Audition Requirements
Undergraduate
Students should demonstrate examples of their highest achievement on snare drum, mallets, and timpani. The following guidelines are minimum requirements.
Snare Drum: Basic rudiments and one selection at the level of any all-state required solo or an etude from Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone.
Mallets: Major scales and one selection at the level of any all-state required solo or etude from Modern School for Xylophone by Morris Goldenberg.
Timpani: Basic tuning skills and one selection at the level of any all-state required solo or an etude from Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman.
Students are encouraged to contact the percussion department to assist with planning of the audition well in advance, to assure a successful audition.
Graduate
Incoming graduate students are expected to demonstrate examples of their highest level of achievement on snare drum, marimba, timpani or multiple percussion. Students are also expected to perform orchestral excepts on snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani or accessory instruments. Below is a representative list of audition materials:
Snare drum: Douze Etudes by Jacques Delecluse, Excerpts: Scheherezade, Capriccio Espagnol, Lt. Kije
Marimba: A four-mallet solo work comparable in difficulty to Two Mexican Dances by Gordon Stout, Merlin by Andrew Thomas
Timpani: Eight Pieces for Four Timpani by Elliot Carter, Excerpts: Symphonic Metamorphosis
Keyboard Excerpts: Porgy and Bess, Appalachian Spring, Magic Flute, Sorcerer's Apprentice