Timpani & Percussion

Timpani & Percussion

Course Details:

The core element of the 90 minute per week one to one lessons is delivered by many highly reputable and active professional performers and is further enhanced by regular repertoire classes, and specialised Latin American, Ethnic Percussion as well as Drum-Set Classes and Lessons. The Baroque Timpani discipline is addressed in regular Classes by a highly respected Expert. An extended Solo-Marimba provision also forms an integral part of the Department's overall strategy.

In recognition that the largest number of future employment opportunities for Timpanists and Percussionists are within Orchestras, tuition is mainly directed towards the orchestral literature. Five former Graduates from the RSAMD have been appointed to professional positions at home and abroad within the last three years.

There is however also a well established tradition of solo performance in extended recitals with its emphasis on polished professional presentations.

International Artists from around the world bring their experiences to our students in clinics, workshops and master classes. These have recently included Dame Evelyn Glennie, Colin Currie, Sam Walton, Birger Sulsbruck, Leigh Howard Stevens, Eric Sammut, Jasmin Kolberg, David Searcy, Simon Carrington, Keith Aleo & Neil Grover and Neil Percy amongst many others.

Entrance Audition

Undergraduate applicants to perform the following:

Timpani:

• Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4 1 st movement, 2 bars before T to 3 bars before U. (available in " Modern Method for Timpani", Saul Goodman, Belwin Mills).
• Hindemith: Sinfononische Metamorphosen, Turandot Scherzo, (available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).
• Frank Martin: Concerto pour 7 Instruments a Vent, Timbales, Batterie et Orchestre a Cordes. (Available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).
• Beethoven: Symphony Nr. 1, 3rd movement 1 bar before A to end. Beethoven Symphony Nr. 7, 1st movement 20 bars before C to C.

Beethoven available 'Fred D. Hinger, Timpani Players Repertoire Vol. 1 Beethoven' from Southern Percussion.

Percussion : Xylophone

• Prokoffiev: Alexander Nevsky available in the Goldenberg Book).
• Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).
• Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).

Snare Drum:

• Rimsky-Korsakov, Sheherazade, movements 3 & 4 (Available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).
• Prokoffiev: Peter and the Wolf (Available in "Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions", Schott).
• Rimsky-Korsakov, Cappricio Espagnol (available in the Goldenberg Book).

A piece of the applicants own choice on Marimba (Voluntary).