Audition | Cleveland Institute of Music

Percussion Audition Information

TIMPANI AND PERCUSSION

A prescreening recording is not required, except for doctor of musical arts applicants. If you wish to upload a video recording to your application, you may do so. The recording should consist of selections from the audition repertoire. Doctor of musical arts applicants should record approximately 30 minutes of the repertoire below.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Undergraduate

• Snare Drum: Demonstrate advanced skills by performing rolls, rudiments and/or other technical aspects of snare drumming in two contrasting etudes from advanced sources; e.g., Delécluse, Peters, Goldenberg, Wilcoxin, or Pratt. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants.

• Keyboard Percussion: Show evidence of advanced technical and musical skills by performing at least two contrasting movements from one or more concerti or solo works; e.g. Stout: Mexican Dances; Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin; Creston: Concertino for Marimba; or works by Abe, Burritt, Smadbeck, etc. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises.

• Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart).

• Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition.
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All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program.

Graduate

Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration.

Percussion

• Five contrasting orchestral excerpts each for snare drum, xylophone, and glockenspiel
• One advanced orchestral excerpt for vibraphone, tambourine, cymbals, and triangle may be heard as time permits
• An advanced keyboard solo suitable for a senior recital
• An advanced snare drum etude or solo
• Show basic technical and ear training skills on timpani
• Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition.
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Timpani

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• Demonstrate timpani skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Show evidence of a good ear, knowledge of intervals, and tuning ability.
• Perform standard timpani repertoire and etudes demonstrating facility and musicianship.
• Show evidence of basic technical knowledge of snare drum and keyboard percussion; perform one study each on snare drum and xylophone or marimba.

Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. 

                                                                                                                                                                Updated on 04/09/2019