You are here: University of Huddersfield : Academic Schools : Music, Humanities and Media : Music & Music Technology : Ensembles
You are here: University of Huddersfield : Academic Schools : Music, Humanities and Media : Music & Music Technology : Ensembles
The Department of Music at the University of Huddersfield has a well equipped percussion studio comprising 3 marimbas (including a 5 octave instrument), 2 vibraphones, 2 xylophones, 2 glockenspiels, 2 sets of bells, crotales, tuned cowbells, tuned gongs (Paiste gong play), 16 timpani (Adams & Premier), 2 drum kits, most smaller instruments including congas, bongos, timbales, 10 tom toms, 3 bass drums, 2 tam tams along with the necessary hardware enabling the department to undertake most styles of music and to cover the percussion requirements for the University orchestra, wind band, brass band, C20th ensemble as well as the percussion ensemble and on occasions the big band.
There is also an extensive library of percussion music consisting of solos, tutor books, compilations, ensemble material and CD's, cassettes and records.
For the interview you should have 2 pieces prepared, preferably one of the pieces on tuned percussion. Auditions usually last approx 20 minutes and you will be expected to know snare drum rudiments, scales, arpeggios and how to operate pedal timpani. There is also a short general knowledge percussion paper and you are allowed a limited time, usually 5-10 mins to warm up and prepare your material.
The percussion syllabus guidelines lay out each semester's requirements. Although the first three semesters have set requirements the emphasis is to look at the 3 year course (6 semesters) as a whole and plan for the final three semesters from the outset of the course. This is of utmost importance to those students planning to major in performance in their final year.
At present the course allows for each percussion student to have 22 hours of 1:1 lessons per year and percussion ensemble.
Tuition is given by Chris Bradley, principal percussionist with the Orchestra of Opera North. The lessons, depending on the student's ability on arrival at the University, will aim to improve basic techniques on:
1) snare drum (grip work, relaxation techniques, stick
control, pulse & rhythm awareness, sight reading);
2) tuned percussion (grip work, 2,3 & 4 hammer work
& later 5 & 6 hammer technique, knowledge of harmonic structure
through scales, arpeggios and chord symbols, use & knowledge of the
correct sticks, looking at the different styles; and
3) timpani (grip work, sound quality & the use of
staccato & legato playing, speed of the roll and the formation of
the arc, aural & singing practice to help with intonation, sight reading);
additionally, technique work on tambourine, triangle, cymbals, congas as well as basic drum kit work and coordination techniques, how to approach multi instrument pieces, and the history of percussion instruments and compositions relative to percussion.
Technical studies & pieces will be introduced from the outset of the course at a standard suitable to the student and reviewed on a regular basis. The student is expected, with the help of the tutor, to quickly establish a method of self-learning by incorporating the work done in the lessons into their daily practice routine. The syllabus requires a learning journal to be kept which, ideally, should be like a forward thinking work plan rather than just a diary of what was covered in the lesson!
Tuition is also given in how to prepare to teach percussion to beginners (concepts of rhythm & pulse, reading rhythm, awareness of pulse, basic techniques, lesson preparation) through to advanced students at schools and colleges (practice discipline & self learning skills to performance preparation for exams and recitals).
Over the past few years there has been masterclasses from Ed Harrison (maracas), Nancy Zelstman (marimba), Roland Auzet (multi-percussionist) and Arthur Lipner (vibraphone) as well as a Percussion Day featuring a class on Associated Board pieces with Ian Wright and a recital by Julian Warburton - an ex-Huddersfield student who was the first percussionist to win the YCAT prize. The percussion department has also been fortunate enough to take part in classes/seminars with visiting artists to the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. These have included percussion ensembles Nexus, Kroumata, Amandinda, Trio Circle and many individuals. The University Percussion Ensemble has also played in several Contemporary Music Festivals.