PERCUSSION at EMU

Audition Information

Eastern Michigan University Department of Music and Dance

Audition Guidelines and Requirements for:

Bachelor of Music - Percussion
Bachelor of Music Education (Instrumental) - Percussion
Bachelor of Music Therapy - Percussion
Bachelor of Arts - Music (Percussion)

Every prospective music major and minor must audition on his/her principal instrument before enrolling at Eastern Michigan University. It is best to arrange an audition at EMU on one of the designated department audition days. Upcoming designated audition days are: November 12, 2004, January 14, February 11, March 11, and April 1, 2005. Because openings and scholarships are limited, auditioning as early as possible is recommended. To receive a Department of Music Application for Undergraduate Admission, other details and arrange an audition time, please contact the Music Office directly (734/487-4380). Prospective students unable to audition on one of the designated audition days, should contact Professor Dorsey directly to inquire about the possibility of a special audition time. It is always best to audition in person, but in extreme circumstances (e.g., geographical location), auditioning by tape (audio or video) may be acceptable, but only with prior approval. To succeed in music requires talent, determination and a tremendous amount of work. Choosing a career in music should only be done after a great deal of careful thought. EMU can provide an environment where talent, desire and effort are guided and focused for the greatest result.

In auditioning for the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education (Instrumental), Bachelor of Music Therapy and the Bachelor of Arts degree programs, students should be prepared to perform in at least two of the three major areas of percussion: snare drum, mallet keyboard percussion and timpani. Music should be selected from appropriate solo recital literature and, if possible, orchestral excerpts. 10 to 15 minutes of music should be prepared. Above all, students should strive to play something that best represents their playing abilities. Auditions are conducted in Professor Dorsey's studio, normally last about 20 to 30 minutes and include a short interview.

Listed below are but a few suggested pieces of solo literature and orchestral excerpts from which to choose, though other works of comparable or greater difficulty are also welcome and encouraged.

I. Snare Drum
Benson: Three Dances for Snare Drum
Cirone: Portraits in Rhythm
Markovitch: Stamina
Markovich: Tornado
McCormick: Solo Suite for Snare Drum
Pratt: Fourteen Modern Contest Solos

II. Mallet Keyboard Percussion
Bach: Concerto in A minor (for violin)
Gomez/Rife: Rain Dance
Handel: Third Violin Sonata in F
Hatch: Furioso and Valse in D minor
Kreisler: Tambourin Chinois
Peters: Yellow After the Rain

III. Timpani
Beck: Sonata for Timpani
Beck: Triptych Motif
Firth: The Solo Timpanist - 26 Etudes
Goodman: Introduction and Allegro
Muczynski: Three Designs for Three Timpani
Peters: Rondino

IV. Orchestral Excerpts – OPTIONAL (any or all)
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (xylophone)
Shostakovich: Polka from The Age of Gold (xylophone)
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (glockenspiel)
Mozart: The Magic Flute (glockenspiel)
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije (snare drum)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade (snare drum)

Major and minor scales, timpani tuning, demonstration of technique on triangle, tambourine and cymbals, and sight-reading should also be expected as part of the audition process.

For information concerning graduate auditions, please contact Professor Dorsey.