Music Schools Worldwide
Compare0

Percussion · 177 verified programs with a percussion pathway

Percussion: degrees, diplomas and programs

Classical percussion study spans snare drum, timpani, keyboard percussion and multiple percussion, plus orchestral, chamber and world traditions.

Also called: Percussions, Schlagzeug, Schlagwerk, Percusión, Percussioni.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for percussion only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

92 Bachelor’s · 67 Master’s · 9 Practice doctorate · 5 Diploma · 4 Certificate · 132 named major, 13 formal principal-study pathway, 32 named in the program title

177 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published percussion audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Master of Music
    • Pre-screening requirement: | All graduate percussion applicants are required to submit a pre-screening video recording by December 1st. Please upload each prescreening video requirement individually. | 1 Concert Snare Drum Solo, from Delecluse Douze Etudes or equivalent | 2-3 Minutes of a solo work for Marimba or Vibraphone of a work suitable for a graduate audition. Works may include (but are not limited to) Juri Seo: V or 12 Preludes, Thomas: Merlin Schwantner: Velocities, Ptaszynska: Graffito, Wijeratne: The Spirit and the Dust, Sueyoshi: Mirage, etc. | A solo timpani work or etude from Delecluse Trente Etude or similar (something that demonstrates rolls, muting, tuning preferable) | One orchestra excerpt each on: Snare Drum, Xylophone OR Glockenspiel, Timpani, Cymbals OR Tambourine | Live/Recorded Audition Requirements: | Applicants who advance through the prescreening round are strongly encouraged to attend an on-campus audition. | 1. Perform one major solo in each of the following instrumental areas: | Snare Drum (concert style) | Marimba | Timpani | Multiple-Percussion (an aud
  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music (BM)
    • Preparation requirements | The purpose of an audition is to demonstrate your talents, so choose literature that you are comfortable with and that you enjoy playing. Don’t try to play something that is too difficult for you. Play music that makes you sound great! | Prospective percussion majors should prepare ALL Required material and as much of the Optional material as you are comfortable with that can fit within the 30 minute audition slot. | Mallet keyboard (required & optional material) | Required: | A 4-mallet marimba solo or study of your choice to demonstrate musicianship and technique | (If a 4-mallet work is not possible then a 2-mallet work or an etude from a method book such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg, a xylophone solo by George Hamilton Green, or a movement from a work by J.S. Bach is required) | All major and minor scales, two octaves | 2-mallet sightreading | Optional: | A 2-mallet solo work or an etude from a method book such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg, a xylophone solo b
  • University of Iowa: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
    • Prescreening | Auditioning for the Graduate Program in Percussion at The University of Iowa requires a pre-screening by all candidates. Prospective graduate students should be in touch with Dr. Dan Moore prior to submitting links to pre-screening videos. | At a minimum, the pre-screen should include three (3) examples of mallet performances in contrasting styles (including both 2- and 4-mallet works), concert snare drum, and multi-percussion. Orchestral excerpts are not required but may be submitted. Other desirable components include examples of chamber music, jazz, steel pan or other world music performances, as well as examples of conducting/coaching of ensembles, original compositions, or arrangements (particularly for steel band or percussion ensemble). | Preparation requirements | Following the pre-screen, prospective graduate students may be advised to come to campus for a live performance audition and interview. Prospective Teaching Assistants must interview in person. | Live auditions should include performances from pre-screen videos as well as at least one work not include
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • Percussion applicants wishing to enter into the Bachelor of Music degree in percussion must demonstrate proficiency in the three main areas of percussion: snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani. You are encouraged to program solos or études that best represent your skill set, as well as something unique about yourself as a musician. Students wishing to pursue the Jazz Emphasis need to demonstrate some level of concert snare drum and mallet keyboard skills, but their audition emphasis will be on the instrument they wish to pursue for the jazz degree, such as drum set or vibraphone. | Applicants should prepare: | A concert or rudimental snare drum solo or étude (concert style preferred) | A two-mallet solo, transcription, or étude | A Four-mallet solo, transcription, or étude | A timpani solo or étude | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | Optional: | Perform drum set open solo and a variety of styles (rock, jazz, Brazilian, Cuban) | Perform a solo on any non-western traditional percussion instruments such as congas, tabla, tambora, frame drum, steelpan, etc
  • DePaul University: Bachelor of Music
    • We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Audition Repertoire | Undergraduate auditions typically consist of scales and prepared selections, which should include one or more movements from the standard solo, sonata or concerto repertoire. Auditions must include every component listed below. All students are asked to bring three copies of their music with them to the audition. | Snare Drum | Concert Solo (comparable to Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm or Delecluse's Douze Etudes ) | Rudimental Solo (optional) (comparable to Wilcoxon's All-American Drummer , Tompkins' French-American Rudimental Solos , or Pratt's 14 Modern Contest Solos ) | Marimba (specific pieces mentioned are meant to guide towards difficulty expected, and should not be interpreted as a requirement) | Demonstrate 2 and 4 mallet technique: | 2 Mallet (Bach's Violin Concerto in A Minor , Creston's Concertino for Marimba , Kreisler's Tambourin Chinois , a G.H. Green Rag, or comparable) | 4 Mallet (Stout's Two Mexican Dances , Abe's Michi , Smadbeck's Rhythm Song , Sammut's "Rotation IV", or comparable) | Timpani | One four-drum timpani etude/solo from Vic
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Bachelor of Music
    • Prospective students will be evaluated on their skills of tone production, intonation, musicality, rhythmic accuracy, technical proficiency, sight reading, and overall musical experience. | 1. Prepare a solo or etude of moderate difficulty in each of the following instrumental areas: | Snare Drum* (concert style) | Marimba or Xylophone (4-mallet preferred, but 2-mallet acceptable) | Timpani* | Drum Set (a demonstration of time-keeping in contrasting styles of swing, bossa nova, mambo, and 1/2-time funk shuffle, plus trading fours in up-tempo swing will suffice on drum set; a prepared solo is not required) | 2. Demonstrate sight-reading ability on snare drum and marimba | Please bring one (1) copy of your audition music for the panel. | *We recommend the following selections for auditions, however, comparable alternates may be performed: Cirone: Portraits in Rhythm (Snare Drum) and Etude #1 from Hochrainer: Etudes for Timpani, Vol. 3. | On-campus audition dates can be found here . It is highly recommended that all undergraduate percussion candidates attend an on-campus audition. If yo
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Bachelor of Music
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Diploma
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Certificate
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Timpani and Percussion: Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mallets, one with 4 mallets). Applicants may be asked to demonstrate advanced technical skills by performing scales, arpeggios, and/or other technical exercises. Timpani: Demonstrate skills in performance of rolls and single strokes. Perform at least one etude or solo for three or four timpani, showing musicianship and aptitude. Show knowledge of intervals, pitch recognition and tuning ability. Perform at least one standard Classical timpani part (Beethoven or Mozart). Sight-reading may be requested in any segment of the audition. The performance of orchestral excerpts is optional for undergraduate applicants. Note: All students study both percussion and timpani. Study during the third and fourth years is customarily in the major field of concentration, as determined by the department in consultation with the student. However, with the agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, a student may continue to study both percussion and timpani during the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program. Graduate: Customarily students confine their studies to one field of concentration (either Percussion or Timpani). However, with agreement of the department, in consultation with the student, it is possible to study both Percussion and Timpani at the graduate level. To qualify for study in two fields of concentration, applicants must demonstrate musical and technical mastery by performing the audition requirements applicable to each major area of concentration. Percussion Snare Drum: Two contrasting snare drum solos, one being rudimental Keyboard Percussion: Two contrasting solos (one with two mal

