University of Minnesota Duluth
 
 

Percussion Area

percussion_picThe percussion area at UMD is typically comprised of 10-15 undergraduate and graduate percussion students majoring in Music Performance, Music Education, Jazz Studies, or Bachelor of Arts. The percussion program is centered around a "total percussionist" philosophy, meaning all students will study and perform regularly on all major percussion instruments (snare drum, drum set, mallets, timpani, multiple percussion, and hand drums). The only exception would be to those individuals majoring in Jazz Studies, where students in that program focus primarily on drum set, snare drum, and vibraphone. In addition, all percussion students perform diverse musical styles on a regular basis.

All music majors receive one hour each week of one-on-one instruction with the applied teacher, Dr. Gene Koshinski (for more information visit www.genekoshinski.com). In addition, a studio class comprised of all percussionists meets twice per month and functions as an outlet for master classes, clinics, workshops, and guest artist presentations. Furthermore, the percussion ensemble is an integral part to the education of UMD percussion students (see ensembles for a description and soundclips). Lastly, the teaching/learning experience extends beyond the boundaries of applied lessons and ensembles, as the UMD percussion faculty employs an "open door" policy with the students.

Exciting events are put on in the percussion area each semester, often centering around the residency of a world-renowned guest artist. Recent guest percussion artists include Jeff "Tain" Watts (drum set), Matt Wilson (drum set), Ben Toth (solo/chamber/world percussion), Chris Hanning (drum set/concert percussion), Michael Udow (solo/chamber/ world percussion), and Matt Smallcomb (orchestral). The percussion area is constantly seeking top guest artists to visit campus to offer unique experiences for UMD percussion students.

If you have any questions about the percussion program at UMD please feel free to contact Dr. Gene Koshinski, Assistant Professor of Percussion, at (218) 726-6304 or ekoshins@d.umn.edu

UMD Entrance Auditions for Percussion

UMD offers both Bachelors and Masters degrees in music. To audition with percussion as your major instrument, please consult the audition requirements below. Talent scholarships are available through the music department. For scholarship consideration, percussion students must prepare more than the basic audition requirements (refer to the lists below).

Undergraduate Level Percussion Audition Requirements

Please Prepare all of the Following (required)

percussion_pic

  • Snare Drum Solo or Etude (Mitchell Peters, Anthony Cirone, etc.)
  • Keyboard Percussion Work (2 or 4 mallet piece on marimba or xylophone)
  • You May Prepare Additional Works from the List Below (not required)
  • Drum Set (Styles, Play-a-longs, Transcriptions, etc.)
  • Timpani Solo or Etude (Lepak, Goodman, etc.)
  • Multiple Percussion Solo or Etude
  • Rudimental Snare Drum Solo (Pratt, Wilcoxon, etc.)
  • Additional Keyboard Perc. Work (Marimba, Xylophone, Vibraphone)
  • Orchestral Excerpts

    • Graduate Level Percussion Audition Requirements

    Please Prepare all of the Following

  • SD Solo (Concert Solo or Delecluse Etude or Similar Solo Work)
  • Four-Mallet Marimba Solo
  • Orchestral Excerpts on All major percussion instruments (1 to 2 per category below)
  • Timpani
  • Snare Drum
  • Mallets (xylophone and/or bells)
  • Auxiliary (tambourine and/or triangle and/or bass drum and/or cymbals)

    • In Addition - Please Prepare TWO of the Following

  • Vibraphone Solo
  • Multiple Percussion Solo
  • Timpani Solo
  • Two-Mallet Xylophone or Marimba Solo

    • Optional Drum Set

  • Demonstrate Various Styles (including, but not limited to, 4/4 Swing, 3/4 Swing,
    Rock, Funk, Bossa Nova, Songo, 6/8 and/or 12/8 Afro Cuban, clave-based Latin
    grooves, etc.)
  • Prepare Drum Set "Play-a-longs" (from any reputable source: Steve Houghton's
    Anthology, Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials, etc.)

    • Recordings

    Recording samples (mp3s) fom the percussion department are available here

     

     

    For Information about music department programs and upcoming concerts, please call 218-726-8877