UNA Marching Percussion Audition Information
The 2025 UNA Marching Percussion Packets are NOW AVAILABLE!
All audition materials are found at https://drive.google.com/.../1uXDWq8E...
UNA Marching Percussion Audition Information
The 2025 auditions will be in two parts: a preliminary video round, and a live final round.
Preliminary Video Audition
Due by 11:59 pm, April 5, 2025
All students must be academically accepted to UNA by the video due date and be able to attend Drumline Camp. Anyone auditioning should be on the UNA Percussion Audition Information Facebook Group.
The 2025 auditions will be in two parts: a preliminary video round, and a live final round.
Preliminary Video Audition
Due by 11:59 pm, April 5, 2025
All students must be academically accepted to UNA by the video due date and be able to attend Drumline Camp. Anyone auditioning should be on the UNA Percussion Audition Information Facebook Group.
Videos are due no later than 11:59 pm CST on April 5, 2025
Send a link to a YouTube video (set to either “public” or “unlisted” – not “private”) to twiggins@una.edu. Please include the following: In the email:
i. Name, summer mailing address, school
ii. Instruments for which you wish to be considered (You will not be offered a spot on instruments not indicated.)
Video
Battery
The following exercises from the 2025 UNAMP Battery Packet:
Triple Stroke Variations - 2 reps at 115 bpm
Bookends - 2 reps at 120 bpm
12 s - 1 Rep of All Variations; 1 rep each of D-H with variation 1 (double 16th on taps) 152 bpm
NAKAT - 2 reps at 152
gssshhhhh - 1 rep of check and 1 rep with rolls at 125 bpm
Your feet move in all exercises (12 is the quarter note, NOT the quarter note triplet). (with an audible metronome, face/hands visible, feet visible, and marking time is required)
Optional - a short solo on your instrument showing us the best you have to display. If auditioning for bass drum this should be a rudimental snare drum solo
Front Ensemble
Keyboards
The following exercises from the 2025 UNAMP Front Ensemble Packet:
Scales and arpeggios circle of 4ths at least 140bmp
Green 1 at least 120bmp circle of 5ths
My favorite minimum 110bmp
7/8 double vertical strokes
London bridge as written (double vertical) and double lateral versions (16th notes) 4312 at 90bmp
Green 2 inner mallets 110bmp
gssshh - 2 reps at 125 bpm
Optional - Play a solo on marimba or vibraphone
If you do not have access to a keyboard please make a keyboard from cardboard and duct tape and demonstrate these so that we can gauge your mallet control and motion, as well as lateral movement around the keyboard.
Rhythm Section
Bass guitar and synthesizer perform a solo and the 3 adjacent major scales and chromatic scale. You will also be asked to perform a 12-bar blues in the keys of C, F, Bb, and Ab.
gssshhh 2 reps at 125 bpm
For drumset perform a 12 Bar Blues Shuffle (w/ backbeat on 2 & 4), 12 Bar Jazz/Swing Time, 8 bars of Funk/R&B Groove (“Cold Sweat”, James Brown), 8 bars of 12/8 Afro Cuban, 8 bars of Samba.
gssshhhh - 2 reps at 125 bpm
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Tracy Wiggins at twiggins@una.edu.
Live final Audition
May 17, 9 am to 5 pm
May 18, 1 pm to 5 pm
For the Final Audition Have prepared from the packet (in addition to the video exercises):
Battery:
Triple Stroke Variations
12s
NAKAT
Smooth Operator
Notenacht
Bookends
Campfire Patties
Fred
gssshhhhh
Flams
Front Ensemble (for ensemble pieces learn the part you wish to audition for):
Green 1
Green 2
My Favorite
7/8
Smooth Operator
Fred
gssshhhhh
Flams
Auditions will be live on the UNA Campus at the UNA Music Building (corner of Irvine and Pine Streets)
These dates are required for anyone wishing to be a member of the percussion section for the 2025 season. These auditions include all battery and front ensemble performers.
There is no fee to audition.
All audition materials are found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uXDWq8E-x9HzvLuYkuFEacaFfEX81IxF?usp=drive_link
Battery play-along tracks are available at https://soundcloud.com/wigginst/sets/una-battery
Front Ensemble play-along tracks are available at https://soundcloud.com/wigginst/sets/una-front-ensemble-mix-tape
Please dress as though you would for a marching band rehearsal: t-shirts; shorts; socks; sneakers (no sandals/flip flops). Bring water as well. Please bring hearing protection for your ears.
