Percussion at Juniata
The JC percussion program is a very innovative experience, involving performance in more traditional settings such as traditional percussion ensemble pieces, traditional concert band, orchestra, and jazz ensemble settings, and also more state of the art, trendsetting experiences such as 2006's Impressions of Magnetic Resonance (a 12-minute surround sound, near-darkness performance for 11 percussionists), the very memorable and effective 2007 "Haunted Hall" in which the ensemble physically played our performance hall, and the very innovative "Steely Pan and the PVC's" group, in which we play standard Caribbean steel drum pieces on large tubes. Percussion membership is open to all students at Juniata. The time commitment ranges between 2 and 3.5 hours per week depending on part assignments and student interests. Ensemble repertoire is selected based on the abilities of the members in any given semester.
Questions about Percussion at Juniata? Email Dr. Latten by clicking here, or call 814-641-3471.
AUDITIONS: (I tend to not use that word, actually, but you get the idea: I need to hear where your talents lie so that I can appropriately choose music for the ensemble. I need to hear you only once during your Juniata years, typically during the first week of school):
- I need to hear all students play a short rhythm reading excerpt which I will give to you a couple days in advance. That's the only required part of the hearing.
- However, you probably play some or all of the instruments below...and, I need to get a good picture of your overall skills. EVERYTHING BELOW IS OPTIONAL IN THE HEARING...BUT IT WILL BE MOST HELPFUL TO HEAR AS MANY OF THE AREAS BELOW AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. If any or many of those are “no experience,” that’s absolutely fine….I just need to know that. So, please choose none, one, or more of the following:
- any prepared pieces that you might have from high school – something from a lesson book, a part of a solo or concerto you’ve played, etc… on snare drum, timpani, 2 mallet keyboard, 4 mallet keyboard, drum set, and/or hand percussion;
- Timpani tuning technique;
- Drum set styles (time patterns, fills, measured and free solos);
- Hand and World drumming (we own bongos, congas, timbales, djembe, surdo, bodhran, talking drum, et al.) ;
- Lead (tenor) steel drum;
- Short sight reading excerpts on any of the standard instruments that you are comfortable with.
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