Frost School of Music | University of Miami

Percussion Audition Information

Prescreen is required for Regular Decision applicants in the following areas: contemporary/CAM, jazz, flute, keyboard, tuba/euphonium, viola, and violin

Classical Percussion Applicants should prepare to audition on Snare Drum, Mallets, and Timpani as outlined below.

Snare Drum

Audition Requirements

• Demonstrate roll in various dynamics (pp crescendo to FF and decrescendo to pp)
  
  
• Perform an etude and/or a rudimental solo. Repertoire suggestions:
• A. Cirone, Etude from "Portraits in Rhythm"
• J. Pratt, Rudimental Solo from "14 Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum"

Mallets

Audition Requirements

• Play major/minor scales and arpeggios on xylophone - two octaves up and down.
  
  
• Perform both: a 2 and 4 mallet solo either on the marimba, vibraphone or xylophone (free choice of instrument for each of the two solos).
• 2 Mallet Repertoire Suggestions:
• (Marimba) A fast and a slow Mvt. from "6 Cello Suites" by J.X. Bach
• (Xylophone) Any ragtime by George H. Green
• 4 Mallet Repertoire Suggestions:
• G. Stout, "Two Mexican Dances"
• K. Abe, any piece from "Works for Marimba"
• M. Miki, "Time"
• P. Smadbeck, "Rhythm Song"

Timpani

Audition Requirements

• Tune the timpani to various pitches, which are played on the piano.
  
  
• Perform a single piece or etude. Repertoire Suggestions
• R. Hochrainer, any etude from "Etuden for Timpani" Vol. 1, 2 or 3
• V. Firth, any etude from "The Solo Timpanist" 26 etudes.

Percussion Audition Tips

• The suggested audition repertoire choices are not required, they are simply a guideline. However, you are welcome to select and perform any work from the suggestions listed above.
• When preparing for your audition, please emphasize on the performance quality vs its difficulty or amount. It is not as important what (or how much) you play, it is essential that you play it well.
• While all instruments are provided for the audition, candidates are welcome to bring along small personal instruments (Triangle, Cymbals, Snare drum, Tambourine, etc.). The wide instrument collection of the Frost School of Music will support virtually every percussion applicant and their needs. However, if you have any percussion related audition questions, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Stoyanov at s.stoyanov@miami.edu.
• Please bring two (2) copies of your music for the committee.

Recorded Auditions

Live on-campus auditions are strongly encouraged, however we do offer the alternative of submitting a recorded audition online via SlideRoom. 

Recorded auditions should include both audio and video. The requirements are the same as listed above for on-campus auditions.

The recorded audition must closely resemble a real audition.

• With all instruments already setup, record the whole audition in one take, without moving the camera or stepping out of the picture
  
  
• Prior to the recording you may setup your mallets/sticks and music, however the timpani tuning must be done on the video
  
  
• Move efficiently between disciplines and announce what you will be playing next
  
  
• The total duration of your recorded audition must not exceed 40 minutes
• Sound quality - all recorded auditions must have a reasonable sound quality (audible sound, without any distortion or compression)
• Editing - no video or audio editing is allowed

If you have any percussion related audition questions, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Stoyanov.

Updated on 09/03/2018