Drum Set Principal:

Performance Major
PIPC/RPPC FINAL EXAM REQUIREMENTS
The private teachers grade accounts for 50% and the final exam grade accounts for the
other 50% of students total grade for private lesson instruction at all levels.

LEVEL 1
PIPC 111

Snare Drum
1. One prepared piece from Garwood Whaley, Musical Studies for the Intermediate
Snare Drummer, or from another appropriate source listed in the Percussion Dept.
Snare Drum Book List.

2. One prepared rudimental solo from Charles Wilcoxon, All American Drummer, or
from another appropriate source listed in the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book
List.

Sight-Reading
Snare drum sight-reading comparable to the above sources.

Rudiments
Demonstrate any six of the 26 American Rudiments as determined by the faculty member
administering exam.

Time Feels
Perform the following time feels: swing, jazz shuffle, funk, rock, bossa nova, jazz waltz,
calypso/soca, reggae, and mambo.

Chart Interpretation
Drumset sight-reading and interpretation.

LEVEL 2
PIPC 112

Snare Drum

1. One prepared piece from Recital Solos for Snare Drum by Garwood Whaley.

2. One prepared rudimental solo from Charles Wilcoxon, All American Drummer, or
from another appropriate source listed in the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book
List.

Sight-Reading
Snare drum sight-reading comparable to the above.
(PIPC-112 continued)

Rudiments
On the drum set, orchestrate any five of the 26 American Rudiments within a music
application.

Repertoire Development
Perform a 12-bar blues, 16 or 32-bar "Jazz Standard" with a 4/4 Swing feel. Song
selection can be from the Great American Song Book, Bebop or Post Bop genres. The
song is to be performed without accompaniment in a two - chorus format: 1 chorus of
implying melody with the swing feel, followed by 1 chorus of comping through the
form. During the melody chorus, the student must sing the respective melody aloud
while performing. In the case of a 12 or 16-bar composition, the song is to be repeated 4
times: melody played 2 times followed by comping played 2 times. Students will
demonstrate their ability to support melody as well as their command of the Swing Feel
and Song Form.

Chart Interpretation
Drum set sight-reading and interpretation.

LEVEL 3
PIPC 211

Snare Drum
One prepared piece from Anthony Cirone, Portraits in Rhythm, or from another
appropriately leveled source listed in the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book List.

Repertoire Developement

Perform one of the time feels studied in this level, (Songo, 6/8 afro cuban, Samba,
Baiao) in the context of a musical composition chosen by the student and teacher. The
song should be performed without accompaniment in a two-chorus format: 1 chorus of
melody followed by 1 chorus of accompaniment. In the case of a 12 or 16 bar song, the
form should be played through 4 times: 2 times melody, 2 times comping. Student should
demonstrate his/her ability to support melody as well as his command of groove and
structure.

Time Feels
Perform the following Afro Cuban, Brazilian and Caribbean time feels: Songo, 6/8 Afro-
Cuban, Samba and Baiao. Student should have a strong sense of all of these as well as
those time-feels studied previously in levels 1 and 2.
Brushes
Demonstrate basic brush strokes for jazz ballad, medium tempo 4/4 and 3/4 swing.
Medium tempo 4/4 should be performed as a double time out of ballad tempo.

LEVEL
RPPC 211
(Students may take the recital prep on any instrument within the percussion department drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steel pan or on their instrument with
a faculty from another department or declare a secondary instrument.)

Repertoire Development
Student determines one style track for himself: Jazz, Rock, R & B/Funk, Gospel, Fusion,
Afro Cuban, Brazilian or World (Reggae, Afro-Pop) and performs 2 standard/classic
(RPPC-211 continued)

compositions in her/his chosen style with an ensemble of any size. These pieces are to be
chosen by the student and teacher. The performance of these should demonstrate students
command of melody support, form, time sense/comping, dynamic use and improvisational
skills. If the student chooses jazz, one selection must be with brushes.

Chart Interpretation
Appropriately leveled drum set sight-reading and interpretation.

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided on by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.

WITH FACULTY MEMBER OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT

A ten-minute performance project, decided on by the student and teacher, based on
concepts and materials studied in the lesson.

LEVEL 4
PIPC 212

Snare Drum
One prepared piece from Anthony Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, or from another
appropriately leveled source listed in the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book List.

Improvisation
Trade 4s and 8s in two chosen level 3 time-feels and all of the level 1 and 2 time feels (see
PIPC-111 and PIPC-112 above).

Repertoire Development
One prepared Chart from:

* Percussion Dept. Level 4 Chart Library or

* Irv Cottler - Ive Got You Under My Skins
* Steve Houghton - Studio and Big Band Drumming
* Zoro - Commandments of R & B Drumming
* Inside the Brazilian Rhythm Section by Nelson Faria and Cliff Korman
* In The Pocket by Dennis Chambers
* Drum Studies: Concepts, Reading, Phrasing, and Technique
Chart Interpretation
Drumset sight-reading and interpretation comparable to the preceding list of prepared
drumset choices.
LEVEL 4
RPPC 212
(Students may take the recital prep on any instrument within the percussion department drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steel pan or on their instrument with a
faculty from another department or declare a secondary instrument.)

