Percussion

Learn everything about your application process:

Directly contact Todd Meehan if you have any questions.

Undergraduate Percussion Audition Requirements

Graduate Percussion Audition Requirements

Graduate percussion applicants are required to submit a pre-screening video (requirements below) with their music application. The pre-screening video is due by December 1. After evaluation of the pre-screen video, those that are qualified will be invited to a live audition and will have the opportunity to perform the audition repertoire for the faculty. All candidates are welcome to communicate directly with Dr. Todd Meehan with questions regarding their application, repertoire, etc.

Pre-screening:

A keyboard solo of significant length
Concert snare drum solo or etude
Timpani solo or etude

Live Audition Material (if invited):

Mallets:
- One 4-mallet marimba or vibraphone solo of significant length
- Two orchestral mallet excerpts of your choice
Snare:
- One concert solo or etude (ex. Delecluse etude or something of similar difficulty)
- One rudimental solo or etude (played on a concert snare, ex. Wilcoxon or something of similar difficulty)
- Two orchestral snare excerpts of your choice
Timpani
- One solo or etude (ex. Carter or Delecluse etude or something of similar difficulty)
- Two orchestral timpani excerpts of your choice
- Demonstrate ability to tune intervals
Miscellaneous - Please choose ONE of the following three areas to supplement your audition:
- Multiple percussion solo
- Drum set (demonstrating different styles or prepared solo)
- Any other area in which you possess a degree of mastery (ex.accessory excerpts, hand drumming, other world music genres,etc.)

There are no events for the date(s) selected.

The Baylor School of Music Percussion Department is a comprehensive center of percussion study offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance and music education. The program focuses on intensive training in solo percussion performance, orchestral percussion, chamber music, and drum set studies. Baylor percussion students are taught the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as professional, creative performers and educators in today’s music world. The department is under the direction of Todd Meehan and Arlo Shultis.

The Percussion Department is unique in its small size, limiting the overall number of students to no more than 16. This allows the program to be highly selective in its admissions/audition process and creates an intimate learning environment for each individual student. Due to the studio’s size, Baylor percussionists are afforded unparalleled performing and learning opportunities. All percussion students study with faculty members Todd Meehan and Arlo Shultis during their entire residency at Baylor. In addition, students have endless performance outlets within Baylor’s highly recognized large ensemble and chamber music programs.

Please take a moment to further explore the information below and learn more about percussion studies at Baylor. For additional inquiries about the program, please email todd_meehan@baylor.edu. Sic ‘em!

Todd Meehan, DMA

Professor of Percussion Instrumental Studies Division Director

Todd Meehan, DMA

Professor of Percussion Instrumental Studies Division Director

Todd_Meehan@baylor.edu

McCrary Music Building 124

Arlo Shultis

Part-time Lecturer in Percussion

Arlo Shultis

Part-time Lecturer in Percussion

Arlo_Shultis@baylor.edu

McCrary Music Building 124

Baylor Percussion Symposium

The Baylor Percussion Symposium showcases contemporary music’s most recognized and innovative artists during two days of masterclasses and concerts on the Baylor University campus each spring. Past symposia have featured Glenn Kotche, So Percussion, Tristan Perich, Steven Schick, Michael Burritt, Ivan Trevino, and Doug Perkins, as well as Pulitzer Prize winners Steve Reich and David Lang. The annual event brings together the most original voices in the contemporary music world and creates a platform for dialogue between students and professionals.

Learn More

Baylor Percussion Group

The Baylor Percussion Group is a dynamic contemporary music percussion ensemble devoted to the artistic presentation of the most significant percussion works of the 20th and 21st centuries. A central focus of the ensemble is to foster relationships between composers and performers through musical collaborations and commissions.

Learn More

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Who do I contact about general undergraduate admissions questions?

If I am accepted to the University, am I automatically accepted into the School of Music?

No. Getting into the School of Music is a dual-acceptance process. All students desiring to pursue a degree in music must apply to both Baylor University and the School of Music in addition to completing an audition (audition dates are selected on the School of Music application).

On campus audition days provide an opportunity for students to display their abilities and to meet the faculty. The audition day also provides an opportunity to have questions answered concerning the School of Music, the admissions process, student financial aid, housing, campus life and other aspects of being a music student at Baylor.

