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.), Master of Music (M.M.), Performer Diploma, Solo Performance (P.D.S.P.), Doctor of Music (D.M.) in Music Literature and Performance
The following information is for entry into the 2025-26 school year.
All percussion applicants must submit prescreen recordings via the JSOM Supplemental application by December 1.
Please note, the prescreening requirement is waived for Indiana residents who are applying for an undergraduate degree in Percussion.
Select applicants will be invited to a live audition based on prescreening review. If you are invited, you will be scheduled for one of the following audition dates and will receive your schedule by email 3-4 weeks prior to your audition:
Applicants should prepare the following prescreening and audition requirements.
Questions? Contact Prof. Joseph Gramley at jgramley@iu.edu.
Submit the following:
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.
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.
Auditions are by invitation only based on prescreening review.
If selected to perform an on-campus audition, your live audition may include the same repertoire as your prescreen. However, other works not presented in your prescreen are also acceptable.
Choose your audition repertoire carefully. Please consider selections that you can perform well vs. 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 in your grasp.
All applicants must provide 3 copies of their audition repertoire to the audition committee.
Sight-reading will be requested during the live auditions.
The following instruments will be provided by the percussion department for the live auditions:
If any additional equipment is needed (multiple percussion, piano, etc.), please notify the chair of the department, Joseph Gramley, at jgramley@iu.edu, at least one week prior to the audition date. Candidates must bring their own sticks/mallets and are encouraged to bring their own small instruments.
The percussion department does not make admission decisions on a rolling basis. All applicants who have been invited to audition in person will be notified of an admission decision by April 1, as long as the applicant has a complete application.
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.
Master of Music (M.M.), Performer Diploma, Solo Performance (P.D.S.P.)
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.
Orchestral Excerpts
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)
Beethoven - Symphony No.9, Mvt. IV (7 measures after letter T to the end)
Gershwin - Porgy and Bess (opening measures)
Copland: Appalachian Spring (fifth measure of rehearsal 48 to four measures after rehearsal 49)
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
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.
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)
Dukas - Sorcerer's Apprentice(rehearsal 17 to 4 measures after rehearsal 19; rehearsal 22 to rehearsal 24)
Optional
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.
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:
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)
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 (Preferred) | IU application due | All undergraduate applicants |
| December 1, 2024 (Music Business February 1, 2025) | Jacobs Supplemental application due. (Prescreening due, as applicable to your audition requirements) | All applicants |
| December 1, 2024 | IU Graduate School application due | All graduate applicants |
| December 1, 2024 | TOEFL or IELTS scores due | Non-native English speaking applicants in graduate Voice, Piano (D.M. only), Conducting, Musicology, Music Theory, and Graduate Music Education |
| January 17-18, 2025 | January Audition/Interview Weekend | All applicants (See department specific pages as some dates may vary) |
| February 7-8, 2025 | February Audition/Interview Weekend | All applicants (See department specific pages as some dates may vary) |
| February 15, 2025 | Recorded auditions due | All applicants submitting final recorded auditions |
| March 1, 2025 | TOEFL or IELTS scores due | All non-native English speaking applicants |
| March 7-8, 2025 | March Audition/Interview Weekend | All applicants (See department specific pages as some dates may vary) |
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