<p>My S is graduating this coming spring and I would really appreciate any feedback/information from anyone who went through the audition process the past few years. My S is planning on applying to the following schools: IU, MSM, Juilliard, UNT, SMU. I would love to hear from anyone who applied to those schools but also anyone who is a percussionist and auditioned at any school. He just spent a week at IU at the College Audition Preparation Workshop and found it very helpful.</p>
<p>pukadad, welcome. I've no percussion experience (son is a May '07 Hartt grad with a BM in viola performance), but can point you in a couple of places for starters:</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html</a> has lots of info on the audition process in general.</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html</a> is a must read for any student considering or the parent of a perspective music major.</p>
<p>If you use the search this forum feature, you can find previous threads on most of the schools you've listed. I think IU/Jacobs had quite a number of posters who auditioned in the last round, although I don't recall any
percussionists.</p>
<p>Hang on and enroy the ride. It gets bumpy.</p>
<p>Is he a jazz or classical percussionist?</p>
<p>Sorry I can't be of any help to you. My percussionist son is a couple of years away from college apps. I am intrigued by the inclusion of SMU on the list. Is SMU considered a good school for percussion performance? What can you tell us about faculty, resources, etc.? Thanks!
Linde</p>
<p>We live in the Dallas area (Plano) and my son has taken lessons from the director of the SMU percussion ensemble for about 5 years. It is a smaller, rising program. My son has had some exposure to several of the faculty there - Kalman Cherry, Adjunct Associate Professor; Principal Timpani, Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Artist Diploma, Curtis Institute of Music and
Douglas Howard, Adjunct Associate Professor and Coordinator, Percussion Activities; Principal Percussion, Dallas Symphony Orchestra; M.M., Catholic University. They are both respected in the percussion field.
SMU is really more of a "safety" school for him as IU is clearly his top choice. He just spent a week at their College Audition Preparation Workshop and I would highly recommend it. He had daily one on one time with the chairman of the percussion program, Steve Houghton. Let me know if you would like more information.
I've enjoyed reading bassdad's information and will read teh Audition tips and info. Just continuing to look for any percussion specific info out there.
Thanks.</p>
<p>Sorry I forgot to answer a previous question. He will go the classical route but wants to continue to take drum set lessons so that is key to his college decision. At IU he would be able to do that.</p>
<p>Pukadad and Linde...a little off topic (and Pukadad, I am emailing my son who knows a percussionist who auditioned at Juilliard...she is going to Thornton)...but how do you record percussion equipment? Is there a special placement for microphones? Do you usually go to a studio? I haven't found any that have the equipment. Thank you!</p>
<p>Symphonymom - As far a recording percussion equipment (snare drum, marimba, tympani) we haven't done it yet but we have a very sophisticated sound/recording system as well as some great acoustics at our church and that is where I am planning on recording if necessary. At this point he is planning on doing live auditions but will need to record for the Juilliard pre-screen.</p>
<p>I only know about miking the drum set (and I don't REALLY know, but I have seen the set-up), and it is quite an undertaking, what with placement of a number of different mikes, including ones that have to be a certain distance above the bass drum (measured in distance by the length of drum sticks?).</p>
<p>You definitely need a space to record with very good acoustics. My son did one or two recordings in a studio, but additional ones (for Grammy, etc) in rooms with good acoustics. We bought a good recording device and have or borrowed a lot of microphones (you also need different "kinds" of mics...or so I learned!).</p>
<p>Thanks, Pukadad and Allmusic. Pukadad..can we come over? :) Do you transport the tympani, marimba and everything to the church? I'm hoping to avoid the transport.<br>
I know that S's percussion friend had to do DVDs. I should ask her where she recorded once she is back in town. My recording saga continues with S2...oh joy....thanks again!</p>
<p>Wow! I hadn't even thought about this....... My son's private teacher recommended a small recording "thing" for purposes of auditioning for Interlochen but said that he would be using it for more things over the years. It is very small. After it records, the piece is transferred onto the computer. Then, my son burns a CD. (You can tell how behind the times I am technologically!) For what it's worth, the teacher thought the quality of the mike was really important. I have no idea whether this will be adequate for college auditions, although the teacher has a bachelor's and master's degree from Juilliard and is reasonably young.</p>
<p>We have discussed recording for college pre-screens here before and everyone weighed in with good advice and experiences. It was one of the more stressful parts of the college process for us, but one great session yielded a solid audition CD that passed all pre-screens. I would recommend reading through this board for all the advice offered on recording.</p>