Am I required to audition for the School of Music to play in the band or orchestra, or to sing in a choir as a non-music major?

No. School of Music auditions are not required if your only desire is to perform in the bands, orchestras, or choirs. However, the band, orchestra, and choir directors do audition students for placement into those ensembles. These placement auditions often occur in August, right before classes start. For more information, see Ensemble Audition Information.

What do I do if I cannot attend a scheduled audition day?

What do I wear to my audition?

Is it possible to double major?

What about solo performance opportunities?

Opportunities for solo performance are strongly encouraged and include weekly studio classes and departmental recitals, which provide a format for students to present single works. Convocations showcase superior student performers in recitals attended by the entire School of Music student body. In their Junior and Senior Recitals, performance majors present partial and entire concert programs, respectively. Special Recitals are often presented by ambitious students in addition to the degree requirement recitals. Master Classes with guest artists are held every year as well.

The School of Music also has competition opportunities for aspiring soloists and chamber performers. Each year, one winner is selected from the Concerto Competition to perform a solo work with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra. Every other year multiple soloists and chamber groups are selected as Semper Pro Musica Competition winners and travel to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Will I have access to faculty members who can assist me in my professional development?

From the time you enter the Baylor University School of Music, you will be able to confer with full-time faculty members. All music majors and secondary majors will study one-on-one each week with a faculty member. Faculty advisors will help develop a plan for each upcoming semester during a School of Music advisement period that precedes pre-registration. Members of the faculty are also available by appointment to counsel and advise you throughout the semester when you have questions.

How will I know if I get a scholarship or other financial aid?

Students receive notification of their financial aid status from the University. If a student is selected to receive a music scholarship, they will receive a separate notification from the School of Music via email and will be asked to respond to verify acceptance of the scholarship. No notification letters are sent in the event that a student does not qualify for a music scholarship.

Who do I contact about general graduate admissions questions?

If I am accepted to the University, am I automatically accepted into the School of Music?

What do I do if I cannot attend a scheduled audition day?

Is it possible to double major?

Do I have to submit GRE scores?

How will I know if I get a graduate assistantship?

Graduate Associate positions (graduate assistantships) are awarded based on the recommendation of the faculty in the student's major area. Decisions typically begin to be made about March 1 and may take up to two months to complete. Candidates will be notified of their status by email as soon as possible after this has been determined.

Students who are awarded Graduate Associate positions will be asked to sign and return a contract. The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the School of Music will make the official notice of Graduate Associate position awards in writing. Any discussion of Graduate Associate position awards or assignments prior to that notice, or by any other persons, shall be considered preliminary and unofficial.

If I am accepted to both the Graduate School and the School of Music, but do not receive a music graduate assistantship, are other financial aid options available?

For international applicants, what is the English-language proficiency requirement?

International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting either TOEFL or IELTS scores. Baylor's Institution Code: 6032.

Minimum TOEFL scores for master's degrees are: 550 paper, 213 computer-based, 80 internet-based. The minimum IELTS score for master's degrees is 6.5. Minimum DuoLingo score is 125.

Minimum TOEFL scores for doctoral degrees are: 600 paper, 250 computer-based, 100 internet-based. Comparable scores on the IELTS or PTE exams may also be submitted for doctoral degrees.

International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement under the following circumstances:

You have a conferred degree from an institution in the United States
Your degree was issued from an institution where the medium of instruction is English.

No one will be admitted who does not meet these minimum standards because we want students to be successful academically as well as in a performance area.

Once I have been accepted, when can I register for classes?

What are Diagnostic Exams?

During the week preceding the semester in which a graduate student enrolls he/she will take music theory and music history diagnostic exams. Appropriate remedial course work may be required as a result of the exams. In addition, graduate students with majors in vocal performance, collaborative piano, and church music with vocal performance emphasis will be tested over their knowledge of Italian, German, and French lyric diction. If the student is deficient in any of these languages he/she will be expected to enroll in an appropriate diction course. See the Graduate Music Handbook for more information on the exams and how to prepare for them.

Percussion

Learn everything about your application process:

Percussion Audition Information

There are no events for the date(s) selected.

Percussion Department

Percussion Faculty

Baylor Percussion Symposium

Baylor Percussion Group

Events for Prospective Students

Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

Graduate Admissions FAQs

School of Music