Students interested in auditioning for the percussion program at USC should schedule an audition through the School of Music Admissions Office. Below are the audition requirements for all Undergraduate and Transfer Student auditions as well as requirements for Graduate Auditions. Prospective Students must audition in ALL THREE areas listed below to be considered for admission into the percussion program. The lists below contain suggested repertoire, but the student is not limited to this material. Other solos or etudes that show a similar level of technical and musical achievement may also be used for auditions. You may view the USC Undergraduate curriculum contained in the USC Percussion Handbook.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR JAZZ STUDIES AUDITIONEES: Percussion students who wish to pursue a degree in jazz studies must audition in all 3 areas below IN ADDITION to performing an audition on drumset. For drumset auditions, students should demonstrate their knowlege of styles (swing, latin, funk) as well as reading ability. Please refer to the page for more information on jazz auditions.

Audition Dates for Percussion

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Undergraduate Auditions

Snare Drum:

One Concert-Style study or solo. Selections from the following books would be appropriate:

Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
Contemporary Studies for the Snare Drum by Fred Albright
Recital Solos for Snare Drum by Garwood Whaley.

A rudimental-style solo may also be played in addition to the concert etude. Sightreading will also be asked.

Keyboard Percussion (Marimba or Xylophone);

A two or four-mallet etude or solo. A selection from the following list would be appropriate.

Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibes by Morris Goldenberg
Masterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillian
Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player by Garwood Whaley.
Furioso and Valse by Earl Hatch
Sea Refractions by Mitchell Peters
Yellow after the Rain by Mitchell Peters.

Sightreading will also be asked.

Timpani:

Demonstrate a basic knowledge of tuning the drums, including the intervals of fourths and fifths. One etude or solo. A selection from the following list would be appropriate:

Fundamental Studies for Timpani by Garwood Whaley
Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters
Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist by Garwood Whaley.

Graduate Auditions

Snare Drum:

One concert-style solo from one of the following books:

Twelve Studies for Snare Drum by Jaques Delecluse
Advanced Studies for Snare Drum by Mitchell Peters,
Advanced Etudes for Snare Drum by Keith Aleo.

In addition, prospective graduate students should also choose two excepts from the standard orchestral repertoire. These may include, but are not limited to:

Scheherazade (Mvt. III and IV) by Rimsky-Korsakov
Lt. Kije Suite by Prokofiev
Symphony #10 by Shostakovich.

Keyboard Percussion:

One four-mallet work for marimba. Appropriate selections would include, but are not limited to:

Two Mexican Dances by Gordon Stout
Two Movements for Marimba by Toshimitsu Tanaka
Virgina Tate by Paul Smadbeck
Caritas by Michael Burritt

In addition, prospective graduate students should also choose two excerpts from the standard orchestra repertoire. These may include, but are not limited to:

Porgy and Bess by Gershwin
Overture to Colas Breugnon by Kabalevsky
Polka from the Golden Age Ballet by Shostakovich

Timpani:

One appropriate solo or etude. Selections may include but are not limited to:

Eight Pieces for Timpani by Elliot Carter
Raga # 1 by William Cahn

In addition, prospective graduate students should also choose one excerpt from the orchestral repertoire of Beethoven or Tchaikovsky.

If you have questions about auditions for the percussion program, please contact Scott Herring by email (sherring@mozart.sc.edu) or phone (803)-777-2155.