Meals will not be provided, so please bring your lunch or have plans made to acquire your lunch on Saturday.
If you need housing for Saturday night please let the section leader of the section you are auditioning for know so they can arrange someplace for you to stay. This should be only for those coming from long distances.
Upper battery (snare and tenors) if you have access to a drum and stand please bring it. If not, please bring a pad and stand.
We are looking for great attitudes, people who are eager to learn, people who can adapt, and people who want to be a part of this program.
We are looking forward to a GREAT season, and have a lot of great talent auditioning! As I always say, the only way to guarantee you are not a part of it is to not take the chance on the audition!
The following exercises from the 2025 UNAMP Battery Packet:
Triple Stroke Variations - 2 reps at 115 bpm
Bookends - 2 reps at 120 bpm
12 s - 1 Rep of All Variations; 1 rep each of D-H with variation 1 (double 16th on taps) 152 bpm
NAKAT - 2 reps at 152
gssshhhhh - 1 rep of check and 1 rep with rolls at 125 bpm
Your feet move in all exercises (12 is the quarter note, NOT the quarter note triplet). (with an audible metronome, face/hands visible, feet visible, and marking time is required)
Optional - a short solo on your instrument showing us the best you have to display. If auditioning for bass drum this should be a rudimental snare drum solo
Front Ensemble
Keyboards
The following exercises from the 2025 UNAMP Front Ensemble Packet:
Scales and arpeggios circle of 4ths at least 140bmp
Green 1 at least 120bmp circle of 5ths
My favorite minimum 110bmp
7/8 double vertical strokes
London bridge as written (double vertical) and double lateral versions (16th notes) 4312 at 90bmp
Green 2 inner mallets 110bmp
gssshh - 2 reps at 125 bpm
Optional - Play a solo on marimba or vibraphone
If you do not have access to a keyboard please make a keyboard from cardboard and duct tape and demonstrate these so that we can gauge your mallet control and motion, as well as lateral movement around the keyboard.
Rhythm Section
Bass guitar and synthesizer perform a solo and the 3 adjacent major scales and chromatic scale. You will also be asked to perform a 12-bar blues in the keys of C, F, Bb, and Ab.
gssshhh 2 reps at 125 bpm
For drumset perform a 12 Bar Blues Shuffle (w/ backbeat on 2 & 4), 12 Bar Jazz/Swing Time, 8 bars of Funk/R&B Groove (“Cold Sweat”, James Brown), 8 bars of 12/8 Afro Cuban, 8 bars of Samba.
gssshhhh - 2 reps at 125 bpm
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Tracy Wiggins at twiggins@una.edu.
Live final Audition
May 17, 9 am to 5 pm
May 18, 1 pm to 5 pm
For the Final Audition Have prepared from the packet (in addition to the video exercises):
Battery:
Triple Stroke Variations
12s
NAKAT
Smooth Operator
Notenacht
Bookends
Campfire Patties
Fred
gssshhhhh
Flams
Front Ensemble (for ensemble pieces learn the part you wish to audition for):
Green 1
Green 2
My Favorite
7/8
Smooth Operator
Fred
gssshhhhh
Flams
Auditions will be live on the UNA Campus at the UNA Music Building (corner of Irvine and Pine Streets)
These dates are required for anyone wishing to be a member of the percussion section for the 2025 season. These auditions include all battery and front ensemble performers.
There is no fee to audition.
All audition materials are found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uXDWq8E-x9HzvLuYkuFEacaFfEX81IxF?usp=drive_link
Battery play-along tracks are available at https://soundcloud.com/wigginst/sets/una-battery
Front Ensemble play-along tracks are available at https://soundcloud.com/wigginst/sets/una-front-ensemble-mix-tape
Please dress as though you would for a marching band rehearsal: t-shirts; shorts; socks; sneakers (no sandals/flip flops). Bring water as well. Please bring hearing protection for your ears.
Meals will not be provided, so please bring your lunch or have plans made to acquire your lunch on Saturday.
If you need housing for Saturday night please let the section leader of the section you are auditioning for know so they can arrange someplace for you to stay. This should be only for those coming from long distances.
Upper battery (snare and tenors) if you have access to a drum and stand please bring it. If not, please bring a pad and stand.
We are looking for great attitudes, people who are eager to learn, people who can adapt, and people who want to be a part of this program.
We are looking forward to a GREAT season, and have a lot of great talent auditioning! As I always say, the only way to guarantee you are not a part of it is to not take the chance on the audition!