UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance - University of Michigan

Percussion Audition Information

Percussion (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

Upload unedited recordings of the following items:

1. PERSONAL VIDEO
   Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you. What inspires you? What are your career goals? What’s important to you, etc.? (2-5 minute max)
2. MALLET KEYBOARDS
   Two mallets: one movement from J. S. Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin or Suites for Solo Cello – no repeats.
   Four mallets: a major concerto or solo work for marimba or vibraphone
   Excerpts (4 total):
   Xylophone:  two contrasting excerpts
   Glockenspiel:  two contrasting excerpts
3. SNARE DRUM
   Concert: A concert-style snare drum solo/etude of your choice (Delecluse, Macarez, etc. or equivalent)
   Rudimental: 32 bars of a rudimental snare drum solo/etude of your choice
   Excerpts:  two contrasting snare excerpts of your choice
4. TIMPANI
   (please include video of you tuning the drums before you play each selection)
   Solo work: a solo work or etude of your choice which demonstrates stroke/tone production and rolls at various dynamics
   Excerpts:  two contrasting timpani excerpts of your choice
5. MULTIPLE PERCUSSION
   Solo work: a full-length recording of an advanced-level solo work of your choice
6. CHOOSE TWO (2) OF THE FOLLOWING:
   Drumset: a sample of your time playing/ soloing in at least 4 contrasting styles. This may be done with a play-along recording, a live band, or unaccompanied solo. Examples may include: medium swing, uptempo swing, rock, funk, samba, bossa nova, songo, mambo, 12/8 Afro-Cuban, ballad-brushes, odd-time signatures, etc.
   Global Music: a demonstration of your understanding of basic tones, sense of groove/feel and clear communication of style. May include, but not limited to: Afro-Cuban hand drums and percussion; Samba (all styles); pan-African hand drums and percussion; steel pan; middle-eastern frame drums/percussion; Asian festival drumming; other, etc.
   Tonal Improvisation: demonstrate your abilities in this area through a solo work or an example with a supporting group. May include, but not limited to: Straight-Ahead Jazz/Bebop, Latin jazz, or jazz-fusion on Vibes/Marimba or Steel Pan

Questions regarding pre-screening submissions should be sent to:

Professor Joseph Gramley (jgramley@umich.edu)

Professor Jonathan Ovalle (ovalle@umich.edu)

Audition Requirements

Please select music from the solo, concerto, and orchestral literature which demonstrates your highest musical and technical abilities in snare drum, mallet-keyboard instruments, and timpani. Examples of your playing on two and four mallet keyboard is required. Two orchestral excerpts each on snare drum, xylophone, glockenspiel and timpani is required. Sight-reading and timpani tuning will be evaluated. Applicants are required to demonstrate skills in all of the above instrumental areas. Memorization is neither required nor discouraged.

If you have a performance DVD of a solo or chamber music multiple percussion work, or if you have percussion skills in the areas of drum set, pan, and/or hand drumming, please bring a non-returnable copy of the DVD of your playing which demonstrates your highest musical and technical abilities in those areas.

(Studio page for more details)

Updated on 10/08/2018