GRADUATE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

A personal audition or an audio/video tape recording will serve to determine the graduate student’s qualifications for candidacy and to make appropriate level placement. A student should be able to demonstrate proficiency in several areas of performance as represented by performance of the solo literature for keyboard, snare drum, multiple percussion, general and ethnic percussion and/or drum set.

Graduate students will be required to develop a thorough understanding of percussion pedagogy and literature, by using recordings, books, music and videos for research. This will develop in the candidate an awareness of the historical and current approaches to instruction and performance, as well as an understanding of the evolution of percussion composition and history of the instruments.

The following pieces, or equivalents, are acceptable for a graduate student audition:

Mallet Keyboard

• Abe: Modern Japanese Marimba Pieces, Vol. I & II (selections)
• Basta: Concerto for Marimba
• Kurka: Concerto for Marimba
• Maslanka: My Lady White or Variations on Lost Love
• Miki: Time for Marimba
• Rosauro: Concerto for Marimba
• Stout: Two Mexican Dances
• Tanaka: Two Movements for Marimba
• Wiener: Six Solos for Vibraphone
• Milhaud: Concerto for Marimba and Vibraphone with Orchestra

Timpani

• Carter: Eight Pieces for Timpani
• Houllif: Four Verses for Timpani
• Williams: Variations for Solo Kettle Drums

General Percussion

• Erb: Diversions for Two
• Feldman: The King of Denmark
• Fink: Alternation: Szenen und Variation fur Percussion Solo
• Hollinden: Cold Pressed
• Hollinden: Slender Beams of Solid Rhythm
• Pillin: Duo for Percussion and Piano
• Rosaro: Brasiliana and Eldorado

Drum Set

Refer to drum set repertoire under Undergraduate Admission Requirements. If you have recordings of any professional jobs or recordings, please send those along with your other application materials.