Percussion Studies - School of Performing Arts

Percussion Studies
School of Performing Arts
Music | Theatre | Cinema
Virginia Tech offers studies in percussion to talented students pursuing training in music performance, education, technology, and
composition. Individual applied lessons for music majors and select music minors focus on a wide range of percussion instruments and
are taught by Dr. Annie Stevens. Our students have countless opportunities to perform on campus and in the community as soloists, in
the VT Percussion Ensemble, and as members of the larger instrumental ensembles such as the New River Valley Symphony Orchestra,
the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Jazz Ensemble. The VT Percussion Ensemble performs exciting repertoire including historic
chamber music, arrangements of classical and pop repertoire, world percussion, mallet ensembles, and works for percussion with media.
Recently, the VT Percussion Ensemble performed a unique concert in the CUBE at the Moss Arts Center where they performed
alongside original accompanying film, as well as incorporated the facility’s 128 surround sound speakers. Students have the unique
opportunity to study with guest artists throughout the year and perform alongside them in the concert hall. Through challenging
coursework and a wide range of performance opportunities, our graduates emerge as versatile musicians ready for advanced degrees or
careers in education, technology, and many other fields.
Course Offerings
Individual Applied Percussion:
Private instruction on all percussion instruments, with focus on snare drum, mallet instruments, timpani, and drum set; as well
as a weekly studio class in which the students have the opportunity to perform for one another.
Percussion Ensemble:
Preparation of percussion chamber music repertoire with multiple performance opportunites throughout the semester. Open
to all VT undergraduate and graduate students by audition.
Marching Percussion Techniques Course:
Instruction on battery percussion instruments during the spring semester.
Percussion Literature and Pedagogy:
Study of percussion repertory and teaching methods from the mid-twentieth century to the present. Extensive stylistic analysis
and performance practice.
For More Information
Contact Annie Stevens by phone at 540.231.5604 or e-mail at [email protected].
www.performingarts.vt.edu
percussion@tech
Annie Stevens, percussion
Annie Stevens, an internationally touring percussion artist, teaches studio percussion, directs the
percussion ensemble, and assists with the drumline at Virginia Tech. As a founding member of the
percussion duo, Escape Ten (www.escapeten.com), she has performed full concerts at the Leigh Howard
Stevens Summer Marimba Festival and is a Malletech Performing Artist. The duo performs new repertoire
throughout the United States and collectively contributes to the growing repertoire of percussion music by
commissioning composers, and publishing these new works under the Escape Ten Series through Keyboard
Percussion Publications. Stevens has been featured at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention
on numerous occasions, the International Computer Music Conference, the International Trumpet Guild,
and the International Trombone Festival. She has performed throughout Germany as the timpanist of the
Detmold Chamber Orchestra and throughout China with Eastman’s China Connection Ensemble. Local
engagements in Southwest Virginia include those with the Roanoke Symphony, Wintergreen Summer Music
Festival, and the Garth Newel Music Center. Stevens earned a D.M.A. degree from the Eastman School
of Music where she studied percussion with Michael Burritt. She also holds degrees from Northwestern
University (B.M.) and Rutgers University (M.M.), and spent a semester abroad at the Hochschule für Musik in
Detmold, Germany. Her teachers include Michael Burritt, Bill Cahn, Alan Abel, Chip Ross, and She-e Wu.
There is a positive energy that spreads throughout this percussion studio on a daily basis. Students work hard and are always ready to take on a new challenge in the many areas of percussion.
Witnessing the musical growth of a student throughout their time studying at Virginia Tech is a very rewarding process and because of their ongoing commitment, I know these students will go
on to accomplish great things after studying at an extremely high level. ~Annie Stevens
RECOMMENDED PERCUSSION REPERTORY
Applicants should bring sticks, mallets, and music. The university will provide instruments and stands unless the performer prefers to bring personal
equipment. All applicants must perform an etude or solo on snare drum, mallets, and timpani. Though not required, the applicant is encouraged to
perform on drum set as well. See below for the appropriate repertoire for each instrument (please note that these are just suggestions).
SNARE DRUM
(Sight-reading will be asked.)
Rudiments: 26 Standard American Drum Rudiments (open-closed-open).
Concert-Style Etude or Solo. Selections from the following books would be appropriate:
Intermediate or Advanced Studies for Snare Drum by Mitchell Peters
Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
Douze Etudes by Jacques Delecluse
Rudimental-Style Solo. Selections from the following books would be appropriate:
Contemporary Rudimental Studies and Solos by Lalo Davila
The All American Drummer or Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charlie Wilcoxon
MARIMBA / XYLOPHONE / VIBRAPHONE (Sight-reading will be asked.)
Scales and Arpeggios: Perform 2-octave major scales and major arpeggios.
2-mallet solo on marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone: A prepared piece or etude. Memorization is not required. An
etude from the following books is recommended:
Masterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillan
Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg
Xylophone rag of choice
4-mallet solo on marimba or vibraphone: A prepared piece or etude. Memorization is not required. A selection from
the following list is appropriate:
Sea Refractions by Mitchell Peters
Yellow After the Rain by Mitchell Peters
Rhythm Song by Paul Smadbeck
Etudes by Claire Omar Musser
Solos by Keiko Abe
TIMPANI
An etude from the following books is recommended:
Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters
Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth
DRUM SET (optional)
Demonstrate proficiency in rock, swing, and Latin styles.
ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS (optional)
Perform standard excerpts on snare drum, mallets, timpani and accessories.
www.performingarts.vt.edu