<p>As a junior in HS, I am beginning to look in specific colleges that I want to audition for. Unfortunately, my primary instrument is concert mallet percussion. I am very good at what I do, Superiors in state Solo & Ensemble, etc. But I don't know how to play snare nor timpani. I got a letter from Berklee saying they allow Marimba/Vibraphone as a primary instrument. But, when looking at schools such as FSU (I live in FL), LSU and other state schools, they all require the all three for admission. I have even looked into some conservatories (Oberlin) and they also require the total package. Do you know of any (preferably good music wise) colleges that allow mallet percussion as a primary instrument? Why is Berklee the only one I can find?</p>
<p>This audition requirements should be an indicator for you. There is no work out there for someone who JUST plays mallets. Sure it’s great to be a high level mallet player! But you need start becoming proficient in the others ASAP if you are even considering doing a music major. I hope that doesn’t discourage you from applying to music schools or offend you in any way. It’s just the truth.</p>
<p>You need to get playing snare drum and timpani now if you want a chance at a spot in almost any college program. My son has finished his percussion auditions. He and the others he auditioned with are all at a high level of playing for their age at mallets, timpani, snare drum as well as the drumset. It’s just the name of the game if you want a spot in almost any percussion program. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hey, Jason. Check out Lewis & Clark college and St. Olaf. They have great marimba/mallet instructors, and I’m not sure what the requirements are for percussion. I do know St. Olaf gives great music scholarships for non-majors, so you should check them out.</p>
<p>I must echo the thoughts of violincello. My S just finished the audition process. My suggestion is to IMMEDIATELY look into private lessons to obtain instruction on at least snare and timp (exposure to drumset and multipercussion is good as well). Focus on a single instrument does not occur until GRAD school. Undergraduate is all about becoming well rounded. If you want it–you need to start getting qualified NOW. If you don’t feel prepared for the audition season in Jan Feb next year you might consider community college to knock out your general ed requirements while you continue to become proficient in these other areas. Good luck!</p>
<p>Drumdad334- even in Grad school you need to play everything. My D just finished her grad school auditions (5 in total all big named schools) and everyone of them required snare drum solo and orchestral snare repetoire, Mallet solo and repetoire, Timpani solo and Orchestra repetoire, multi persussion solo, and Drum set if possible. Her preffered instrument is the Marimba. The biggest thing is that in the real working world there are VERY VERY few people that make it as a mallet specialist, in Orchestral it is a persussionist (plays everything except timps), in Pit it is a drumset and percussion. My D just finished a musical in which she played drum set, Timp, Base drum, Gong, vibraphone and some hand instruments. We cannot enphasize enough that the OP needs to be well rounded in all of percussion.</p>
<p>As someone who is a percussionist at a university, I definitely agree with what everyone is saying here. Lucky for you, a lot of percussionists who audition are weakest on mallet percussion (myself included). So, if you really work hard and put in the time and effort to get better at snare and timpani, then I’m sure an audition panel will be quite impressed!</p>
<p>Best of luck to you! :)</p>