Under the guidance of orchestral percussionists, students in the sector receive excellent percussion training.

Studying Percussion

Timpanist and trumpeter

Instruments include snare drum, timpani, two and four mallet keyboard-percussion (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone,glockenspiel), and other standard orchestral instruments (tambourine, triangle, bass drum, cymbals, castanets, etc.). Studies involve solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire.

Audition requirements

Undergraduate candidates should prepare their own choice of study on the following:

  • Timpani (Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters or similar)
  • Concert Snare Drum (Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters or similar)
  • 2-mallet Xylophone or Marimba (Masterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillan or similar)

In addition, be ready to demonstrate the following:

  • Major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic) scales and arpeggios.
  • Loud and soft rolls on timpani and snare drum.
  • Tuning two timpani from a single pitch.
  • Sight-reading

Though not required, you may also include:

  • A 4-mallet marimba piece
  • A rudimental snare drum piece (such as a study from The All-American Drummer by Charley Wilcoxon)

If auditioning by video, please contact Andrew Harris ahead of time for specific performance instructions.

Students applying to the Bachelor of Music (B. Mus.) or to the combined Bachelor of Music and Science (B. Mus./B. Sc.) must demonstrate an advanced level of technical proficiency and performance ability.

For more information, please contact Percussion Sector Head Andrew Harris.

Perez Hall

Get to know our faculty

Our esteemed faculty, comprised of accomplished musicians and scholars, bring a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching to every classroom and studio.
Discover our percussion professors