PERCUSSION ADMISSIONS &
AUDITION PROCEDURES


 
  This page is designed to guide prospective students through the requirements, expectations, and process for auditions and admission to the Department of Percussion Studies. For undergraduates, general admission information for the Moores School of Music can be found at www.music.uh.edu/prospective/undergraduate.html. For undergraduates, general admission information for the Moores School of Music can be found at www.music.uh.edu/prospective/graduate.html.

Established audition dates are held each Spring on the University of Houston Campus and are included on the links above. If none of these listed audition dates is possible for you, please contact Dr. Wilkins to arrange an alternate audition date.

We invite all interested percussionists to audition for our program! There is no cost for auditioning for the Moores School of Music. However, please be aware that positions available for admission into the percussion program are limited, so auditions are competitive. We recommend that prospective students be well prepared for the audition.


UNDERGRADUATE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Prepared Literature

All undergraduate applicants should demonstrate their skills in the following areas: Snare Drum, Timpani, and Mallet Percussion (Marimba and/or Xylophone). Applicants must prepare two (2) Snare Drums solo, one in concert style and one in rudimental style; two Keyboard solos, one using 2 mallets and one using 4 mallets (but only if the applicant has already studied 4-mallet playing); and one timpani piece. Because of time constraints in the auditions, additional playing of drum set is not recommended. The following literature recommendations are provided only as samples of appropriate literature for an undergraduate audition. Any piece is acceptable so long as it adequately demonstrates your technical and musical abilities on the instrument:

Snare Drum

Concert Solo
Etude from Anthony Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm[particularly Etude 5, 12, 15, 22, 37, or 44]

Rudimental Solo
John Pratt: 14 Contest Solos (any)

Keyboard
2-Mallet Solo
Masterpieces for Marimba or a good single solo

4-Mallet Solo
Alice Gomez: Rain Dance or Jungle Walk;
Mitchell Peters: Yellow After the Rain;
Rich O¹Meara: Restless;
Paul Smadbeck: Etudes or Rhythm Song

Timpani

Solo fromThe Solo Timpanist [Vic Firth]; or
Etude from Fundamental Method for Timpani[Mitchell Peters], Modern Method for Timpani[Saul Goodman], or a similar text; or
Concert Solo by Mitchell Peters [Rondino, Scherzo, Tribal Serenade, Primal Mood]

Regardless of the literature you ultimately select to play, do not try to impress us by playing a difficult piece if you cannot play it correctly. It is much better to select a piece that is within your grasp and perform it well!

Sight Reading

In addition to the prepared literature, the audition will include sight-reading on Snare Drum and Marimba (2-mallet technique only). The sight-reading portion of the audition is a very important dimension of your audition. Significant deficiencies in sight-reading in these areas often preclude otherwise skilled percussionists from admission into the program!

Timpani Tuning

In addition to the above, you will be asked to match pitches and tune simple intervals on timpani. Don't worry! Most incoming students have not had comprehensive ear training prior to entering the Moores School of Music. This portion of the audition is simply to evaluate your currently level of aural skills on timpani.

Each undergraduate applicant is allotted at total audition time of 20 minutes.

Other Requirements & Recommendations for Your Audition

1.) Compile a repertoire list: this is a list of all the solos and percussion ensembles you have played.

2.) Compile a list of awards and honors you have received, both in music and in other areas.

3.) Include a transcript from your school, or at least provide your current Grade Point Average, class ranking, and SAT or ACT scores if you have taken them yet.

4.) All percussion instruments you may need will be provided; you may bring your own snare drum, but please do not bring keyboard instrumentes or timpani. Sticks and mallets will not be provided. Please provide a copy of your music for panel hearing you play.


GRADUATE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Prepared Literature

Auditions for the Master of Music Degree in Percussion must be a minimum of 30 minutes, and not more than 45 minutes. Minimum audition requirements for percussion applicants are as follows, including suggested amount of time for each:

  • An advanced work for four-mallet marimba, the level of which is consistent with the expectations of a final recital for an undergraduate degree in percussion performance 10-15 minute
  • A work of a similar level for two-mallet keyboard (eg., a xylophone rag, movement of a 2-mallet concerto, etc.) – 4-6 minutes
  • A work or several movements from a collection of a similar level for timpani (eg., Carter's March and Canaries6-8 minutes
  • Several advanced solos or etudes in contrasting style (concert and rudimental) for snare drum (eg., etudes from Delecluse's Twelve Etudes; Gauthereaux's American Suite,etc.), which fully demonstrate your abilities on the instrument – 4-6 minutes
  • One short piece or suite movement of a similar level for multiple-percussion4-6 minutes
You will be asked to sight-read on snare drum and keyboards (two-mallets only), and asked to tune various intervals on timpani.

Other Requirements & Recommendations for Your Audition

1.) Please provide a brief vita identifying your education, music employment background, awards and honors you have received both in music and in other areas, etc.

2.) Compile a repertoire list: this is a list of all the solos and percussion ensembles you have played.

3.) Include a transcript from your undergraduate or graduate institutions.

4.) All percussion instruments you may need will be provided; you may bring your own snare drum, but please do not bring keyboard instrumentes or timpani. Sticks and mallets will not be provided. Please provide a copy of your music for panel hearing you play.

5.) In addition to the documents requested by the School of Music Graduate Office, you submit a writing sample. This can be a short paper from an undergraduate music history – anything that helps us evaluate your ability to write in an academic style using the English language.