CONTINUED DRUMSET
Repertoire Development
Student performs one original composition, or an original arrangement of a non-
standard/classic composition in his/her chosen style track with an ensemble of any size and
one standard/classic composition outside of her/his chosen style track. These pieces are to
be decided upon by the student and teacher.

Chart Interpretation
Sight-read and interpret one advanced drumset chart. Chart will feature time feel and/or
time signature shifts.

Improvisation
Trade 4s or 8s in any of the time feels studied in levels 1 - 3. These include Songo, Mambo,
6/8 Afro Cuban, Samba, Baiao, Calypso, Swing, Funk, Rock and Shuffle

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.

WITH FACULTY MEMBER OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT

A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher based on concepts
and materials studied in the lesson.

LEVEL 5
PIPC 311
(Student may take the private lesson on any instrument within the percussion department: drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steelpan.)

CONTINUED DRUMSET
Prepared Piece
Perform one unaccompanied piece with an asymmetrical form (non 32, 16 or 12 bar form)
in a three-chorus format: 1 chorus of supporting melody, then 1 chorus of accompaniment
followed by 1 chorus of solo (could be a full solo or trading). Student should demonstrate
his ability to support melody, his command of groove and structure, as well as his
improvisational expertise.
Sight-Reading and Chart Interpretation
1. Snare drum sight-reading from sources comparable to appropriately leveled sources
listed in the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book List.

2. Drumset Chart Interpretation - Sight reading from sources comparable to: :

Irv Cottler Ive Got You Under My Skin

Steve Houghton Studio and Big Band Drumming

The Ultimate Drum Set Reading Anthology
Zoro Commandments of R & B Drumming
Percussion Dept. Chart Library

LEVEL 5
RPPC 311

Repertoire Development
Student performs the Solo or Duo project from her/his ILRE 375 (Recital Workshop)
course.

Odd Meter
Perform one odd metered (5,7,9) composition of any style with or without
accompaniment.

Reading
Snare Drum sight-reading from sources comparable to the Percussion Dept. Snare
Drum Book List.

LEVEL 6
PIPC- 312
Vibraphone or Marimba

Repertoire Development
Two prepared solos: one single line and one four-mallet piece; or one longer four-mallet
piece.

Technical Exercises

1. Major scales, played two octaves (q=100)

2. Major, minor, and dominant arpeggios, played two octaves (q=80)

Sight-Reading
Sight-reading a single line piece.
LEVEL 6
RPPC 312
(Students may take the recital prep on any instrument within the percussion department drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steel pan or on their instrument with a
faculty from another department or declare a secondary instrument.)

CONTINUED DRUMSET:
Repertoire Development
Fifteen-minute performance project decided by the student and teacher, this performance
should include accompanying musicians (duo, trio, band).

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.

WITH FACULTY MEMBER OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT

A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher based on concepts
and materials studied in the lesson.

LEVEL 7
PIPC 411
(Student may take the private lesson on any instrument within the percussion department: drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steelpan.)

CONTINUED DRUMSET
Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading

1. Snare drum sight-reading from sources comparable to The Percussion Dept. Snare
Drum Book List

2. Drumset sight-reading from sources comparable to:

Irv Cottler Ive Got You Under My Skin
Steve Houghton Studio and Big Band Drumming
The Ultimate Drum Set Reading Anthology
Zoro Commandments of R & B Drumming
Percussion Dept. Chart Library

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT OPTION

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher.
Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.

LEVEL 7
RPPC 411
JURY
A thirty-minute ensemble performance that will include compositions planned for the
students recital. Demonstration may focus on one idiom but should have stylistic variation
within the context of the performance.

LEVEL 8
PIPC 412
(Student may take the private lesson on any instrument within the percussion department: drumset,
hand percussion, total percussion, marimba, vibraphone, or steelpan.)

CONTINUED DRUMSET
Repertoire Development
1. Ten-minute performance project decided upon by the student and teacher.

2. Snare drum sight-reading comparable to the Percussion Dept. Snare Drum Book
List.

3. Advanced Drumset Chart Interpretation

Ask your private teacher about references from our Percussion Dept. Chart Library

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT OPTION

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project decided by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.

LEVEL 8
RPPC 412
SENIOR RECITAL
A performance of at least sixty-minutes. The performance should feature the student in an
ensemble context and demonstrate a high degree of instrumental proficiency. The
performance may focus on one style but should have stylistic variation within the
context of the performance. Sudent may perform on alternative instruments but
this option should not exceed 25% of the recital.

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT OPTION

Repertoire Development
A ten-minute performance project, decided by the student and teacher.

Sight-Reading
Sight-read and interpret an appropriate chart or piece of music on chosen instrument.