USC Thornton School of Music

Percussion Audition Information

BA, BM, MM, Graduate Certificate (GCRT), DMA

Applicants to programs in Percussion must submit an audition VIDEO recording to be pre-screened by the faculty.

Undergraduate pre-screen recording requirements

Persons failing to prepare the full pre-screen requirements described below will not be permitted to perform a live audition nor offered admission to the program.

Snare Drum

• Long Roll-Start pp and gradually crescendo to ff, hold at ff for a few seconds, and gradually diminuendo back to pp for a total duration of 25-30 seconds.
• Pratt “Drum Corps on Parade from 14 Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum”– From the beginning to the downbeat of measure 28 (1/4 note = 108).

Mallets

• Two Mallets (to be played on marimba)
• JS Bach “Violin Concerto in A Minor” (Transcription from Morris Goldenberg “Modern Method of Xylophone”): Play from the beginning to the down beat of letter B. Quarter = 104.
• Four Mallets
• JS Bach “Tempo de Bouree'” From Partita #1 first 20 bars 1st time only (1/2 note = 66).

Timpani

(Please tune exclusively with an A440 tuning fork, and without the use of an electronic tuner)

• Starting with the pedals in a low position, tune a B natural on the 29″ drum and an E natural on the 26″. Perform Goodman “The Modern Method for Timpani” – Etude #49.

Graduate pre-screen recording requirements

Important notes:

• DMA applicants are required to submit a “Personal Introductory Video” as part of their SlideRoom Portfolio. For detailed instructions click here.
• Persons failing to prepare the full pre-screen requirements described below will not be permitted to perform a live audition nor offered admission to the program.

Snare Drum

• Long Roll-Start pp and gradually crescendo to ff, hold at ff for a few seconds, and gradually diminuendo back to pp for a total duration of 25-30 seconds.
• Pratt “Drum Corps on Parade from 14 Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum”– From the beginning to the downbeat of measure 28 (1/4 note = 108)
• Delecluse “Etude No. 1 from 12 Etudes pour Caisse Claire”. Play from the beginning to the downbeat of measure 46. (1/4 note = 76).

Mallets

• Two mallets
• Any two mallet movements from J.S. Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin or Suites for Solo Cello (no repeats).
• Four mallets
• A 2-3 minute excerpt from a work of your choice.

Timpani

(Please tune exclusively with an A440 tuning fork, and without the use of an electronic tuner)

• Record the following excerpts in one take without stopping as if playing a live audition.
• Beethoven “Symphony no. 9” coda (1st mvt., 18 before S to the end).
• Hindemith “Symphonic Metamorphases” (2nd mvt., S to T).
• Tchaikovsky “Symphony no. 4” (1st mvt., 2 before T to 3 before U).
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Undergraduate live audition repertoire

Based on the result of the pre-screen video recording, the faculty will invite a select group of applicants to the USC campus in Los Angeles for a live audition. If invited, it is REQUIRED that you audition live in person (it is not possible to be admitted to this program by recording).

If invited to a live audition, applicants should bring two bound copies of all materials.

Snare Drum

• Rudimental Solo Etude from Pratt, Wilcoxon or the equivalent.
• Concert Solo Etude from Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, Mitchell Peters Advanced Studies or Delecluse 12 Etudes, or the equivalent.
• Knowledge of rudiments and ornaments.
• Ability to roll at all dynamic levels.
• Sight-reading.

Mallets

• Two-mallet solo of your choice that would be suitable for a recital.
• Four-mallet Marimba or Vibraphone solo of your choice that would be suitable for a recital.
• Knowledge of scales and arpeggios.
• Sight-reading.

Timpani

• Etude from Goodman method, Firth, Delecluse, Hochrainer books or the equivalent.
• Ability to tune accurately.
• Sight-reading.

Graduate live audition repertoire

Based on the result of the pre-screen video recording, the faculty will invite a select group of applicants to the USC campus in Los Angeles for a live audition. If invited, it is REQUIRED that you audition live in person (It is not possible to be admitted to this program by recording).

If invited to a live audition, applicants should bring two bound copies of all materials.

Snare Drum

• Rudimental Solo Etude from Pratt, Wilcoxon or the equivalent.
• Concert Solo Etude from Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, Mitchell Peters Advanced Studies or Delecluse 12 Etudes, or the equivalent.
• Knowledge of rudiments and ornaments.
• Ability to roll at all dynamic levels.
• Sight-reading.
• Four standard orchestral excerpts.

Mallets

• Two-mallet solo of your choice that would be suitable for a recital.
• Four-mallet Marimba or Vibraphone solo of your choice that would be suitable for a recital.
• Knowledge of scales and arpeggios.
• Sight-reading.
• Three standard orchestral excerpts on Xylophone and 2 on Glockenspiel.

Timpani

• Etude from Goodman method, Firth, Delecluse, Hochrainer books or the equivalent.
• Ability to tune accurately.
• Sight-reading.
• Four standard orchestral excerpts.
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• Updated on 08/15/2018