January 16-17, 2009; February 6-7; March 6-7, 2009

Please Note: Percussion applicants are strongly encouraged to perform a live audition during one of the above listed weekend audition days. Special appointment auditions will only be granted under extreme extenuating circumstances.

Also please join us for our informative luncheons which occur on Fridays at 12 noon during our audition weekends. These luncheons provide an opportunity for prospective students and their parents to ask questions of the IU percussion faculty. A special performance is also presented at this time, featuring IU percussion students.

The IU School of Music provides students in the Percussion Department the opportunity to gain experience in a wide variety of musical settings, including symphony, opera, and ballet orchestras; concert and marching bands; percussion, steel pan, and hand drumming ensembles; jazz bands and combos; and the new music ensemble. In addition students have a host of solo and chamber music opportunities.

Students in the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, or Doctor of Music degree programs in percussion performance work with faculty members who have had long career experiences with major symphony orchestras. The department trains percussionists in these programs to master the symphonic repertoire while preparing them for careers as orchestral musicians.

Percussion students working toward the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and the Master of Music in Jazz Studies study with a renowned jazz artist/faculty member. Students perfect their drum set skills for careers in studio, jazz, rock, and other related professional opportunities.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis on percussion study with a faculty member who is well known nationally as a percussion educator.

Percussion Audition Requirements:

All applicants shall provide 4 copies of their audition repertoire to the audition committee. All instruments will be provided by the percussion department. Available percussion instruments include:

Set of five Yamaha timpani
Set of 4 Light Mark XI (Dresden-style) timpani
5-octave Marimba (either Marimba One or Malletech)
Pearl Philharmonic Snare Drums: 6.5" x 14" and 5" x 14"
Yamaha xylophone (rosewood)
Yamaha 4 octave vibraphone (gold bars)
Fall Creek RT1500 bells (C-F extended range)
Drum set: 4 piece (20" bass) with crash and ride cymbals

If any additional equipment (multiple percussion, piano, sound system, etc.) is needed please notify the chair of the department, Professor Steve Houghton, at 812-856-3674 at least one week prior to the audition date. Candidates must bring their own sticks/mallets and are encouraged to bring small instruments.

Please note: If you plan to perform any work that includes "butt-ends" on timpani (Carter: March, etc.) please cover the end of your mallets with moleskin or something similar.

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E)
Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field (B.S.O.F.)

Undergraduate applicants are expected to audition on snare drum, marimba, and timpani. Applicants for the jazz concentration must complete the drum set audition instead of the timpani requirement. A jazz vibraphone solo or etude is also strongly encouraged.

Snare Drum (undergraduate)
Demonstrate rudiments and rolls at various dynamics.
One solo or etude from Delecluse, Albright, Cirone, Peters, Goldenberg, or equivalent.
Sight-reading

Marimba (undergraduate)
All major and minor scales, two octaves.
One movement or solo/etude (memorized) from Peters, Stout, Abe, J.S. Bach, Creston, Musser, Rosauro, or equivalent.
Sight-reading

Timpani (undergraduate)
Rolls and general strokes at various dynamics.
Basic knowledge of intervals and tuning.
A short solo or etude; 3-4 timpani preferred (Goodman, Vic Firth, Peters, Delecluse, Schinstine, or equivalent).
Sight-reading

Drum Set/Jazz Vibes (undergraduate)
There are three stages to the drum set (Jazz Major) audition: prepared piece, demonstration of styles, and sight-reading. The prepared piece should be a complete big band chart, transcription, or published solo. Demonstration of time and soloing in the following styles: medium swing, up-tempo swing, rock, bossa nova, and samba (play-along tracks will be provided). Sight-reading will be required for the drum set audition.
A jazz vibraphone solo or etude is strongly encouraged.

Master of Music (M.M.)
A Delecluse snare drum etude of your choice.
An advanced-level marimba solo (memorized) suitable for a senior recital.
An advanced-level timpani solo or advanced etude.
Sight-reading on snare drum, timpani, and marimba will also be requested.

Orchestral Excerpts

Timpani
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Movt. I, measures 16-35
Fourth movement, 7 measures after Letter T to the end
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Movt. IV, measures 42-50

Snare Drum
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije, Movt. I, Rehearsal 1-1 measure before Rehearsal 2
Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movt. III, Letter D-E; Movt. IV, 4 measures before Letter N to 18 measures after Letter N

Xylophone
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (opening measures)
Copland: Appalachian Spring, 5 measures after Rehearsal 48 to 4 measures after Rehearsal 49

Glockenspiel
Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice, Rehearsal 17 to 4 measures after Rehearsal 19; Rehearsal 22 to Rehearsal 24

Drum Set/Jazz Vibes solo (in consideration of an Associate Instructor position with a focus in this area).

Sight-reading

Doctor of Music (D.M.)
A Delecluse snare drum etude of your choice.
An advanced-level marimba solo (memorized) suitable for a masters degree recital (first movement of a concerto, etc.).
An advanced-level timpani solo suitable for a masters degree recital (one movement) or advanced etude.
Sight-reading on snare drum, timpani, and marimba will also be requested.

Orchestral Excerpts

Timpani
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Movt. I, measures 16-35; fourth movement, 7 measures after Letter T to the end
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Movt. IV, measures 42-50
One additional excerpt of the candidate's choice

Snare Drum
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije, Movt. I, Rehearsal 1-1 measure before Rehearsal 2
Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movt. III, Letter D-E; Movt. IV, 4 measures before Letter N to 18 measures after Letter N
One additional excerpt of the candidate's choice

Xylophone
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (opening measures)
Copland: Appalachian Spring, 5 measures after Rehearsal 48 to 4 measures after Rehearsal 49
One additional excerpt of the candidate's choice

Glockenspiel
Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice, Rehearsal 17 to 4 measures after Rehearsal 19; Rehearsal 22 to Rehearsal 24
One additional excerpt of the candidate's choice

Drum Set/Jazz Vibes solo (in consideration of an Associate Instructor position with a focus in this area)

Sight-reading