Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Percussion Audition Information

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Percussion (BM)

l  Prospective first–time freshman must demonstrate technical strength and reading ability on keyboard and at least two of the three percussion areas of snare drum, timpani and drum set.

l  Performances on all four instruments will improve an applicant's chances of admission and scholarship consideration.

l  The examples listed below are indicative of the minimum level of ability expected for incoming students.

l  This list serves only as a suggestion; you are welcome to choose different literature that is similar in style and technical demand.

l  These guidelines should be used for all programs and majors, although performance majors should anticipate a higher entrance standard than non-performance majors (composition, music education, theory, music therapy, Bachelor of Arts).

Keyboard

l  Scales: All major scales, two octaves at a moderate tempo.

l  Two-mallet sight reading.

l  Performance of a 2 and/or 4 mallet composition such as:

ü  Morris Goldenberg: One of the 39 etudes from Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone

ü  J.S. Bach: Any 2 or 4 mallet movement from a Sonata or Partita for violin or Suite for cello (without repeats)

ü  Michael Burritt: The Offering

ü  Lalo Davila: Sueños

ü  Alice Gomez: Rain Dance

ü  George Hamilton Green: Any xylophone ragtime solo

ü  Ney Rosauro: Prelude No. 1

ü  Paul Smadbeck: Etude No. 1, 2 or 3

ü  Rich O’Meara: Restless

Timpani

l  Relaxed roll at pp and ff dynamic levels.

l  Ability to match pitches on the drums.

l  Familiarity with pitch intervals (major 3rd, perfect 4th, etc.)

l  One solo or étude comparable to:

ü  Garwood Whaley: Fundamental Studies or Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist

ü  Mitchell Peter: Étude from Fundamental Method for Timpani

ü  Saul Goodman: An exercise from section two or three of Modern Method for Tympani

ü  Raynor Carroll: Exercises, Etudes, and Solos for the Timpani

ü  Vic Firth: The Solo Timpanist

Snare Drum

l  Rudimental roll open-closed-open.

l  Closed orchestral roll at ppp through fff.

l  Sight read compound, simple and changing meter exercises.

l  Selected rudiments from the 40 Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments played in “open to closed to open” style.

l  Performance of a concert style solo comparable to the following:

ü  Fred Albright: Contemporary Studies

ü  Anthony Cirone: Portraits in Rhythm

ü  Vic Firth: Solo Snare Drummer

l  Optional: Performance of a rudimental style solo by any of the following:

ü  Charles Wilcoxin

ü  John Pratt

ü  Marty Hurley

ü  John Wooton

ü  Eddie Frytag

Drum Set

l  Ability to keep steady time and play fills several basic beat styles: swing, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, funk, rock and jazz waltz alternating 4 measures of time with 4 measures of solo.

                                                                                                                               Updated on 08/01/2018