2025–2026 Senior Festival Audition Requirements
Percussionists must choose snare drum, timpani, or mallets for the audition.
Students who receive an All-State Recommendation may audition for All-State only on the same instrument they chose for their district audition.
Audition Pieces:
Snare Drum
Cirone - Portaits in Rhythm, #6
Published by Belwin Mills: HAB 101
Timpani
Whaley - Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist, p. 32
Published by JR Publications: JRP53
Mallets
Masterpieces for Marimba, p. 5
Published by Pro Art: 1202
Multi-Percussion Excerpts:
All percussionists must play a short excerpt on bass drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, tambourine, and triangle.
Click here for this year's multi-percussion excerpts.
Scales:
Mallet percussionists should prepare all scales listed on the scale sheet.
In the audition, the adjudicator will select two of the major scales for students to play, along with the chromatic scale.
All scales must be memorized.
There are no scales for snare drum or timpani auditions.
Sight-Reading:
A short excerpt will be provided for sight-reading.
Students will be given one minute to look at it before playing.
Percussionists will sight-read on their primary instrument only (snare drum, timpani, or mallets).
Snare drum sight-reading will include two of the following rudiments:
5, 7, or 9 stroke roll (alternating)
Flam accent
Single paradiddle
Double paradiddle
Ruffs
Equipment:
Percussionists must bring their own sticks, mallets, and beaters. All other equipment will be provided.
Students may bring their own triangle and tambourine or use the instruments provided.
The timpani setup in the audition room will be International Style: lowest drum on the left, highest drum on the right.
Students:
Contact your music director for any audition questions.
Directors:
Contact Ray Cole for any percussion audition questions.
Email: raymond.cole@eastlongmeadowma.gov