Carnegie Mellon University

School of Music

Where artistry and innovation share center stage

Percussion Audition Requirements

All applicants to the percussion studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements:

  • Snare Drum: Rudimental snare drum solo/etude of applicant’s choice (Pratt, Wilcoxin, etc.) and concert snare drum solo/etude of applicant’s choice (Delecluse, Peters, Aleo, etc.)
  • Timpani: Solo/etude of applicant’s choice (Firth, Carroll, Goodman, Delecluse, etc. - no Carter solo pieces please)
  • Mallets: Two mallet solo/etude of applicant’s choice,  four mallet solo/etude of applicant’s choice 
  • Drumset: If desired, but not required

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied.

Solos


  • Two or four mallet solo marimba work or etude of applicant’s choice – (Bach, Contemporary work)

  • Concert snare drum solo or etude of applicant’s choice – (Delecluse, Peters, Aleo, etc.)

  • Timpani Solo - Delecluse timpani solo of applicant’s choice

Orchestral Excerpts


  • Snare Drum
: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice 
  • Xylophone
: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice 
  • Timpani: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
  • Glockenspiel: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice 
  • Cymbals
: Two contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice 
  • Tambourine
: Two contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice 
  • Triangle
: If desired, but not required 
  • Vibraphone: If desired, but not required 
  • Drumset
: If desired, but not required

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied.

  • Solos
    • Two or four mallet solo marimba work or etude of applicant’s choice – (Bach, Contemporary work)
    • Concert snare drum solo or etude of applicant’s choice – (Delecluse, Peters, Aleo, etc.)
    • Timpani Solo or etude of applicant’s choice – (Carter, Delecluse, Firth, etc.)
  • Orchestral Excerpts
    • Snare Drum: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Xylophone: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Timpani: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Glockenspiel: Four contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Cymbals: Two contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Tambourine: Two contrasting excerpts of applicant’s choice
    • Triangle: If desired, but not required
    • Vibraphone: If desired, but not required
    • Drumset: If desired, but not required

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied.