PERCUSSION AUDITIONS

 

2024-2025 AUDITIONS


Email all questions and submissions to:

percussion@okstate.edu


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Music Majors (and non-majors wanting to apply for studio membership):


https://cas.okstate.edu/greenwood_school_of_music/audition_information.html

*If this link is not active, just go to the Greenwood School of Music page for the latest info *


Please visit the OSU Music Audition page for all of the latest information on auditioning for a spot in the OSU Percussion Studio.  Audition dates are January 26 & 27 and February 2 & 3, 2024.  If you need any further information OR you need to request an alternate date for auditions, please email percussion@okstate.edu  to request and alternate date. We are trying to complete all auditions by the end of February, 2024. All students should plan to perform solos on the following instruments:


  1. •Concert Snare

  2. •EXAMPLES: an etude from The Solo Snare Drummer by Vic Firth, Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone or Twelve Studies for Snare Drum by Jacques Delecluse.

  3. •Rudimental Snare

  4. •EXAMPLES: any solo by Marty Hurley, Mitch Markovitch, Art Cappio, Charley Wilcoxon or John Pratt; The Rudimental Cookbook (Ed Freytag).

  5. •Keyboards (two and/or four mallets)

  6. •EXAMPLES: Yellow After the Rain (Mitchell Peters), Spanish Dance (Kai Stensgaard), Two Mexican Dances (Gordon Stout), Three Preludes (Ney Rosauro), Furioso and Valse in D Minor (2 mallets) (Earl Hatch), any ragtime solo by George Hamilton Green (2 mallets).

  7. •Timpani

  8. •EXAMPLES: Sonata for Timpani (John Beck), Raga No. 1 (William Cahn), Eight Solos for 4 Timpani (Elliott Carter) or etudes from Twenty Studies for Timpani by Jacques Delecluse, The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth or Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist by Garwood Whaley.


Of course, all state audition material can be used if you desire, but we do encourage all auditionees to try to learn something new on keyboard. There are MANY other solos that can be used - the above are just common suggestions for students to consider.


In addition, knowledge of rudiments, scales, and timpani tuning is helpful. Sight reading on snare and keyboard will also be given. Any student who has a conflict on the audition date, or would like more information for the 2024-2025 academic year should contact Wayne Bovenschen via email for additional information.




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OSU Drumline Auditions:


All first round auditions for percussionists wanting to gain membership in the OSU Drumline will do their their first audition via YouTube (or other video submission).  All that is necessary is a video of you playing the requested exercises described below.  Due date for first round video submission is April 1, 2024. Also, this is NOT a hard deadline - I will begin reviewing videos submitted on the weekend of April 1 and continue to accept them up until the live auditions in April-May (outlined below).  Just realize, the video is a benefit to YOU - we will give feedback on what to improve upon before the live auditions.  Good Luck!!!!


FRONT ENSEMBLE (PIT) AUDITION INFORMATION - UPDATED BELOW

THE PIT IS BACK!!!!  We now have 3 Yamaha Marimbas and Vibes.  And a xylo to add in soon so we can take up to 10 members in the front ensemble (we double up on the marimbas to give more people the opportunity to participate).   You only need to prepare exercises in one key.  After auditions we will be adding other keys for variation.  Information has been added below.  FYI - There are more exercises in the front ensemble packet than needed for the first round of auditions - same for battery.


BASS DRUMS:  Be familiar with various drums but you only need to send the video playing one part (unison and split).  All drums are open, but veterans have an obvious advantage.


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This first audition will consist of exercises on one of the following instruments:

  1. •snare drum (traditional grip) - Snare Exercises

  2. •tenors - Tenor Exercises

  3. •bass drum - Bass Exercises

  4. •cymbals  - Cymbal Exercises (email if you have questions about the cymbal exercises)

  5. •front ensemble - Exercises


To be included on the video:

  1. •Volume 6 (all up and variation 1) @ 132

  2. •7/8 Double Beat @ 132

  3. •Stick Control @126 (use the 4 mallet exercise for pit)

  4. •Derp Diddles @160

  5. •Seivac @120

  6. •Monkeybles @ 120 (no pit)

  7. •Bluelight Special @152

  8. •Martian Mambo @128 (no pit)

  9. •The Series @120 (NOT REQUIRED) (no pit)

  10. •Double Beat 2004 @152 (NOT REQUIRED) (no pit)

*** please email wayne bovenschen for copies of Martian Mambo and Double Beat ***


YouTube videos to help with audition material:

PASIC 2011 Preview Basic Exercises

Big 4 Exercises - Preseason 2015



After the first round videos have been viewed, live auditions will occur on campus April 27 from 9-4 and May 4 from 9-4.


Size of the line will vary dependent upon the talent level of those auditioning. The most likely instrumentation is:


  1. •Snares: 9-11

  2. •Tenors: 5-6

  3. •Basses: 7

  4. •Cymbals: 6-8

  5. •Front Ensemble - 10


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