CLASSICAL
The following three things are required of all percussion applicants. Applicants need to show sufficient proficiency in each of these areas to be accepted to the School of Music.
i. Marimba, Xylophone, or Vibraphone
ii. All major and minor scales
iii. Solo by Stout, Abe, J.S. Bach, Creston, Musser, Rosauro, or equivalent (a four-mallet solo is preffered)
iv. Sight reading
i. All snare drum rudiments (PDF)
ii. Ability to play triple or multiple bounce rolls at all dynamic levels
iii. One solo or etude from Delecluse, Albright, Cirone, Peters, Goldenberg, or equivalent
iv. Sight reading
i. Match pitch and sing intervals (3rds, 4ths, and 5ths) from an A
ii. A short solo or etude (Carter, Goodman, Vic Firth, Peters, Delecluse, or equivalent)
COMMERCIAL
- Prepared Piece: demonstrate the drum pattern for two the following tunes
- Styles: Rock, Rock Ballad, Funk, Hip Hop, Blues Shuffle, Slow Blues, Purdie Shuffle, Motown, Afro Cuban, Train Beat, Second-Line, Reggae, Calypso
- Improvisation: be prepared to improvise over a Rock or Funk style song form or vamp
- Sight Reading: sight read a Pop/Rock style chart (as in Joe Bergamini’s The Working Drummer’s Chart Book)