Percussion Audition Requirements

Student performing percussion
PVA Auditions, Interviews and Portfolios

Undergraduates Graduates Audition Contact

Undergraduates

Percussion Requirements

  • Snare drum
    • One (1) Solo or Band Excerpt that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency (Cirone, Whaley, All-State Audition Etudes, etc.).
    • Sight Reading.
  • Mallets
    • One (1) Two-Mallet or Four-Mallet Solo or Band Excerpt that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency (Transcriptions, All-State Audition Etudes; solos from books by Davila, Ford, Goldenberg, Whaley, etc.).
    • Sight Reading (two mallets).
  • Timpani
    • One (1) Solo or Band Excerpt that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency (Firth, Whaley, All-State Audition Etudes, etc.)
  • OPTIONAL: Drum Set
    • A demonstration of a variety of musical styles (playing alongside a combo/ensemble or recording is encouraged) uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
    • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.

Audition Video Requirements

  • Each audition piece must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take.
  • The video recording should be made with a camera in a single, fixed location so that the camera angle is consistent. The camera should be focused on the performer, who must be visible at all times. Please set up the camera so that the performer’s hands and instrument(s) are visible so that the level of performance can be assessed accurately.
  • Recordings of each piece must be unedited and should be uploaded to YouTube. The YouTube link(s) should then be added to your application on Slate.

Graduates

Master of Music

  • Snare Drum
    • One (1) Orchestral Snare Drum Solo or Etude (Aleo, Delécluse, Peters, etc.) that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • One (1) Rudimental Snare Drum Solo or Etude (Pratt, Tompkins, Wilcoxon, etc.) that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • Optional: Two (2) standard Orchestral Snare Drum Excerpts.
    • Sight Reading.
  • Mallets
    • One (1) Four-Mallet Marimba (or Vibraphone) Solo (Abe, Sammut, Trevino, etc.) appropriate for a recital that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • Optional: Two (2) standard Orchestral Mallet Excerpts (Xylophone and/or Glockenspiel).
    • Sight Reading (two mallets).
  • Timpani
    • One (1) advanced 4-Drum Solo (Carter, Firth, Hochrainer, etc.) that demonstrates proficiency in tuning, technique, and musicality.
    • Optional: Two (2) standard Orchestral Timpani Excerpts.
  • OPTIONAL: You may also demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following areas:
    • Multi-Percussion
      • At least 3 minutes of a Multi-Percussion Solo of your choice uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.
    • Drum Set
      • A demonstration of a variety of musical styles (playing alongside a combo/ensemble or recording is encouraged) uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.
    • World Percussion
      • A 2 to 3-minute improvised solo on hand drums or other global percussion instruments uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu.

Doctor of Arts and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • Snare drum
    • One (1) Orchestral-Style Snare Drum Solo or Etude (Aleo, Delécluse, Peters, etc.) that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • One (1) Rudimental-Style Snare Drum Solo or Etude (Pratt, Tompkins, Wilcoxon, etc.) that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • Two (2) standard Orchestral Snare Drum Excerpts.
    • Sight Reading .
  • Mallets
    • One (1) Two-Mallet Solo (Bach, Koshinski, Stout, etc.) that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • One (1) Four-Mallet Marimba (or Vibraphone) Solo (Abe, Sammut, Trevino, etc.) appropriate for a recital that demonstrates technical and musical proficiency.
    • Two (2) Standard Orchestral Mallet Excerpts (Xylophone and/or Glockenspiel).
    • Sight Reading (two mallets).
  • Timpani
    • One (1) advanced 4-Drum solo (Carter, Firth, Hochrainer, etc.) that demonstrates proficiency in tuning, technique, and musicality.
    • Two (2) standard orchestral timpani excerpts.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in one (1) or more of the following areas:
    • Multi-Percussion
      • At least a 3-minute multi-percussion solo of your choice uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.
    • Drum Set
      • A demonstration of a variety of musical styles (playing alongside a combo/ensemble or recording is encouraged) uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.
    • World music
      • A 2 to 3-minute improvised solo on hand drums or other global percussion instruments uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
      • Please email a video link to tim.feerst@unco.edu before your audition.

Audition Video Requirements

  • Each audition piece must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take.
  • The video recording should be made with a camera in a single, fixed location so that the camera angle is consistent. The camera should be focused on the performer, who must be visible at all times. Please set up the camera so that the performer’s hands and instrument(s) are visible so that the level of performance can be assessed accurately.
  • Recordings of each piece must be unedited and should be uploaded to YouTube. The YouTube link(s) should then be added to your application on Slate.

Audition Contact

Headshot of Tim Feerst.

Tim Feerst

Assistant Professor of Music, Percussion

Music Audition Requirements

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