Percussion Audition

Percussionists should prepare to perform on snare, timpani, and mallets; in addition, they may also perform on the drum set. Applicants will be asked sight-read on all of the instruments listed below. There is some freedom in choosing audition repertoire; however, the player should demonstrate proficiency in each area as follows:

1. Snare Drum Perform both of the following, totaling about three minutes:
   1. Rudimental solo. (Suggested composers: Pratt, Campbell, Wilcoxon)
   2. Concert étude. (Suggested composers: Peters, Cirone, Délécluse)
   3. All rolls.
2. Mallets (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone - your choice)
   1. . Perform both of the following, totaling at least four minutes:
      1. Two-mallet solo. (Suggested composers: Bach [preferably from Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin OR Suites for Unaccompanied Cello], Kreisler, Bozza [Fourteen Arabesque- Studies for Flute])
      2. Four-mallet solo. (Suggested composers: Abe, Friedman, Finkel, O’Meara, Peters, Gomez, Stout)
3. Timpani Total duration should be about three minutes. One or two études utilizing two, three, or four drums. Demonstrate technical proficiency with pitch matching and interval tuning, rolls, etc. (Suggested composers: Firth, Peters, Hochreiner)
4. Drum Set Demonstrate various styles. Sight-reading. We encourage growth in the percussion department so please feel free to contact Montgomery Hatch via Email if you have any specific questions regarding entrance audition requirements.

Click here for instructions on how to set up your audition to Hofstra's Department of Music.