Instruments

Optional:

• Demonstrate performance ability on the steel pan, the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies 
• Demonstrate performance ability on percussion instruments from musical traditions of the world such as Middle Eastern, African, Indian, Afro-Cuban, Native American, Asian, or other.

Questions?

Percussion: Contact Professor Daniel Moore

Jazz: Contact Professor Damani Phillips