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curriculum

The world of percussion has expanded greatly over the years, with the introduction of new technology making recordings and travel more readily available to all. To this end it is now imperative that percussion students gain an education which addresses the many styles of performance throughout the world. Orchestral excerpts which are listed below are required. In all other categories works will be chosen by the teacher in conjunction with the individual student. Solo works which are listed are examples of the level of work desired for each category.

Basics Sequence

The basics sequence is the first set of fundamentals that must be completed by all percussion majors. You can complete as many at every lesson as you would like, but ALL must be completed before moving on to other literature on the instrument. Every sequence must be completed in order (no skipping around). 3 mistakes on any 1 etude stops the sequence until the next lesson. All of these must also be completed before the evaluation forum.

Snare - Vic Firth Webrhythms 1-20 at 100 bpm; 13 Essential Rudiments
2 - Mallets - Kite - All Major Etudes at 90 bpm
4 Mallets - Zeltsman - Ex. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 22 at tempos indicated
Drum Set - Sinnet Roll Time Exercise (75 bpm), Rock (110 bpm), Swing (140 bpm), Calypso (95 bpm), Soca (95 bpm), Samba (110 bpm) - Each groove must be held for 16 bars
Timpani - Caroll p. 36-37 Etudes A-H (100 bpm except H at 200 bpm)

Snare Drum

1) Complete Firth Webrhythms

2) Rudimental snare drum solos to be selected from Pratt Book, Phantom Regiment Solos, and Tap Space Solos

3) At least one work for solo, concert snare drum: Noble Snare Books, Rodeo, Attention Span, Fragments II, Prim, Pezzo Da Concerto, Nexus Solos, etc.

4) Excerpts:
Lt. Kije - Prokofiev
Symphony no. 3 - Schuman
Scheherazade - Rimsky-Korsakov
Capriccio Espagnole - Rimsky-Korsakov
Symphony no. 10 - Shostakovich

Multiple Percussion

1) Selected Studies from the Udow and Petrella Books

2) Complete at least 1 work for solo multiple percussion: King of Denmark, Waves, Psappha, Zyklus, South of Jupiter, As Though, Child of Tree, 27’10.554, The Journey, Touch and Go, Plot

Marimba

1) Complete Mallet Fundamental Sequence

2) Complete at least one Bach work - Sonata and Partita or Cello Suite

3) Complete at least one work by Keiko Abe

4) Complete at least one Japanese work not by Keiko Abe: Two Movements for Marimba, Conversations, 5 Pieces for Paul Klee, Memory of the Woods, Time

5) Complete at least one major solo work

6) Complete at least one concerto for marimba: Rosauro, Hovhaness, Zivkovic, Creston, Kurka, Sarmientos

7) Transcribe or arrange at least one work for marimba solo

8) Perform all major and minor scales, two octaves plus arpeggios in all inversions. Perform all modes as well as a 12 bar blues progression.

Vibraphone

1) Selected studies from Friedman and Lipner Books

2) Complete at least one solo for vibraphone: Smith, Lipner, Huesgen, Lepak, Robbe’, Samuels, Friedman, Deane, Zivkovic, Combs, Bergamo

Xylophone

1) Selected studies from Zivkovic and Green Books

2) Complete at least one Rag-Time work for Xylophone

3) Excerpts:
Colas Breugnon - Kabalevsky
Porgy and Bess - Gershwin
Polka - Shostakovich
Appalachian Spring - Copland
In Addition, the following Glockenspiel excerpts:
The Magic Flute - Mozart
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - Dukas

Drumset

1) Complete Set Basics Sequence

2) Selected studies from Chapin, Reed, Miller, Lepak, Latham books

3) Perform one work for solo drumset: Miranda, Larosa, Zappa

4) Perform one work for drumset in an ensemble setting: Zappa, Jazz/Steel Band Tunes

Timpani

1) Selected studies from Lepak, Goodman, Carroll, Hinger books

2) Complete at least two of the Carter 8 Pieces for Four Timpani

3) Complete at least one other work for solo timpani

4) Excerpts:
Symphony no. 1, 7, 9 - Beethoven
Be Glad Then America - Schuman
Symphony no. 4 - Tchaikovsky
Symphonic Metamorphosis - Hindemith
Symphony no. 1 - Brahms

Auxiliary Percussion

1) Cymbal Excerpts:
Symphony no. 4 - Tchaikovsky
Night on Bald Mountain - Mussourgsky
Romeo and Juliet - Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto no. 2 - Rachmaninoff

2) Triangle Excerpts:
Piano Concerto no. 1 - Liszt
Nutcracker - Tchaikovsky

3) Tambourine Excerpts:
Carnival Overture - Dvorak
Roman Carnival Overture - Berlioz
Carmen - Bizet
Nutcracker - Tchaikovsky
Petrushka - Stravinsky

World Percussion

1) Selected style studies from African, Irish, Cuban and Middle Eastern Music
2) Complete one solo work hand-drums: Egyptian, Cuban, Indian, Irish

Barrier Requirements

All UNCP music majors must complete a barrier exam upon completion of their third semester of private study. Percussion students must be able to meet jury level III to complete this exam. Percussion requirements for this exam are:

1-2 Two Mallet Solos
1-2Four Mallet Solos
1-2 Concert Snare Pieces
1-2 Rudimental Snare Pieces
Selected Timpani Solos or Etudes
Sight-Reading on Keyboards
All major and Minor Scales plus Arpeggios

All music performed must equal approximately 15 minutes of performance for the Evaluation Forum.

In addition to these performance requirements the student must be able to talk about their pieces and composers in a scholarly manner.


Recital Requirements

Recital repertoire will be chosen by the teacher in conjunction with the individual student. Repertoire will be chosen to meet the curriculum requirements, but will generally be as follows:

2 Works for Solo Marimba in Contrasting Styles
1 Multiple Percussion work
1 Chamber Work (can be a concerto)
1 Timpani Work
1 work must be a commission/premiere (can be a transcription)
Other works at student and teacher discretion

Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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