Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Percussion Auditions

 There is an application process that must take place before auditioning. Please carefully follow all of the steps listed on the application and audition process page.

All prospective percussionists (graduate students, music majors, and minors) should be able to demonstrate musical artistry and technical ability in multiple areas. Please bring your own sticks and mallets, as well as the original scores and at least 2 copies of all the music you will be performing in your audition for the applied professor and panel. 

Additionally, it is recommended that you prepare a resume for your audition. List your schoolwork, activities, honors and awards, and be sure to note any musical activities or accomplishments you have had outside of school.

Audition requirements for prospective Undergraduate, Graduate, and Music Minor students are listed below.

Please contact Dr. Reese Maultsby (rmaultsby@lamar.edu) for any questions regarding the percussion program or audition process.

Percussion Auditions

Undergraduate Requirements 

Audition Requirements: 

  • 1 snare drum solo, etude, or excerpt 
  • 1 mallet solo, etude, or excerpt* 

Optional Supplemental Materials (one or more recommended for higher scholarship): 

  • 1 timpani solo/etude/excerpt 
  • 1 multi-percussion solo/etude/excerpt 
  • 1 additional snare drum solo/etude/excerpt in contrasting style to initial required work 
  • 1 additional mallet solo, etude, or excerpt in contrasting style to initial required work 
  • Knowledge and demonstration of various drum set styles and grooves 

*if access to a mallet instrument is prohibiting a successful audition, demonstration of at least 3 major scales and 1 minor scale may be substituted for the mallet requirement, though we highly advise all auditionees to do their best in securing instrument access for proper preparation. 

We strongly encourage all auditionees to pick repertoire that will best set them up for success. The repertoire should demonstrate the most appropriate playing level and musical abilities of each individual. Below are some suggestions of required material. 

Please contact Dr. Reese Maultsby (rmaultsby@lamar.edu) for any questions regarding the percussion program or audition repertoire.  

Suggested Material: 

Snare Drum 

  • Concert Style: a solo or etude from Cirone’s Portraits in Rhythm, Peters’ Intermediate Snare Drum Studies, Delecluse’s Douze Études, or similar. 

  • Rudimental Style: a solo or etude from Pratt’s 14 Modern Contest Solos, Wilcoxin’s All-American Drummer, Freytag’s Rudimental Cookbook, or similar. 

Mallets 

  • Two-mallet: a solo or etude such as an All-State/All-Region etude, a work from McMillan’s Masterpieces for Marimba, a movement from Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Violin, any Class I or II work, or similar. 

  • Four-mallet: a solo work or etude such as Peters’ Yellow After the Rain, Ford’s Marimba: Technique Through Music, a movement from Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Violin, any Class I or II work, or similar. 

Graduate Requirements

Audition Requirements: 

  • 2 snare drum solos or etudes in contrasting styles from each other 
  • 1 two-mallet solo or etude 
  • 1 four-mallet solo or etude 
  • 1 additional area (timpani, multi-percussion, or drum set) 

Optional Supplemental Materials (one or more recommended for higher placement): 

  • 1 timpani solo or etude (if not chosen for “additional area” requirement) 
  • 1 multi-percussion solo or etude (if not chosen for “additional area” requirement) 
  • Knowledge and demonstration of various drum set styles and grooves (if not chosen for “additional area” requirement) 
  • Orchestral excerpts on various instruments (snare drum, mallets, timpani, accessories) 
  • Knowledge and demonstration of non-western musical styles and instruments 

We strongly encourage all auditionees to pick repertoire that will best set them up for success. The repertoire should demonstrate the most appropriate playing level, musical abilities, and interests of each individual.  

Please contact Dr. Reese Maultsby (rmaultsby@lamar.edu) for any questions regarding the percussion program or audition repertoire. 

Music Minor and Non-Major Music Scholarship Percussion Audition Requirements

Snare Drum

One short solo/etude     
  • A short snare drum etude (at least 45 seconds) demonstrating buzz rolls and musicality such as any etude from All-Region Band auditions

Mallet Keyboard

One short solo/etude
  • Standard two-mallet or four-mallet solo works or etudes to demonstrate musicianship and knowledge of the instrument
  • You may submit a short excerpt of the work (at least 45 seconds)
  • Knowledge of all major scales