School of Music

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Percussion

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All School of Music applicants must audition on their chosen instrument. To audition, complete a Music Admission/Scholarship Application and submit a letter of recommendation from a qualified music teacher online. Once the audition materials have been submitted to the School of Music, the student may either schedule a time to perform a live audition at BYU, or submit a DVD or VHS videotape (not cassette tape or CD).

It may not be possible to hear all the music prepared for a live audition. Representative samples or sections of audition pieces will be heard. Only those auditioning are allowed in the audition studio.

Click here to apply.

Questions? E-mail us at music@byu.edu or call the School of Music at 801-422-8903.

Graduate applicants: Please contact April Clayton at 801-422-1177 or April_Clayton@byu.edu.

Demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

1. Snare Drum: Select an etude that includes rolls, flams, drags, and good dynamic contrast. A good concert style should be demonstrated using buzz rolls and performing with appropriate equipment for orchestral snare drum performance. Suggested literature: Anthony Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm or Garwood Whaley's Recital Solos for Snare Drum.
2. Mallet Keyboard Percussion: Select a solo or etude that demonstrates your technique and musicianship to best advantage. Suggested literature: one of the 39 etudes from Morris Goldenberg's Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone or Garwood Whaley's Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player. Suggested two-mallet solos: Mitchell Peter's Sonata Allegro or Fritz Kriesler's Tambourin Chinois. Suggested solos for four mallets: Clair Omar Musser's Etude op. 6, no. 9; or Etude op. 6, no. 10; or Mitchell Peters' Yellow After the Rain. Vibe solos: Bill Molenhof's Music of the Day or David Friedman's Mirror from Another.
3. Timpani: Select a solo or etude that demonstrates a variety of articulation, rolls, and dynamics, and that includes tuning changes. Suggested literature: Firth's The Solo Timpanist or A. Friese - A. Lepak's Timpani Method. Suggested solos: Robert Muczinski's Three Designs for Three Timpani or John Beck's Sontata for Timpani.
4. Drum Set:
   1. Demonstrate ability to play a variety of styles—swing, rock, samba, bossa nova, songo, mambo, etc.
   2. Perform a solo that demonstrates your technique/abilities to best advantage. Suggested solo's: Murray Houlliff's Drum Set Solos or Rich Thompson's Jazz Solos Vol. One or a solo from Rick Latham's Advanced Funk Studies.
   3. Demonstrate your ability to play brushes, trade fours in a swing or rock style, and play figures from a big band chart or lead sheet.

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