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

Percussion Audition Information

Percussion (BM)

Pre-screening and audition requirements are the same for performance and non-performance majors. Non-performance majors must also fulfill the requirements of their primary area.

Pre-Screening Requirements

Please upload five unedited video recordings of the following. It is important to submit high-quality videos free of audio clipping or distortion. Test camera/mic placement so your playing and most importantly, your sound, is fully and accurately represented. Frame the video so that your hands can be clearly seen and review the quality of the recording prior to submitting your work.

1. Spoken Introduction: Please introduce yourself, tell us where you are from, and what repertoire you will be performing for your pre-screening video. Next, tell us what degree program you are interested in (music education, performance, etc.), and why you are interested in the percussion program at U-M.
   (Total length: 2–3 minutes)
2. Snare Drum Solo or Etude (concert or rudimental—no orchestral excerpts)
3. Two-Mallet Solo or Etude (no orchestral excerpts)
4. Four-Mallet Solo or Etude
5. Timpani Solo or Etude: No solos from Elliot Carter’s Eight Pieces for Four Timpani. Please include video of yourself tuning the timpani prior to beginning to play.

In-person Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following selections:

1. Concert Snare Drum Solo or Etude
   Delecluse, Cirone, Goldenberg, Peters, or equivalent
2. Rudimental Snare Drum Solo or Etude
   Pratt, Wilcoxon, Tompkins, Markovitch, or equivalent
3. Two-Mallet Keyboard Solo, Transcription, or Etude
   J.S. Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin, Suite for Solo Cello, Hatch: Furioso & Valse, Abe: Prism, G.H. Green/Breuer: Xylophone Rags, Goldenberg Etudes, or equivalent
4. Four-Mallet Keyboard Solo, Transcription, or Etude
   Smadbeck: Rhythm Song, Abe: Frogs, Dream of the Cherry Blossoms, Michi, Stout: Two Mexican Dances, Sammut: Rotations, Libertango, or equivalent
5. Timpani Solo or Etude
   Firth, Hochrainer, Peters, Carroll, Delecluse or equivalent
   No solos from Elliot Carter’s 8 pieces for solo timpani. Timpani tuning and sight-reading will also be evaluated

Orchestral excerpts may be included in your live audition, but are not required. Memorization of repertoire is neither required nor discouraged.

Advice on Choosing Audition Repertoire

When selecting music for an audition, make sure the repertoire you select fully represents your technical facility and your musical abilities as a percussionist. We are looking for students who can demonstrate a clear musical direction, excellent quality and depth of tone, commitment to your interpretation, and a clear command over the given material. If you choose a piece that may be considered an “advanced” level solo/etude, but you do not demonstrate clear control of technique, tone and musical direction as well as on a piece which may be considered “easier” you are risking not fully representing your musical abilities. When selecting your audition repertoire, it is best to discuss appropriate audition repertoire with the individual instructor(s) who know you best and select pieces which will best represent your musical abilities.

Recorded Audition Policy for Percussion

A recorded audition will only be considered in unusual circumstances for which an in-person audition in Ann Arbor is extremely difficult or not possible—international travel, for example. If you cannot make the trip to Ann Arbor, please email Professor Gramley (jgramley@umich.edu) and Professor Ovalle (ovalle@umich.edu) for permission to audition with a set of recordings. If your application and pre-screening videos have passed their initial evaluation, the faculty will consider your request.

Updated on 10/05/2018