Percussion audition information
All undergraduate applicants must apply to the 91制片厂国产AV and complete a College of Music application. Undergraduate auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received. Graduate students need only complete the graduate application.
For information on applying for our ensembles, visit our听Ensembles page.
Undergraduate application instructions
Audition requirements
Undergraduate
Required
- Snare drum
- Concert style solo or etude (Cirone, Peters, Delecluse, etc.)
- Rudimental/traditional style solo or etude, (Wilcoxon, Pratt, Tompkins, etc.)
- Keyboard Percussion
- Four-mallet solo (Bach, Guitar or Piano Transcription, Abe, Tanaka, Burrit, Stout, etc.)
- Two-mallet solo (Bach, Violin or Flute Transcription, Ragtime, Contemporary Solo, etc.)
- Timpani
- Solo or etude (Goodman, Friese, Hochrainer, Knauer, etc.)
- Tuning
- In addition to the following requirements we may also you to demonstrate Major Scales on Keyboards and Flams, Paradiddles, and 9-Stroke Rolls on Snare Drum. 听听听听听听听听
Optional
In addition to the above you are welcome to present music on any other percussion instrument that represents your skill and musicianship. Any and all examples of other instruments/musical disciplines will be taken into consideration. Videos of performances (including multiple percussion solos, chamber music, playing in bands, etc.) will also be considered. This portion is entirely optional and can only add to your overall application without detracting in any way. Examples may include:
- Drum Set - play multiple styles and grooves, a transcription, improvisation, and/or play along with a recording - see听CU Jazz ensemble audition requirements for suggestions
- World Percussion - play multiple styles and grooves, a transcription, improvisation, and/or play along with a recording
- Jazz Vibes
- Multiple Percussion solo
Any questions regarding your audition material or the audition process should be sent to:听Michael.tetreault@colorado.edu 补苍诲听Carl.Dixon@colorado.edu.
Essay prompt听
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:听
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience鈥痑nd list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- 鈥淢usic lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.鈥 -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Graduate percussion applicants audition requirements
A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate percussion applicants.
MM pre-screening repertoire
- 3-6 minutes of music by J. S. Bach on marimba or vibraphone, with piano or not
- One Jacques Del茅cluse OR听Mitchell Peters 茅tude for snare drum
- Either听4 orchestra excerpts (percussion and/or 迟颈尘辫补苍颈)听OR听3-6 minutes of jazz vibraphone and/or drum set OR 3-6 minutes of a multiple percussion work
A cumulative 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work is required for Merit Based Aid consideration for MM听Percussion applicants
DMA suggested pre-screening repertoire
- 3-6 minutes of music by J. S. Bach on marimba or vibraphone
- 3-6 minutes of a contemporary work for marimba or vibraphone
- One Jacques Del茅cluse OR or Mitchell 茅tude and a rudimental solo for snare drum
- 3-6 minutes of jazz vibraphone and/or drum set.听Performances with a jazz group are preferred, but solo is fine.
- 3-6 minutes of orchestra excerpts (percussion and 迟颈尘辫补苍颈)听OR听a demonstration听of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian or African, etc. hand drumming听 听
Applicants to the DMA percussion program are required to have two years of professional experience听(i.e., working, playing and/or teaching outside of full-time schooling), either before or after having earned an MM degree.
Live auditions
Students invited to the in-person auditions will be notified of their acceptance to the auditions on or before Jan. 15. Auditions are held in 30-minute time slots, accommodating time for the formal audition, a follow-up interview and a mini-lesson.听
Because the audition time is short, you should prepare your selections extremely well, rather than prepare a complete recital program. Memorization is encouraged, but auditions听will include sight-reading on snare drum and marimba.听
We want to see how musically and confidently you can play. The live auditions do not have specific repertoire requirements.听Please play snare drum, mallets (marimba,听vibes听and/or xylophone)听and more.听Show us your best performance of music to your taste. You may play drum set, jazz improv., orchestral excerpts, multi-perc. set-ups, timpani, hand drums and jazz or classical transcriptions, etc.听听
Recorded auditions
Live auditions are听strongly听preferred. A high quality recording may be substituted if travel distance/cost is prohibitive. Please announce at the beginning of the recording your name and repertoire selections.听Please see the听recorded audition guidelines听for information on submitting a recording.听听听听听听
A live audition is required to qualify for merit based aid.
Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. Editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify the candidate from admission. The recording must be in a digital format with high quality audio. Please note that while recorded auditions will be given full consideration, the best demonstration of your musical ability is through a live audition.听