Prescreening Procedures

All percussion applicants for Master of Music in Classical Performance, Master of Music in Orchestral Performance, Professional Studies, and Doctor of Musical Arts are required to submit a video recording for prescreening purposes in order to receive an invitation to a live audition in New York City. The recording must include all of the repertoire as listed below. Prescreening recordings must be uploaded via www.musiccas.com. It is not required that the format be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality must be as good as possible. Please find information on how to upload prescreening materials here. 

Prescreening Video Requirements

Undergraduate

• NONE - not required for undergraduate applicants.

Graduate

• Snare Drum: Solo Piece or etude AND Prokofiev - Lt. Kije (mvt I, reh 1-2)
• Mallets: 2-4minute excerpts from two contrasting solos - one with two mallets, one with fours mallets AND Gershwin - Porgy and Bess (opening)
• TImpani: Solo Pice or etude AND Beethoven - Symphony #9
  (mvt I, mm 513 to the end)
• Tambourine: Dvorak - Carnival Overture (beginning to letter C)

Orchestral Performance (Graduate Program)

See Orchestral Performance page for requirement >

Doctoral and Professional Studies

• Snare Drum: Solo Piece AND 2 contrasting orchestral excerpts
• Mallets: Two solos in contrasting styles AND 2 contrasting orchestral xylophone excerpts
• Timpani: Solo AND 2 contrasting orchestral excerpts
• Tambourine: Dvorak - Carnival Overture (beginning to letter C)
• Multiple Percussion: Solo

Audition Procedures

Auditions are approximately 20 minutes in length for freshmen applicants and all others are approximately 30 minutes. Each applicant chooses a first work. The faculty will choose other works from the repertoire list provided by the applicant. At least two (2) copies of prepared materials are requested.

Note to International Students: Live auditions are encouraged. However, if sending a DVD, please introduce yourself and explain your career goals and plans.

Audition Requirements

Undergraduate

• Snare Drum: Two contrasting solos or etudes - one of them in rudimental style
• Marimba: Two contrasting solos - one with two mallets, one with four mallets (one solo may be played on xylophone or vibes) AND Sight Reading
• Timpani: One solo or etude

Graduate

Solo repertoire

• Snare Drum: Two contrasting solos or etudes - one of then in rudimental style
• Marimba: Two contrasting solos - one with two mallets, one with four mallets (one solo may be played on xylophone or vibes) AND Sight Reading
• Timpani: One solo
• Orchestral Excerpts: 3-4 each for Snare drum, xylophone, timpani; 2 each for glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbals. (Try to select excerpts in contrasting styles).

Orchestral Performance (Graduate Program)

See Orchestral Performance page for information about this program >

Doctoral and Professional Studies

The MSM percussion department seeks DMA candidates who are self motivated, and have an independent vision of how they want their musicianship to develop during their studies at the postgraduate level.

In addition to the requirements listed below, the live audition will include a dialog with the faculty regarding the candidates goals and expectations for their study at MSM.

• Present portions of a full-length recital. The audition must include works of contrasting style for mallets, timpani, snare drum, and multi- percussion.
• Orchestral repertoire for all instruments at the professional level. 3-6 excerpts for snare drum, xylophone, timpani; 2 each for glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbals.
• A DVD of multi-percussion performances should be submitted to augment the live audition. The DVD may include any additional performances that the candidate would like the faculty to hear.