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Percussion Audition Material

Doctor of Musical Arts

Applicants are required to submit prescreening recordings by December 1. Upload the videos to the Digital Portfolio section of the College of Music Supplemental Application. You will be given access to the Digital Portfolio after the College of Music Supplemental Application is submitted. The recording quality must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability. Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the percussion area beginning the week following the December 1 deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition.

Prescreening Recording:

  • Keyboard
    • Significant solo repertoire
  • Timpani
    • Advanced solo or etude
    • One orchestral excerpt
  • Snare drum
    • Advanced solo or etude
    • One orchestral excerpt
  • Optional
    • Demonstrate other areas of expertise (e.g., drum set, hand drumming).

Live Audition:

  • Keyboard
    • Select two pieces from a significant solo repertoire.  At least one must be 4-mallets.
    • Two xylophone excerpts
  • Timpani
    • Advanced solo or etude
    • Two orchestral excerpts
  • Snare drum
    • Advanced solo or etude
    • Two orchestral excerpts
  • Multiple percussion
    • Please send a video to Professor Dease of performance in advance of the live audition or bring a video to your live audition.
  • Optional
    • Demonstrate other areas of expertise (e.g., drum set, hand drumming)
  • Follow DMA Performance Audition Detail

DMA Performance Audition Details

  • All domestic applicants must audition in person. (The area must approve any exceptions.)
  • International applicants applying for scholarships and assistantships must audition in person. (The area must approve any exceptions.)
    All other international applicants may submit a recording for provisional acceptance and audition in person in the first semester in residence.
  • Applicants who do not pass an audition the first time may audition one more time the following semester.
  • A second failed audition precludes any further consideration for admission into the DMA program.
  • Applicants will be notified of audition results by the end of March.

The audition consists of:

  • A twenty-minute performance from the recital program
  • A ten-minute lecture on the music
  • The program should be varied in regard to different periods, styles, and tempi of music.
  • The applicant will begin the audition with a selection of her/his choice.
  • The audition committee will choose the other selections from the program.
  • The applicant should be prepared to lecture on any work on the recital program.
  • Possible topics might include the formal structure and style of a piece; its compositional techniques and devices; its relationship to other works of the same composer, period, or genre; technical problems; the dramatic setting of an aria; or the historical background of an opera.

Piano accompaniment is required for voice auditions only. Applicants should bring their own pianist to the audition. (If this is not possible, the College of Music will attempt to put you in contact with pianists who are interested in playing for doctoral auditions.)

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