To: All prospective UNT Green Brigade and Indoor Drumline Percussionists
Re: Auditions

I am glad you are interested in auditioning for the 2008 UNT Green Brigade Drumline and look forward to meeting you. In order to make an accurate judgment of your playing ability the audition process will last most of the day, Sunday August 17, starting at 10:00am for the battery and 3:00pm for the front ensemble. The auditions will be held in the main music building in room MU142. If you are auditioning for the UNT Indoor Drumline, the audition will be Sunday August 24. Please contact the UNT Percussion Department for details.

Your evaluation will be based upon:

Timing
Rhythmic accuracy
Quality of sound
Technique
Strength / chops
Reading
Attendance
Commitment level / attitude

All rudimental percussionists should be prepared with a short solo demonstrating your abilities - no longer than 2 1/2 minutes
Also, please be prepared with your own exercises demonstrating:
8’s
Accent Tap
Double beat
Triple beat
Basic diddle and roll exercises (duple & triplet based)
Basic flam accent and flam tap exercise

All keyboard percussionists (and timpanists) should be prepared with a short 2 and/or 4 mallet solo or excerpt from a longer piece. You should also be prepared with exercises demonstrating:
2 mallet scales and arpeggios (major, minor, and chromatic)
4 mallet dexterity and blocked chords (vibes – Burton grip, marimba – Stevens grip)

Please bring a couple of pairs of sticks and mallets.
Suggested:
Innovative Percussion FS-PR2 Snare Stick
Innovative Percussion FT-1 Aluminum Multi-Tom Mallet
Innovative Percussion FS-150 Marimba Mallet
Innovative Percussion IP-1005 Vibe Mallets

If you are auditioning for the front ensemble it is not mandatory to perform on all instruments. If you are not equally strong in all areas of percussion this will not count as a negative. However, your versatility could serve as a positive.

The exercises used for the audition will cover fundamentals and will be somewhat easy to understand. Once again, the emphasis will be placed on quality of sound, timing, and rhythmic accuracy.

All exercises for battery and mallet players will be given to you at the camp and will not be mailed out.

If you have a conflict with the audition please e-mail well in advance.

I am certain it will be a successful year and I hope you can be a part of it.
Good luck at the audition!

Sincerely,

Paul Rennick
UNT Indoor Drumline Director
UNT Green Brigade Percussion Coordinator
(940) 565-2583
paul.rennick@unt.edu