Percussion Prescreening & Audition Procedures

Information for prospective percussion students applying to Manhattan School of Music.

In response to the global events of 2020, and our subsequent inability to hold live in-person auditions, Manhattan School of Music will only hold recorded and virtual auditions in 2021.

Prescreening requirements have not been affected by this change. Applicants to all areas with a prescreening requirement will be asked to include prescreening materials in their application, which is due December 1, 2020. Prescreening decisions will be released on December 18, 2020.

NOTE: Applications to the Artist Diploma (AD) are not being accepted for the 2021 application year.

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Percussion Prescreening Requirements

Undergraduate (BM)

There are no prescreening requirements for Undergraduate Percussion applicants.
Graduate (MM)
- Snare Drum: Solo Piece or etude AND Prokofiev – Lt. Kije (mvt I, reh 1-2)
- Mallets: 2-4 minute excerpts from two contrasting solos – one with two mallets, one with fours mallets AND Gershwin – Porgy and Bess (opening)
- Timpani: Solo Piece or etude AND Beethoven – Symphony #9
  (mvt I, mm 513 to the end)
- Tambourine: Dvorak – Carnival Overture (beginning to letter C)
Doctoral (DMA), Professional Studies (PS), & Artist Diploma (AD)
- 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

Percussion Audition Requirements

Applicants will submit the required repertoire listed below as separate video recordings by February 1, 2021. Each selection or movement may be uploaded as a separate video. Video files should be clearly labeled with the composer’s name and title of the piece. Professional or studio recordings are not required, but the sound quality should be as good as possible.

Undergraduate applicants whose recordings pass initial review by the faculty will be invited to a Zoom audition in late February which will include an interview, sight-reading, and a review of some portions of the recorded repertoire. Notification of invitation to a Zoom audition will be made by February 8, 2021.

All graduate applicants who pass prescreening will submit a pre-recorded audition and will also be invited to a Zoom audition.

View the requirements for your major below or download a pdf here.

Undergraduate (BM)
Recorded Audition Repertoire:
- 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.
- Timpani: One solo or etude.
Zoom Audition Repertoire:
- Interview: a dialogue with the faculty.
- Sight-Reading: if possible, applicants should have access to a mallet instrument (preferably a marimba) and a drum pad or snare drum for the sight-reading.
- Repertoire Review: this will not include performance of full-length works, but faculty may ask the applicant to perform audition repertoire again in a mini-lesson environment.
Graduate (MM)
Recorded Audition Repertoire:
- 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.
- Timpani: One solo or advanced etude.
- Orchestral Excerpts: Two each for Snare drum, xylophone, timpani; one each for glockenspiel, tambourine, and cymbals. Try to select excerpts in contrasting styles.
Zoom Audition Repertoire:
- Interview: a dialogue with the faculty.
- Sight-Reading: if possible, applicants should have access to a mallet instrument (preferably a marimba) and a drum pad or snare drum for the sight-reading.
- Repertoire Review: this will not include performance of full-length works, but faculty may ask the applicant to perform audition repertoire again in a mini-lesson environment.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
Recorded Audition Repertoire:
- Solo repertoire: Approximately 30 minutes of music appropriate for the post-graduate level, including works of contrasting style for mallets, snare drum, timpani, and multi- percussion.
- Orchestral repertoire for all instruments at the professional level: Three excerpts each for snare drum, xylophone, timpani; two each for glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbals. Try to select excerpts in contrasting styles.
Zoom Audition Repertoire:
- Interview: a dialogue with the faculty.
- Sight-Reading: if possible, applicants should have access to a mallet instrument (preferably a marimba) and a drum pad or snare drum for the sight-reading.
- Repertoire Review: this will not include performance of full-length works, but faculty may ask the applicant to perform audition repertoire again in a mini-lesson environment.