FAQs

YES, the IU Jacobs School of Music (JSoM) offers competitive scholarships to new undergraduate and graduate students.  Scholarships are granted based on the live audition and merit (test scores and GPA).  Specific questions regarding the application process can be directed to our Admissions office at:  musicadm@indiana.edu

Detailed audition requirements can be found at:  https://music.indiana.edu/admissions/auditions/percussion.html.

The audition video is due on December 1, 2023 – however, later submissions may be accepted. Please feel free to contact Professor Joseph Gramley, chair, if you have any questions about auditions.

The following instruments will be available at the audition:

Set of five Yamaha timpani (Professional hand-hammered, free-floating pedals)

5-octave Yamaha YM5100 Marimba

5-octave Malletech Marimba

Pearl Philharmonic Snare Drum: 6.5″ x 14″ (wood shell)

Yamaha 3.5 octave rosewood xylophone

Musser Century 3 octave vibraphone (gold graduated bars)

Drum set: 4 piece with hi hat, crash and ride cymbals, etc.

LP Classic congas

Djembe

A sound system (for ipod/iphone/CD playback) will be available.

Live auditions and interviews will take place in January, February, and March. The Percussion Department will host a luncheon each Friday of each audition weekend at 12:15 pm to meet with all auditioning students and their families.  We hope that you will consider joining us during one of these luncheons.  All percussion faculty will be there to answer any questions you might have.  After each luncheon our current percussion students will be featured in a short performance from 1-1:45 pm.

The IU JSoM Percussion Department employs 4 Associate Instructors (AIs) and 1 Graduate Assistant each year.  The Graduate Assistant works with our Percussion Technician in departmental logistics, instrument moves, and instrument repair.  Our AIs teach percussion lessons to non-music majors and one of the AIs teaches a Percussion Techniques course to our music education majors.  Some AIs might also assist the faculty with various ensembles.  Both the AI and GA positions include a monthly stipend and tuition remission (up to a certain number of credit hours) each semester.

• Joseph Gramley, Chair

• Kevin Bobo

• Sean Dobbins

• Joe Galvin

• John Tafoya

Faculty bios can be found at:

The IU JSoM Percussion Department averages 52-60 percussion majors each year.  This includes all Jazz studies majors, and MM/DM students.  Each faculty member teaches 13-16 students each semester.  The ratio of graduate to undergraduate is generally 2/3 graduate students to 1/3 undergraduate.  With the faculty interacting with all of the students (through lessons and masterclasses) the department enjoys a “family environment”.  An initial mentoring program (for all new/incoming students) also helps to include all of our students in a positive social atmosphere at the beginning of each school year.

All undergraduate students will study with each of our faculty throughout the 4 year (BM, BME, BSOF) degree.  Jazz Studies majors will study with Professor Sean Dobbins and other faculty as needed.  Students do have the opportunity to receive lessons from other faculty during the course of any semester.  This is handled on a case by case basis but offers great flexibility; allowing our students to seek out necessary instruction throughout each semester.  Graduate students (MM, DM, PD) may tailor their area of focus in consultation with the IU JSoM Percussion Department faculty.  All percussion majors study with a full-time professor.  There are no situations in which a percussion major will study with a graduate assistant.  Every percussion major will study with a full-time professor.

The performance opportunities for our students include:

• Large Ensembles:  Orchestra (there are 5 orchestras), Wind Ensemble (there are 3 wind ensembles), and New Music Ensemble

• Small/Chamber Ensembles: Percussion Ensemble, Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble, Brazilian Ensemble, and Steel Pan

• Jazz Ensembles:  Big Band (large ensemble) and Jazz Combos (small ensemble).  Big Band serves as the large ensemble for all Jazz Studies majors.  However, non-Jazz studies majors may also audition for a Jazz Combo.

Please be sure to visit the IU JSoM Percussion Youtube channel at:  https://www.youtube.com/user/jsompercussion

In addition to the ensemble experience at IU, there are numerous performance opportunities within the area.  This includes professional orchestras in Evansville, Terre Haute, Columbus, Richmond, and Owensboro (KY).  The jazz scene at our local clubs and cafes in Bloomington and Indianapolis offers great performance experiences for our Jazz Studies students as well.

At the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, the IU JSoM Percussion Department moved  into the new East Studio Building at the corner of Jordan Avenue and 3rd Street.  Faculty and AI studios, along with 15 dedicated percussion practice rooms exist in this new building.  More information on this building can be found at: https://music.indiana.edu/about/facilities/index.html

The IU JSoM Percussion Department houses a huge inventory of percussion instruments including:

•Marimbas – 23 (Yamaha, Kori, Musser, Deagan, Adams, Malletech, Marimba One, DeMorrow)

•Vibraphones – 13 (Deagan, Yamaha, Musser)

•Xylophones – 14 (Musser, Yamaha, Deagan, Malletech, Adams)

•Glockenspiels – 13 (Deagan, Fall Creek, Malletech, Musser, Leedy)

•Timpani – 17 sets (Yamaha, Light, Yamaha, Ludwig, Ringer, Adams, Hinger, Goodman Chain)

•Concert Snare Drums – 34 drums (Pearl, Ludwig, Aspen, Grover, Gladstone, Gretsch, Slingerland, Hinger, Rogers, Remo)

•Concert Toms – 12 sets (Pearl, Yamaha, Ludwig)

•Drum Sets – 28 sets (Yamaha, Gretsch, Ludwig, Slingerland, Pearl, DW, Remo, Tama)

•Gongs – 66 various types

•Crash Cymbals – 45 pairs

•Suspended Cymbals – 140 of various types

•Hi-Hats – 30 pairs of various types

•Bongos – 17 sets (LP, Gon Bop)

•Congas – 36 drums (LP, Gon Bop, Remo)

•Timbales – 10 sets (LP, Remo, Ludwig)

•Steel Drum – Merlin “Mutt” Gill pans with Panyard hardware

•Afro-Cuban gear – vast amounts of various chekeres, ago-go, bells, blocks, cajons, bata, claves, guiros, shakers, maracas

•Brazilian gear – surdos, malacachetas, repiniques, caixas, tamborims, pandeiros, chocalhos, cuicas, timbal (Contemporanea, Gope, Remo)

•Concert Percussion gear – full complement of triangles, woodblocks, temple blocks, tambourines, slapsticks, ratchets, log drums, cowbells, sleigh bells, vibraslaps, wind chimes, sound effects, bass drum beaters, gong beaters, chime mallets, etc…

New students only need to bring mallets, small instruments (triangles, tambourines, snare drum, etc.) and a snare drum stand.  The IU JSoM Percussion Department employs a full-time Percussion Technician who maintains our inventory and coordinates all logistical needs for the department.  Our instruments are always kept in the best condition possible.

Yes, the offices for PAS and Rhythm Discovery Museum are located in Indianapolis, Indiana.  PASIC (Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention) also takes place often in Indianapolis.

Please feel free to contact Professor Joseph Gramley, Chair, at jgramley@iu.edu