Jury Requirements for Percussion

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FRESHMEN are required to perform a jury after both semesters of study at MSU. These juries must include at least one work for keyboard percussion and a solo, etude or excerpt on either timpani or snare drum or both. Other repertoire may also be included at the discretion of the professor. Freshmen juries are 10 minutes and will include time to play the scale juries.

SOPHOMORES are required to perform a jury after both semesters of study at MSU. After 4 semesters of lessons students will perform the barrier jury that generally occurs at the end of the spring semester of the sophomore year. This jury will include one substantial work for keyboard percussion. It will also include standard orchestral excerpts or a substantial solo or etude for timpani, and a substantial solo or etude for snare drum. Other repertoire may also be included at the discretion of the professor. Sophomore juries are fifteen minutes and will include time to play the scale juries. 

JUNIORS are required to perform one jury that will generally occur at the end of the spring semester. This jury will include repertoire that is representative of the work that the student has completed during the year. It must include substantial works or excerpts in at least two different areas of percussion. These juries will include time to play the scale juries.

A junior who gives a recital in his/her final semester and performs at a satisfactory level may be allowed to forgo his/her jury at the discretion of the applied teacher. Please note that the applied professor has the authority to require a jury whether the student has performed a recital or not.

SENIOR percussion majors in both music performance and music education are required to perform a recital. If the student has performed satisfactorily on this recital, then the student may be allowed to forgo his/her jury at the discretion of the applied teacher. Please note that the applied professor has the authority to require a jury whether the student has performed a recital or not. If a jury is required, it must include repertoire that is representative of the work the student has completed during the year. It must include substantial works or excerpts in at least two different areas of percussion.

MASTERS students in percussion are required to perform at least one recital. If the student has performed satisfactorily on this recital, then the student may be allowed to forgo his/her jury at the discretion of the applied teacher. Please note that the applied professor has the authority to require a jury whether the student has performed a recital or not. If a jury is required, it must include repertoire that is representative of the work the student has completed during the year. It must include substantial works or excerpts in at least three different areas of percussion.

DMA students are not required to perform juries. Please refer to the MSU College of Music Graduate Handbook for details of recital requirements. 

For all juries you should dress professionally. You need to bring one copy of all your music for the professors. You are also required to fill out TWO jury forms - one for each of the professors listening to the jury.  

Juries and Recitals will be graded using the following guidelines:

1. Accuracy of notes and rhythms.
2. Accuracy of written phrasing and dynamics.
3. Musical expression – We want to hear your own ideas about interpretation, phrasing, and shape of the piece.
4. Sound – work to get a good sound quality on the instruments you are playing – this includes beating spot, touch, and mallet selection.
5. Technique – we will look to see that you are proficient in the techniques that are necessary to perform that particular piece or etude.