We understand that auditions are a significant milestone on every conservatoire applicant’s journey. The guidance below will help you prepare to the best of your abilities and make you aware of what will happen at your Royal College of Music audition.
Most percussion candidates audition at the RCM in London. We do not offer auditions for percussion at our overseas audition venues. However, you are able to audition by video if you are unable to attend in person. You are advised to read the information below carefully.
Principal studies
Every student undertakes principal study in their main specialism, which lies at the heart of their RCM experience. You can audition for the following principal studies. Please note that research degrees have their own set of requirements.
Expand the options below to find out the audition requirements for each principal study.
Orchestral percussion & timpani audition requirements
Undergraduate
Applicants should prepare all of the following for all listed instruments:
Timpani
- Bayer Etude as shown below and Beethoven 5th Symphony, Last movement, beginning until letter A (bars 374 - 395)
- Rolls: pp, ff and pp crescendo to ff and dim back to pp
Bayer Etude as shown below and Beethoven 5th Symphony, Last movement, beginning until letter A (bars 374 - 395).
Bayer Etude
Candidates will be required to tune four timpani as directed after an unrelated chord has been played on the piano
Snare drum
- Alex Neal Snare Drum Entrance Audition,or a piece of similar standard
- Rolls: pp, ff and pp crescendo to ff and dim back to pp
Alex Neal, Snare Drum Entrance Audition
Marimba
- A piece for 4 mallets lasting no longer than 5 minutes
- Scales in all major and minor (harmonic and melodic) keys, and chromatic scales starting on any note, two octaves
- Arpeggios and dominant sevenths in all major and minor keys, two octaves
The audition will also include a sight-reading test.
Taught postgraduate
Applicants will be expected to play repertoire selected from all the excerpts found in the following books:
- Saul Goodman standard orchestral excerpts from Modern Method for Timpani
- Morris Goldenberg Modern School for Snare Drum
- Morris Goldenberg Modern School for Xylophone
Plus:
- A work of your choice for four mallets
The audition will also include a sight-reading test.
What to expect at audition
Solo marimba audition requirements
Taught postgraduate only
Applicants should prepare two or three contrasting works selected from the list below, or one from the list below and one or two works of their own choice:
- Rihards Dubra Visio Remissionis
- Eric Ewazen Northern Lights
- Eric Sammut Variations on Porgy and Bess
- Robert Oetomo – Over the rainbow (arr)
- Claude Debussy Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
- Pius Cheung Etude in E flat minor
- Pius Cheung Verano Porteno
- Pius Cheung Poetic Fantasy
- Gordon Stout Rumble Strips
- Gordon Stout Sedimental Structures
- Anna Ignatowicz – Glinska Toccata
- Tomasz Golinski – Luminosity (1st or 2nd movement)
- Casey Cangelosi Etude in E minor
- Toshimitsu Tanaka Two Movements for marimba
- Joseph Schwantner Velocities
- Michael Burrit Scirocco
What to expect at audition
What to expect at audition
What to bring
In most cases you only need to bring your sticks/mallets and music for you, your accompanist (if applicable) and the audition panel.
What not to bring
You cannot bring a page-turner, your teacher or a translator into your audition. The only people in your audition room will be you, your accompanist and the audition panel. As our courses are taught in English we expect you to be able to communicate in English at your audition.
Please note that we are unable to audition percussionists at any of our overseas audition venues.
Percussion auditions in London
The time shown on UCAS Conservatoires is your audition time. You should plan to arrive at the RCM at least 30 minutes before this, to allow time to check in and warm up. We advise allowing plenty of extra time for travelling into or across London.
If you are caught in an unavoidable delay, please telephone the Admissions team on +44 (0)20 7591 4362 immediately so that, wherever possible, alternative arrangements can be made.
When you arrive at the RCM, you should find out from the steward in the entrance hall where your audition will take place.
Percussion auditions last approximately 20-30 minutes. Candidates will be directed by the panel to perform their audition pieces or particular extracts. We cannot say in advance which extracts you might be asked to perform, so you should prepare all of the materials in full. You may be required to take a sight-reading test and there will be a short interview.
Typical questions you may be asked during your interview include:
- Why do you want to study at the RCM?
- What are your musical interests?
- What do you think you need most to do to improve your playing?
In some cases you may also be asked to perform scales, arpeggios or other technical exercises.
You will have 30 minutes of warm-up time. We are not able to provide practice rooms for you to use before this.
If you are applying for solo marimba (postgraduate level only), you are welcome to bring your own accompanist. The RCM can provide an accompanist for you on the day. If you require an RCM accompanist you must email our Admissions team in advance.
You do not need to tell us what you are performing in your audition and please do not send copies of the music in advance.
Audition by video
Applicants who cannot travel may submit a video audition instead. This option is open to all Principal Study specialisms, with the exception of Conducting, for which we will hold final round auditions live in London in Spring 2024. Candidates auditioning by video will automatically be considered for scholarship.
The deadline to submit applications for video auditions is 2 October 2023. Videos must be submitted by 27 October 2023.
More information about auditioning by video
Scholarships
Every student who applies for a place on one of the RCM's performance or composition courses commencing in 2025 will be considered for a scholarship, whether you have applied by video or attended an audition or interview in person.
There is no separate application process.
Eligibility for scholarships is based on merit, which is determined by performance at audition (or by submission of video) or the strength of portfolio and interview for composers.
If you are offered a scholarship or study award you will receive a letter, normally sent by email, confirming this and the conditions of your award.
In exceptional circumstances, an applicant may be offered a scholarship on the day of their audition.
After your audition
You will be informed of the result of your audition as soon as possible. The RCM cannot enter into correspondence over the results of auditions.
Find out more
Audition queries
Please double-check that you are available at the time and date of your audition. If there are any special circumstances the RCM needs to be aware of before your audition, please let us know in advance.
Find out more
If you have any questions about auditions or the application process please contact our Admissions team.
