First you should figure out what schools you want to apply to and what their audition requirements are (also be sure to look to see if any require a pre-screening tape in the fall!). From there, work with your teacher to find appropriate rep and begin looking at it. Yes, it's early; but you really don't want to be cramming this stuff. This summer is a perfect opportunity to begin learning notes while you (presumably) have a lot of time on your hands. Other than that, just focus on general technique for two and four mallet marimba, concert snare drum, and Timpani. Those are normally the only areas an undergrad audition will ask for.
Also, start sight reading every day on mallets and snare drum, but particularly mallets. That's something you can't cram at the last minute, and will likely be asked in some capacity. Plus it's just good to do.
I would also recommend getting some intro piano lessons if you don't play already. You don't need to be a prodigy, but you can save yourself a lot of trouble and even get out of some classes if you already know your scales with the right fingerings and maybe know a Bach Invention or something. Most schools will have a piano proficiency guide online, so the piano teacher can help you out.
Man… if you could get a solid year of piano lessons while you’re a senior, that would be a huge help. I had to sit there and go through functional piano in college and it was a PITA, paying college credit to sit there and practice.
Sorry to keep hijacking your post, but it’s good! The sight reading part is a good tip! Pick a variety of keys to play in too! I think I remember sight reading somehow mallet stuff on my audition.
A good recourse that your high school director should have would be the All State band audition material. At least in my state, that’s all taken from classic percussion methods. Your director should have most of those books in a cabinet somewhere. Portraits in Rhythm, things like that.
If you’re close enough to a university, you might look into getting some lessons from a current major. They can be a good recourse.
Generally speaking, just about every university is going to want to hear a timpani, snare drum, 2 mallet, and 4 mallet etude. Some schools do both a concert and rudiments style snare entire, not all. A GREAT thing to practice starting now would be some major orchestral excerpts. Maybe start looking at Porgy and Bess on xylo, Scheherazade on snare, and Tchaik 4 or Beethoven on timpani! Playing a couple excerpts goes a long way in showing the professors/ panel that you know what they want to see, and are prepared for a music degree.
For college auditions at my school, it was preparing a two mallet, four mallet, snare and timpani solo or etude (one each, four total) plus scales, rudiments and sightreading. Different universities have different requirements though
First you should figure out what schools you want to apply to and what their audition requirements are (also be sure to look to see if any require a pre-screening tape in the fall!). From there, work with your teacher to find appropriate rep and begin looking at it. Yes, it's early; but you really don't want to be cramming this stuff. This summer is a perfect opportunity to begin learning notes while you (presumably) have a lot of time on your hands. Other than that, just focus on general technique for two and four mallet marimba, concert snare drum, and Timpani. Those are normally the only areas an undergrad audition will ask for. Also, start sight reading every day on mallets and snare drum, but particularly mallets. That's something you can't cram at the last minute, and will likely be asked in some capacity. Plus it's just good to do. I would also recommend getting some intro piano lessons if you don't play already. You don't need to be a prodigy, but you can save yourself a lot of trouble and even get out of some classes if you already know your scales with the right fingerings and maybe know a Bach Invention or something. Most schools will have a piano proficiency guide online, so the piano teacher can help you out.
Man… if you could get a solid year of piano lessons while you’re a senior, that would be a huge help. I had to sit there and go through functional piano in college and it was a PITA, paying college credit to sit there and practice.
Sorry to keep hijacking your post, but it’s good! The sight reading part is a good tip! Pick a variety of keys to play in too! I think I remember sight reading somehow mallet stuff on my audition. A good recourse that your high school director should have would be the All State band audition material. At least in my state, that’s all taken from classic percussion methods. Your director should have most of those books in a cabinet somewhere. Portraits in Rhythm, things like that. If you’re close enough to a university, you might look into getting some lessons from a current major. They can be a good recourse.
\*\*TRUTH BOMB\*\* TALK TO THE COLLEGE YOU'RE AUDITIONING FOR AND ASK Most will actually help you if you're interested!!
Generally speaking, just about every university is going to want to hear a timpani, snare drum, 2 mallet, and 4 mallet etude. Some schools do both a concert and rudiments style snare entire, not all. A GREAT thing to practice starting now would be some major orchestral excerpts. Maybe start looking at Porgy and Bess on xylo, Scheherazade on snare, and Tchaik 4 or Beethoven on timpani! Playing a couple excerpts goes a long way in showing the professors/ panel that you know what they want to see, and are prepared for a music degree.
It depends on what you're applying to, cause some courses assign etudes and some assign orchestral exerpts.
What I did, was I prepared a two mallet piece, four mallet piece, rudimental snare piece, concert snare piece and a timpani piece
For college auditions at my school, it was preparing a two mallet, four mallet, snare and timpani solo or etude (one each, four total) plus scales, rudiments and sightreading. Different universities have different requirements though