Mary Pappert School of Music | Duquesne University

Percussion Audition Information

Percussion (MM)

l  Applicants must play snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani.  

l  Drum set is optional.  

l  Applicants must bring their own sticks or mallets for each instrument.  

l  Sight-reading will also be required.  

l  Audition literature may be selected from etudes or solos of a medium level.  

l  Suggested resources include: 

ü  Snare Drum: Intermediate etudes from Peters, Delecleuse, or Whaley. Required: four to six rudiments and rolls.

ü  Keyboard Percussion: Two-mallet intermediate-level solos or etudes. Required: major scales and arpeggios, two octaves.

ü  Timpani: Etudes from Goodman, Hochrainer, Leonard, Firth or Whaley.

ü  Drum Set (Jazz audition): Play time and improvise (playing "fours") in several styles and tempos, including jazz, rock and Latin.

Percussion (Artist Diploma)

This program is reserved for advanced performers who have completed academic degrees (minimum requirement of a Bachelor of Music, but preferably a Master of Music) or their foreign equivalent and whose accomplishments have already been amply demonstrated in various performance venues. Artist Diploma students devote most of their time perfecting their performance skills with private lessons from an artist-teacher, many of whom are members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Performance in large ensembles and chamber music groups rounds out their musical studies, as they expand their solo and ensemble repertoire, and prepare for auditions with renowned professional ensembles.

                                                                                                                                                     Updated on 04/20/2019