In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Jacobs School of Music Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is adapting our audition procedures for 2021-2022 admissions to meet state and university guidelines related to COVID-19.
Percussion audition requirements
Guidelines for all applicants
Prescreen required for all applicants.
Applicants who pass screening will contacted to schedule a live virtual interview with the faculty.
Please note, in lieu of in person auditions this year, your prescreen recording will serve as your audition.
Submit the following via the JSOM Supplemental application by Dec. 1. For your video recording, repertoire should be performed in its entirety (no editing within the work). However, it is acceptable to record each prepared piece separately.
- At the beginning of the recording, please state your name and degree objective. For undergraduate students, please state whether you are an incoming freshman or transfer from another school.
- At the end of the recording, please take 2-3 minutes to comment on why our percussion department interests you and what you hope to accomplish while attending the Jacobs School of Music.
- If recording with a smartphone, please set the camera to landscape mode.
- Please submit a copy of your audition repertoire in addition to the video recording.
You must also submit three letters of recommendation via the JSOM Supplemental application.
Choose your audition repertoire carefully. Please consider selections that you can perform well versus very challenging works that might be a “hit or miss” in an audition situation. In general, the level of the repertoire is not as important as your ability to show your overall musicianship with a piece of music that is firmly within your grasp.
Interviews are by invitation only and based on prescreen review.
If selected to advance, you will be scheduled for a live video interview and your prescreen will be reviewed as your final audition recording. Interviews may also contain a quick sight-reading segment that can be performed on a drum or practice pad.
Any questions can be directed to Prof. John Tafoya at jtafoya@indiana.edu.
The percussion department does not make admission decisions on a rolling basis. All applicants who have completed their audition and interview will be notified of an admission decision by April 1, as long as the applicant has a complete application.
Repertoire Requirements
We understand that many applicants for the 2021-22 school year might have limited access to certain percussion instruments. Please take note of our revised audition requirements to accommodate for these circumstances.
Any questions can be directed to Prof. John Tafoya at jtafoya@indiana.edu.
Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.), Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field (B.S.O.F.)
The curriculum for all undergraduate B.M., B.M.E., and B.S.O.F. percussion majors involves comprehensive study in all areas of percussion, including snare drum, marimba, orchestral percussion and timpani, drum set, jazz vibes, and world percussion.
Revised Audition Requirements due to COVID-19:
- Snare Drum Etude or Solo
- 4 mallet marimba solo or 2 mallet solo on any keyboard instrument
- Drum set styles (Medium Swing, Up Tempo Swing, Rock, Bossa-Nova and Samba with or without play along track)
- Timpani Etude or solo (2, 3, or 4 drums)
Master of Music (M.M.), Performer Diploma, Solo Performance (P.D.S.P.), Doctor of Music (D.M.)
Revised Audition Requirements due to COVID-19:
- Snare Drum Etude/Solo
- Snare Drum Orchestral excerpts (Kije - Rehearsal ‘1’ to ‘2’, Scheherazade - Movt. III, Letter ‘D’ to ‘H’; Movt. IV, 4 measures before ’N’ to 19 measures after ’N’; Letter ‘P’ to ‘R’)
- 4 mallet marimba solo (video recording of your college Senior recital or equivalent is acceptable)
- Keyboard orchestral excerpts (Porgy and Bess – opening section, Appalachian Spring - 5 measures after ’48’ to 4 measures after ’49’) if possible (xylophone excerpts can be performed on any keyboard instrument)
- Glockenspiel excerpts (Sorcerer’s Apprentice - ’17’ to 4 measures after ’19’; ’22’ to ’24’) are optional
- Timpani (video recording of college senior recital or equivalent)
- Timpani excerpts (Beethoven Symphony No. 9 - Finale, 7 measures after ’T’ to the end) - if possible
- Drum set styles (Medium Swing, Up Tempo Swing, Rock, Bossa-Nova and Samba with or without play along track)
- World styles on instrument of your choice
In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Jacobs School of Music Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is adapting our audition procedures for 2021-2022 admissions to meet state and university guidelines related to COVID-19.
Revised Audition Requirements due to COVID-19
We realize that many applicants for the 2021-22 school year might have limited access to the certain percussion instruments. Please take note of our revised audition requirements.
Doctor of Music (D.M.)
The percussion faculty encourages all potential D.M. applicants to review the curriculum requirements for this degree program.
Repertoire requirements
- Snare Drum Etude/Solo
- Snare Drum Orchestral excerpts (Kije, Scheherazade)
- 4 mallet marimba solo (video recording of your college Senior recital or equivalent is acceptable)
- Keyboard orchestral excerpts (Porgy and Bess, Appalachian Spring) if possible (xylophone excerpts can be performed on any keyboard instrument)
- Glockenspiel excerpts (Sorcerer’s Apprentice) are optional
- Timpani (video recording of college senior recital or equivalent)
- Timpani excerpts (Beethoven Symphony No. 9) - if possible
- Optional (please include if at all possible, especially if you are interested in an Assistantship position)
- Drum set styles (Medium Swing, Up Tempo Swing, Rock, Bossa-Nova and Samba with or without play along track)
- World styles on instrument of your choice
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2020 | IU application due | All applicants |
| December 1, 2020 | Jacobs Supplemental application due. (Prescreen materials due, as applicable to your audition requirements) |
All applicants |
| December 1, 2020 | TOEFL scores due | Non-native English speaking applicants in Voice (all), Piano (D.M. only), Conducting, Musicology, and Graduate music education |
| January 15, 2021 | Recorded auditions due | All classical piano applicants |
| February 1, 2021 | Final recorded auditions due | All applicants whose departments require a final recorded audition, except classical piano |
| March 1, 2021 | TOEFL scores due | All non-native English speaking applicants |
| Varies by department area | Live virtual audition/interview | Applicants whose departments require a live virtual audition/interview. (We will contact you after Dec. 1 to schedule your audition/interview) |
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