Music Department

Auditioning to Play Percussion at MSUM

Due to the high number of percussionists/drummers who seek to become music majors (performance, education, or music industry) at MSUM, it is necessary for ALL incoming applicants to audition before they are accepted into the percussion studio for private lessons. This audition process is not meant to discourage potential applicants, but to provide a potential student with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability and/or desire to master all facets of basic percussion technique. For the audition, students should prepare one each of the following:   •A snare drum solo •A mallet solo (2 or 4 mallet) •A solo timpani AND/OR drumset solo (demonstrate swing time, trading fours, funk/rock grooves, etc.)   It is vital that students who seek to take private lessons in percussion while at MSUM contact Dr. Kenyon Williams (218-477-4610) prior to seeking admittance to the university.

Since this audition may be considered a scholarship audition (should the student request it), it is highly advisable that each applicant prepare their audition materials with the help of a trained percussionist if they do not already work with a private instructor. While not all students will excel in all areas of the audition, this process should allow a student to assess their potential for success before pursuing a degree in music. Each student should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of each of the basics of percussion performance (snare drum, mallets and music reading, drumset and/or timpani) just as a mathematics major should be expected to demonstrate fundamental skills prior to entering into the university. Students who do not wish to take private lessons in percussion as a music major but wish to perform in university music ensembles DO NOT need to audition. However, some ensembles (all jazz ensembles/combos, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, etc.) require both majors and non-majors to audition. Contact the director of the ensemble directly to find-out if you need to prepare an audition prior to the start of each semester, since most of these auditions take place within the first week of school.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding either the percussion audition OR your abilities, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Williams directly.