Audition Time! How To Help Your Percussion Students
Prepare For An Audition Dan Halpern
Vernona Schools, Verona, NJ
dhalpern@veronaschools.org
any other instrumentalist. Young per- cussionists must demonstrate a variety of skills that are unique to their instru- ment. Students often commit common errors that could easily be avoided with a little guidance. This article will pres- ent some general considerations as well as some basic guidelines for various per- cussion instruments (timpani will be covered in a separate article). For more details, please feel free to contact the au- thor or seek direct advice from a quali- fied percussionist.
F General Considerations Unlike wind and string players,
percussionists frequently play on instru- ments that are not their own. Large in- struments such as bass drum, timpani, and keyboard percussion that are pro- vided for an audition can differ signifi- cantly from the instruments on which the student has practiced. The student must be prepared to adjust to the vari- ances of each instrument.
Tip #1: Instruct your student to test out
each instrument for a minute and get to know how it sounds before starting that portion of the audition. Have the student bring a variety of mallets to ac- commodate for differences in sound.
Percussion instruments share one principle with all other instruments:
TEMPO
or a percussionist, the pro- cess of preparing for an au- dition is quite different from
good tone quality is essential. Percus- sionists must develop a concept of tone for each instrument. They must enter the audition with the skill and under- standing of how to create a characteristic sound. Some of the most important fac- tors include mallet/beater choice, beat- ing spot, technique, and, of course, the quality of the instrument being played.
Tip #2: Purchase quality instruments.
No sensible teacher would encourage a wind or string student to audition on a $100 Internet instrument. Likewise, percussionists must play on quality instruments in order to make a good sound. A full set of quality accessory percussion instruments can be purchased for under $500 – less than the cost of a student model wind instrument. Contact the author or ask a percussionist for recommendations.
Tip #3:
Purchase a variety of good quality mallets and beaters. A clarinet player using a 1.5 reed would struggle to play with a beautiful tone. Likewise, a percussionist using poor quality beat- ers and mallets cannot possibly make a good sound. Beaters and mallets are the primary means of articulation for percussionists. Despite the initial cost of purchasing a variety of timpani, key- board, and bass drum mallets, they will last a long time if well-maintained. Start by purchasing hard, medium, and soft mallets for each instrument. Then ex- pand as your budget allows.
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Instrument-Specific Considerations There are common errors students commit in auditions. Students can eas- ily improve their performances by mak- ing a few simple adjustments.
Triangle • Use good beaters. • A good triangle beater is inexpensive, and will result in a characteristic tone. Teach students to listen for the sound they make, and achieve a full tone by striking the triangle correctly. Have a variety of beaters to choose from and consider the characteristics of each one.
• Use a good triangle. • A good quality triangle costs $60-150 and will last a lifetime. Cheap triangles do not produce a beautiful, characteristic tone, and are not acceptable in an audition.
• Hold the triangle correctly. Teach students to hold the tri-
angle so it resonates freely and they can control the length of sustain. Mount the triangle on a stand only when absolutely necessary. Mounting on a stand can adversely affect the tone. • Roll evenly with a good tone. Two common mistakes are to
roll too fast and rolling too close to the corner of the triangle. Make sure the beater strikes both surfac- es evenly in an appropriate beating spot to achieve a resonant sound.
JANUARY 2018
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