School of Music | College of Fine Arts - Boston University

Percussion Audition Information

Prescreening

Applicants to the following programs and instruments need to submit a prescreening video recording or portfolio for review before they can be invited to a live audition or interview.

• Applicants to cello, double bass, flute, percussion, piano, trumpet, violin, or voice regardless of degree or program
• Graduate Composition majors
• All applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance
• All applicants to the Artist Diploma

Prescreening recordings and portfolios are due by December 1. Applicants will be notified of prescreening results in early January.

Percussion (BM)

Prescreen & Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare original solo works, appropriate transcriptions, and études or studies.

Consider works that demonstrate rhythm, supple wrist manipulation, and correct physical stance (such as are required for playing mallet instruments).

Three separate compositions should be performed, one each on timpani, snare drum, and mallet instrument. The difficulty level should equal that in the following studies: snare drum, Godenberg or Cirone; mallets, Goldberg or Gates; timpani, Goodman or Friese. Sight-reading may also be given.

Updated on 09/25/2018