Percussion

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.

Repertoire requirements:

• Snare Drum: One solo or etude from Delecluse, Macarez, Tompkins, Albright, Cirone, Peters, Goldenberg, or equivalent

•  Timpani: A short solo or etude (3-4 timpani preferred) by Carter, Goodman, Vic Firth, Peters, Delecluse, Schinstine, or equivalent

Please use a tuning fork to obtain the necessary pitches in your selected solo or etude. If you plan to perform any work that includes "butt-ends" on timpani (e.g., Carter: March, Vic Firth Etude I, etc.), please cover the end of your mallets with moleskin or something similar. Any solo that includes "playing on the bowls" is not recommended.

• Marimba: One movement or solo/etude (4-mallet) from Stout, Abe, Sejourne,  J.S. Bach, Sammut, Rosauro, or equivalent
• Drum Set: Demonstrate Swing (medium tempo), Rock, and Bossa Nova styles (no play along track needed)
• World Percussion (optional): Demonstrate basic skills and techniques on the world percussion instrument of your choice (conga drum, timbales, djembe, dumbek, frame drums etc.) with an emphasis on good time and feel.

Master of Music (M.M.), Performer Diploma, Solo Performance (P.D.S.P.)

• Snare Drum: A Delecluse etude or advanced level solo/etude of your choice
• Timpani : An advanced level solo or etude.

Please use a tuning fork to obtain the necessary pitches.

Note: If you plan to perform any work that includes "butt-ends" on timpani (Carter: March, Vic Firth Etude I, etc.) please cover the end of your mallets with moleskin or something similar. Any solo that includes "playing on the bowls" is not recommended.

• Marimba: An advanced-level solo (4-mallet) suitable for a senior recital
• Multiple Percussion: A short multiple percussion solo or featured part in chamber percussion, mixed chamber, or solo setting. This can be from a live rehearsal, recital or concert. A brief 2-3 minute excerpt is acceptable.

Orchestral Excerpts

• Snare Drum

Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kijé, Mvt. I (rehearsal 1-1 to measure before rehearsal 2)

Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Mvt. IV (4 measures before letter N to 18 measures after letter N)

• Timpani

Beethoven - Symphony No.9, Mvt. IV (7 measures after letter T to the end)

• Xylophone

Gershwin - Porgy and Bess (opening measures)

Copland: Appalachian Spring (fifth measure of rehearsal 48 to four measures after rehearsal 49)

• Glockenspiel

Dukas - Sorcerer's Apprentice(rehearsal 17 to 4 measures after rehearsal 19; rehearsal 22 to rehearsal 24)

Optional

• Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone: If your intended course of graduate study includes drum set, prepare a big band chart, transcription, or published solo. In addition, you must demonstrate time and soloing in the following styles: medium swing, up-tempo swing, rock, bossa nova, and samba (play-along tracks are preferred). A prepared jazz vibraphone solo or etude is also strongly encouraged.

For graduate applicants seeking Associate Instructorships, a drum set solo (and experience in drum set instruction) is mandatory.

• World Percussion: If you have any experience with World Percussion (Afro-Cuban hand-drumming, Steel Pan, Brazilian, etc.), a short performance is encouraged but not mandatory.

Graduate applicants who wish to focus only on World Percussion should prepare:

• One etude from "The Language of the Masters" (Spiro/Sher Music - http://www.shermusic.com/1883217881.php)

• Two other solos in contrasting styles, including a hand drumming solo and stick drumming solo (sing one piece in the language of one of your chosen solo areas)

• These solos will take the place of the snare drum, timpani, marimba, solo and orchestral repertoire requirements.

• General sight-reading at the live audition may be requested.

Applicants seeking an Associate Instructorship in the area of World Percussion must include a performance on the World Percussion instrument of their choice or include an etude from "The Language of the Masters" (Spiro/Sher Music - http://www.shermusic.com/1883217881.php).

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: A Delecluse etude or advanced level solo/etude of your choice

• Timpani: An advanced level solo or etude

Note: Please use a tuning fork to obtain the necessary pitches. If you plan to perform any work that includes "butt-ends" on timpani (Carter: March, Vic Firth Etude I, etc.), please cover the end of your mallets with moleskin or something similar. Any solo that includes "playing on the bowls" is not recommended.

• Marimba: An advanced-level solo or etude (4-mallet) suitable for a Masters recital
• Multiple Percussion: A short multiple percussion solo or featured part in chamber percussion, mixed chamber, or solo setting. This can be from a live rehearsal, recital or concert. A brief 2-3 minute excerpt is acceptable.

Orchestral Excerpts

• Snare Drum

Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kijé, Mvt. I (rehearsal 1-1 to measure before rehearsal 2)

Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Mvt. IV (4 measures before letter N to 18 measures after letter N)

• Timpani

Beethoven - Symphony No.9, Mvt. IV (7 measures after letter T to the end)

Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra, Mvt. IV (measures 42-50)

• Xylophone

Gershwin - Porgy and Bess (opening measures)

Copland - Appalachian Spring (fifth measure of rehearsal 48 to four measures after rehearsal 49)

• Glockenspiel

Dukas - Sorcerer's Apprentice(rehearsal 17 to 4 measures after rehearsal 19; rehearsal 22 to rehearsal 24)

Optional

• Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone

If your intended course of graduate study includes drum set, prepare a big band chart, transcription, or published solo. In addition, you must demonstrate time and soloing in the following styles: medium swing, up-tempo swing, rock, bossa nova, and samba (play-along tracks are preferred). 

A prepared jazz vibraphone solo or etude is also strongly encouraged.

For D.M. applicants seeking Associate Instructorships, a drum set solo (and experience in drum set instruction) is encouraged but not mandatory.

• World Percussion

If you have any experience with World Percussion (Afro-Cuban hand-drumming, Steel Pan, Brazilian, etc.), a short performance is encouraged but not mandatory.

D.M. applicants who wish to focus only on World Percussion should prepare:

• One etude from "The Language of the Masters" (Spiro/Sher Music - http://www.shermusic.com/1883217881.php)
• Two other solos in contrasting styles, including a hand drumming solo and stick drumming solo (sing one piece in the language of one of your chosen solo areas)
• These solos will take the place of the snare drum, timpani, marimba, solo and orchestral repertoire requirements.
• General sight-reading at the live audition may be requested.

Applicants seeking an Associate Instructorship in the area of World Percussion must include a performance on the World Percussion instrument of their choice or include an etude from "The Language of the Masters" (Spiro/Sher Music - http://www.shermusic.com/1883217881.php)