The Percussion Studies program at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University provides students with a comprehensive foundation to develop the discipline and skills essential to becoming a professional musician or teacher.
Faculty
With a diverse and highly specialized faculty, students in the Percussion Studies Program will develop a wide range of versatile skills from the Western Classical tradition to World Music and Jazz.
Matthew Holm, Director of Percussion Studies, specialties include orchestral percussion, keyboard percussion, percussion ensemble and recital coaching. Matthew is an avid recitalist and has performed at three Percussive Arts Society International Conventions as an artist.
Dustin May earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Youngstown State University in 2012 and is currently an adjunct faculty member at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music. At Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State he specializes in teaching drum set and jazz vibraphone.
Janine Tiffe is a member of the Ethnomusicology faculty at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University. In addition to her classroom teaching and active research, she co-directs the KSU African Ensemble with Kazadi wa Mukuna and directs the KSU Steel Band.
Nearly Unlimited Performance Potential
Opportunities for percussion students abound in the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music in both major performance ensembles and in smaller, more intimate groups.
Large Performance Ensembles:
- Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Orchestra
- Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Wind Ensemble
- Symphony Band
- Marching Golden Flashes
Chamber Music and Small Ensembles:
- Contemporary Percussion Ensemble
- New Music Ensemble
- Steel Band
- African Ensemble
- Thai Ensemble
- Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Workshop Ensemble
- Jazz Combos
In addition to on campus offerings, more advanced players will find numerous performing opportunities off campus including theatrical productions, local and touring artists, and regional orchestras.
Establish a Firm Foundation
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University offers undergraduate programs in performance, jazz studies, music education, and music theory and composition, as well as a masters degree in percussion performance. Intensive and comprehensive, the BM and MM programs in music education and music performance attract accomplished musicians interested in pursuing music as a career. With degree coursework centered on establishing a firm foundation of performance practice, practical music knowledge and applied experience, students leave Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State with the skills necessary to step into their first music classroom, graduate study or performance gig.
Contact
For more information, please contact Dr. Matthew Holm, Director of Percussion Studies, at mholm2@kent.edu or 330-672-2172.
Admission Requirements
- Complete an application for admission to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University.
- Complete an audition for admission to the Glauser School of Music.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students:
All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a
- Minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version),
- Minimum 75 MELAB score,
- Minimum 6.0 IELTS score,
- Minimum 48 PTE score or
- Minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program.
For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Undergraduate Requirements
Brass:
Concentration in: Performance, Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music or General Music Minor
- Solo work and/or contrasting etudes (memorization and accompaniment not required).
- Major scales, 1 octave required (2 octaves optional).
- Chromatic scales, 1 octave required (2 octaves optional)
- Sight-reading
Woodwinds
Concentration in: Performance, Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music or General Music Minor
- Major and chromatic scales—memorized.
- Solo.
- Memorization not required.
- Suggested repertoire is contained in the OMEA contest list.
- Compositions of equivalent difficulty may be substituted.
- Accompaniment is not required.
- Demonstration of sight reading proficiency.
Percussion Instruments:
Concentration in: Performance, Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music or General Music Minor
- A solo on all of the following:
- Snare drum.
- Percussion keyboard (mallets).
- Timpani (Proficiency in tuning).
- Accompaniment is not required.
- Demonstration of sight reading proficiency on at least two of the above instruments.
- Your percussion audition must be done in person or, if distance to the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Campus is an issue, via recorded video audition.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for .
- 3.0 GPA out of a 4.0 scale for .
- Official transcript(s)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of career goals
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- Audition
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 525 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 71 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 74 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 50 PTE score
- Minimum 100 Duolingo test score
Graduate Requirements
- Solo work demonstrative of proficiency on keyboard percussion (solo marimba work preferred).
- Standard orchestral excerpts for xylophone or glockenspiel, snare drum and timpani.
- Etude or solo for snare drum and timpani (or multiple percussion).
- Optional: demonstration of jazz skills on drum set, vibraphone, or steel pan.
- Recordings may be submitted in lieu of an audition at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Campus. A DVD recording of a live performance is preferred in this case.
Please note: Percussion auditions can only be done in person or, if distance to the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Campus is a factor, by recorded video audition.
