Doctor of Musical Arts: Percussion

Program Requirements

Doctor of Musical Arts: Percussion Performance

Prescreening required; must be video format. Prescreening repertoire can be separated into different video files or uploaded in a single video file. 

Fall 2026 Audition Date:

Dates will be coordinated with applicants after prescreening results are sent. 

For Prescreening:

Prescreening must contain 30 minutes of music representing different styles and historical periods. If reviewed favorably, the applicant will be invited to a final audition round.

For Final Audition:

If invited to the final audition round, the applicant will perform for and interview with a music faculty jury. Candidates are expected to prepare 45 minutes of music appropriate for the doctoral level. Selections should represent various styles and historical periods from the standard repertoire. The audition will last approximately 30 minutes. The applicant should perform selections used in the prescreening, but can also bring additional repertoire. Candidates will be required to submit their audition repertoire in advance. 

Program Requirements

Doctor of Musical Arts: Percussion Performance

Prescreening required; must be video format. Prescreening repertoire can be separated into different video files or uploaded in a single video file. 

Fall 2026 Audition Date:

Dates will be coordinated with applicants after prescreening results are sent. 

For Prescreening:

Prescreening must contain 30 minutes of music representing different styles and historical periods. If reviewed favorably, the applicant will be invited to a final audition round.

For Final Audition:

If invited to the final audition round, the applicant will perform for and interview with a music faculty jury. Candidates are expected to prepare 45 minutes of music appropriate for the doctoral level. Selections should represent various styles and historical periods from the standard repertoire. The audition will last approximately 30 minutes. The applicant should perform selections used in the prescreening, but can also bring additional repertoire. Candidates will be required to submit their audition repertoire in advance. 

Graduate (MM & DMA)

Off

Admission Questions?

Contact the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid:
musiclife@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3141
Become a Prospective Student

On

Master of Music: Percussion

Program Requirements

Master of Music: Percussion

No prescreening round; audition unaccompanied.

Fall 2026 Audition Dates:

February 7-8 & 15

Program Requirements

Master of Music: Percussion

No prescreening round; audition unaccompanied.

Fall 2026 Audition Dates:

February 7-8 & 15

For Final Audition:

The final audition should include selections for: snare drum, timpani, keyboard percussion, and tambourine, and MUST include both solo repertoire AND orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading is required at the final audition.

Snare Drum
•    Two contrasting orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire
•    One orchestral snare drum étude
•    One rudimental snare drum étude by Pratt or Wilcoxin

Xylophone
•    Two orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire

Timpani
•    Three orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire

Marimba 
NOTE: Listed repertoire is not required; pieces of similar difficulty will be accepted.

  • One 4-mallet piece in contemporary style

Suggested 4-mallet pieces:

  • Sueyoshi, Mirage
  • Schwantner, Velocities
  • Stout,  Sedimental Structures
  • Thomas, Merlin (2nd movement)
  • Lansky, Three Moves (3rd movement: Slide)
  • Miyoshi, Ripple

Tambourine
•    One orchestral excerpt from the standard repertoire

Other Degrees

Bachelor of Music: Percussion

Graduate (MM & DMA)

Off

Admission Questions?

Contact the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid:
musiclife@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3141
Become a Prospective Student

On

Bachelor of Music: Percussion

Program Requirements

Bachelor of Music: Percussion

No prescreening round; audition unaccompanied.

Fall 2026 Audition Dates:

Early Decision: November 17-18 | Regular Decision: February 7-8 & 15

Program Requirements

Bachelor of Music: Percussion

No prescreening round; audition unaccompanied.

Fall 2026 Audition Dates:

Early Decision: November 17-18 | Regular Decision: February 7-8 & 15

For Final Audition:

The audition should include snare drum, timpani, and keyboard percussion. Sight-reading during the live audition may be required.

Suggested Repertoire:

NOTE: Listed repertoire is not required; any piece of similar difficulty will be accepted.

Snare Drum
•    One orchestral snare drum étude, such as:
o    Delécluse 12 Études
o    Peters Advanced Studies for Snare Drum 
•    One rudimental piece by Pratt, Wilcoxon, or other studies

Timpani
•    One timpani solo, such as:
o    Two-drum or Three-drum Étude by Hochrainer
o    Solo/étude by Duncan Patton or Nick Woud

Keyboard Percussion (2 and 4 mallets)
•    One 2-mallet piece on marimba or xylophone, such as:
o    Bach, any fast movement from Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
o    Creston, Concertino for Marimba (1st or 3rd movement) 
o    Musser,  A-flat étude 
o    Kreisler, Tambourin Chinois  
o    Any xylophone rag

•    One 4-mallet piece on marimba, such as:
o    Tanaka, Two Movements for Marimba (1st movement)
o    Burritt, October Night (2nd movement)
o    Stout, Astral Dance or Mexican Dance (2nd movement) 
o    Sammut, Caméléon 
o    Druckman, Reflections on the Nature of Water (2nd or 6th movement)
o    Schuller, Marimbology (4th movement)

Other Degrees

Master of Music: Percussion

Undergraduate

Off

Admission Questions?

Contact the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid:
musiclife@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3141
Become a Prospective Student

On