Admissions and Auditions

 

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for the drum set program at UNT School of Music. As part of the prescreening process, we require all applicants to submit videos showcasing their playing skills. Please upload these videos through the Getacceptd application portal before the admission deadline to maximize scholarship opportunities. We look forward to reviewing your submission!

Prescreening Requirements for Jazz Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone - Undergraduate and Graduate Students

UNDERGRADUATE JAZZ DRUM SET

Prescreening Video Requirements:

1. Drum Set Selections:

  • Two selections of varying styles and tempos
    • Choose songs that showcase technical skills, creativity, and musicality.
  • Display proficiency in accompanying soloists and improvisational skills.
  • Video performances with an ensemble is preferred, but if necessary, play-along track or solo drum set performances are acceptable.
  • Live gig or performance footage is acceptable.
  • May include portions of a performance to stay within a reasonable video length

2. Snare Drum:

  • One snare drum selection
  • Common books for finding a snare solo to play include:
    • Modern Swing Solos (Charlie Wilcoxon)
    • 14 Modern Contest Solos (John S. Pratt)
    • Intermediate Snare Drum Studies (Mitchell Peters)

3. Marimba/Vibes Solo (optional for undergraduate drum set):

  • One mallet selection
  • Common books for finding a mallet solo to play include:
    • Mallets for Drummers (Lynn Glassrock)
    • Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone (Morris Goldenberg)
    • Marimba: Technique Through Music (Mark Ford)
  • You can omit this from your video if you prefer but then you will be required to perform a mallet selection live at the audition.

 

GRADUATE JAZZ DRUM SET

Prescreening Video Requirements:

1. Small Group Selections: 

  • FIVE selections in a small group setting, covering various styles and tempos.
    • Solo on each selection, demonstrating ability to trade and solo over a song form in different styles.
  • Must perform with a live group

  

UNDERGRADUATE JAZZ VIBRAPHONE

Prescreening Video Requirements:

1. ONE Medium Tempo Jazz Standard

  • Play melody
  • Improvise at least 1 choruses
  • Comp at least 2 choruses 

2. ONE published Solo Vibraphone Etude or Jazz Ballad Solo (playing melody and chords)

3. ONE Snare Drum rudimental/orchestral snare solo

4. ONE Drum Set selection demonstrating time playing and comping on a swing song in 4/4 with a live band, drummer-less track, or solo.

 

GRADUATE JAZZ VIBRAPHONE

Prescreening Video Requirements:

1. Countdown (Coltrane)

  • Q = 240bpm
  • Play melody
  • Improvise 1 chorus
  • Comp 1 chorus

2. ONE medium tempo standard of student’s choice

  • Play melody
  • Improvise 1 chorus
  • Comp 1 chorus

3. Jazz Ballad Solo (playing melody and chords)

4. ONE Snare Drum rudimental/orchestral snare solo

5. ONE Drum Set selection demonstrating time playing, comping and solo skills on a swing song in 4/4 with a live band, drummer-less track, or solo.

   
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS (for everyone)

  • The video should clearly display most of the student's body throughout the recording for assessment of technique.
  • Audio quality does not need to be studio quality, but it should clearly capture the student's playing.
  • Recommended duration of each selection is around 5-8 minutes.
  • It is best to upload each selection as a separate video file.

 

Audition Requirements for Jazz Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone - Undergraduate and Graduate Students

UNDERGRADUATE AUDITIONS

JAZZ DRUM SET

  • Sight-reading 1 chart and 1 snare etude
  • Performance of play along tracks provided 2-3 weeks before audition
  • Brazilian samba groove and solo demonstration
  • Short interview

JAZZ VIBRAPHONE

  • ONE Jazz Ballad Solo (different than prescreening)
    • Show ability to play melody and chords together
  • ONE Medium Tempo Jazz Standard (not blues)
    • Show ability to play melody, improvise and comp
  • Sight-reading
    • Show ability to read melody, read chord symbols and improvise.

 

GRADUATE AUDITIONS

JAZZ DRUM SET

  • Playing rudiments
  • Sight-reading big band-like charts
  • Playing melodies and grooves in various styles and tempos
  • Soloing in different styles and grooves
  • Playing with drummer-less tracks
  • Basic understanding of harmony on piano
  • Short interview

JAZZ VIBRAPHONE

  • Jazz Ballad Solo (different than prescreening)
    • Show ability to play melody and chords together
  • ONE Medium Tempo Jazz Standard (not blues)
    • Show ability to play melody, improvise and comp
  • Sight-reading
    • Show ability to read melody, read chord symbols and improvise.
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