About percussion study

Percussion is not a single instrument but a family, and degree-level study usually trains students across several areas. Common strands include snare drum, timpani, keyboard instruments such as marimba and vibraphone, multiple percussion setups, and accessory instruments such as cymbals, tambourine and triangle. Players are expected to be versatile and to move fluidly between these areas, often within a single rehearsal.

Most programs place strong weight on orchestral and chamber playing. Percussionists perform in orchestras, wind ensembles and percussion ensembles, the last of which has a substantial repertoire written specifically for groups of players. Solo marimba and multi-percussion music has grown rapidly. Many programs also include world percussion, such as hand drums and traditions drawn from Africa, Latin America or Asia, and some include electronics and extended techniques.

Typical degree contexts include the Bachelor of Music in percussion performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts. Jazz vibraphone, drum set and contemporary percussion may be taught within separate programs. Because percussionists rely on large sets of equipment, availability of instruments and storage can be as important as faculty when comparing schools.

What study typically involves

  • Snare drum rudiments and rolls
  • Timpani technique, tuning and orchestral repertoire
  • Keyboard percussion: marimba, vibraphone, xylophone and glockenspiel
  • Multiple percussion and contemporary solo works
  • Orchestral excerpts and accessory instruments
  • Percussion ensemble and chamber music
  • World percussion and drumming traditions in some programs
  • Sight-reading, theory, aural skills and pedagogy

Award titles. Percussion may be studied for a Bachelor of Music or BMus, a Master of Music or MMus, and in some systems national first- and second-cycle diplomas. Some conservatories award an Artist Diploma or a graduate or postgraduate diploma to advanced players; these are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate. Names vary by country and no equivalence claims are made here.

A program is listed under percussion in this directory only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. A private teacher or a faculty percussionist does not count. Drum set is listed separately, and not every school offers percussion as a degree specialization.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Percussion auditions typically require demonstrating several areas rather than one. Applicants may be asked to play a snare drum piece, a timpani piece, and a keyboard piece on marimba or vibraphone, and sometimes a multiple-percussion work. Panels also look at technique, rhythm, musicianship and the ability to prepare diverse material.

Many programs supply instruments for the audition, though it is wise to confirm which keyboard instruments and timpani will be available. Sight-reading on different instruments, theory and aural tests are common. Some schools accept a recording first.

Each program publishes its own repertoire categories and format, which can change annually. Applicants should read the current-year requirements for every school. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Percussionists are essential to orchestras and wind ensembles, and many programs link scholarships to ensemble needs. Graduate students might be considered for assistantships such as managing percussion equipment, coaching sectionals or teaching non-majors.

Funding varies by school, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Ask each department what it offers.

Costs beyond tuition. Percussionists often buy their own sticks, mallets, drumheads, and a practice pad or keyboard, and may need to rent or buy instruments such as a marimba for home practice. Transport of equipment, storage and replacement of consumables are additional possibilities. Large instruments can raise the cost of travel to auditions.