Percussion Audition Information

2007 Percussion Audition Dates

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Monday, February 19, 2007

Friday, March 2, 2007

Saturday, March 17, 2007

 

AUDITION

Acceptance to private study in the Conservatory is based on an audition prior to enrollment.  Auditions are judged by the appropriate applied faculty and are normally arranged through the Conservatory Admissions Office.  In the case of students residing a significant distance from Kansas City, a high quality videocassette recording may serve for provisional admittance.  Auditions are normally 10 minutes in length at the undergraduate level, 20 minutes at the master’s level, and 30 minutes at the doctoral level.

 

AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Repertoire for an audition, at any level of study, should reflect competency in more than one area of percussion.  Because of the diversity of literature, styles and teaching, the following should be used as a guide by prospective students in preparing an audition.  The suggested composers’ works may be found in the UMKC Percussion Syllabus (Percussion at UMKC) and may be ordered from your local music store or by mail from the Steve Weiss Catalog.  Non-performance majors should perform repertoire which best demonstrates their level of ability.  Undergraduate applicants should be aware that a basic level of musicianship in the areas of snare drum and mallets is necessary before attempting admission to the Conservatory.

 

Undergraduate level

Applicants should demonstrate ability on snare drum and mallets and  at least one  of either timpani or multiple percussion.  Prepare solos selected from the standard literature and be ready to sight read:

Studio Audition

1) Snare Drum (Perform one concert and one rudimental solo)

        Rudimental (Peters, Pratt, Markovich or others)

        Concert (Benson, Colgrass, Cirone, or others)

2) Keyboard Percussion (Two and/or four mallet solo)

3) Timpani (Solos by Beck, Forth, Hinger or others)

4) Multiple Percussion (Udow, Kraft, or others)

Drum Set

Auditions for drum set will be separate from the percussion studio auditions.  Students wishing to audition on drum set will be given a second audition time on the same day as their studio audition.  Members of the UMKC Jazz Faculty will be present.  A drum set will be provided, students are welcome to bring their own cymbals and bass drum pedals.

Stylistic Component: Students should be prepared to perform examples from all of the following areas:

1) Swing (moderate and up-tempo feels)                                                                2) Ballad (demonstrating brush techniques)

3) Latin (Bossa Nova and Samba)                                                                            4) World Music (Afro-Cuban, Reggae)

Creative Component:

1) Performance with UMKC Jazz Combo

Students should use this time to convey their knowledge of the Jazz idiom through performance in this traditional setting.

2) Chart Reading

                Students will read from both lead sheets and rhythm charts

 

Master's Level 

Advanced ability should be demonstrated in all four of these areas:    

1) Snare drum:  

            Orchestral Repertoire (From Goldenberg or other excerpts)

            Advanced Solos/Etudes (Delecluse, Albright or others)

2) Keyboard Percussion:

            Two mallet work (G.H. Green Xylophone Rag or similar)

            Four mallet (Should show both chorale style as well as more dexterous section)

            Orchestral Repertoire

3) Multiple Percussion

4) Timpani:

            Orchestral Repertoire

            Etude/Solo with pitch changes                                                                                      

 

Doctoral Level

Doctoral applicants should submit a list of all solo, chamber and ensemble repertoire performed, as well as copies of programs from public performances.  For the in-person audition, the same area requirements for the master’s will be in effect, yet a higher level of skill and more mature interpretation will be expected.  Doctoral applicants should already possess professional level technical skills, with mature interpretive insight.

 

 

UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE AUDITION AND INTERVIEW PROCEDURES

 

 

Please read carefully:

1.       To assure adequate scheduling and notification procedures, all Conservatory application materials should be submitted at least four weeks prior to the requested audition date.  Audition dates, times and rooms will be confirmed approximately three weeks prior to the scheduled audition.

 

2.       All applicants are advised to audition on campus.  If scheduling difficulties or distances are insurmountable, applicants should request to audition by tape or CD.  Applicants not auditioning on the Kansas City campus may be required to audition live, in person before final acceptance into the Conservatory.

 

3.       Auditions should be scheduled only in the major performing area.  If a student is highly           proficient in more than one instrument, he/she may audition in more than one area.  Each audition will require a separate Audition Request Form, which is available by calling the Conservatory Admissions Office at 816-235-5209. 

 

4.       UMKC will provide staff accompanists for all voice auditions.  Accompaniments for orchestral instruments and classical guitar are not required and will not be provided.  There is no fee for an accompanist.

 

5.       The auditioning committee will have the option of hearing as much of the prepared repertoire, in whole or in part, as it deems necessary to assess the applicant’s ability.  Each applicant may choose the first piece to be performed.

 

Applicants will perform an audition consisting of works from the standard repertoire.  Scales and sight-reading may be requested.  More detailed information and suggestions are available from the appropriate applied faculty member.

 

If the applicant is an UNDERGRADUATE, a 10-minute audition is required.

If the applicant is a MASTER’S performance candidate, a 20-minute audition is required.

If the applicant is a DOCTORAL performance candidate, a 30-minute audition is required.

 

Undergraduate non-performance majors will be required to perform a 10-minute audition in their applied area.

Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) non-performance majors will be required to perform a 15-minute audition in their applied area.

2004 Percussion Audition Dates

Saturday, February 7, 2004

Monday, February 16, 2004

Friday, March 5, 2004

 

Large Ensemble Audition Material - (For Current Students Only)

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