Dr. Glenn Schaft - Professor of Percussion

Missions and Goals

Establish realistic and challenging expectations of artistic achievement for each individual and the studio as a whole.

Provide thoughful individual advisement, first rate private instruction, and high quality percussion ensemble experiences.

Encourage relationships among students, faculty, and the professional musical community at large where every member is treated with respect.

Demand professionalism and individual responsibility with regards to the care of our instruments and facilities.

Provide advisement for each studio member to develop effective career goals and the practical business skills necessary to develop such careers.

Provide diverse musical experiences. Build upon strengths and interests while improving weaknesses. This includes comprehensive training and performance experience in technique, solo repertoire, orchestral repertoire, contemporary percussion literature, Latin and World percussion styles, jazz and commercial drumset styles, Marimba Ensembles, Wind Ensembles, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensembles, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, and Jazz Combos.

Provide private instruction from the various percussion faculty on a rotating basis.

Provide coaching from the percussion faculty in the various Dana ensembles.

Provide professional quality instruments and practice/rehearsal facilities.

Provide exposure to major percussion guest artists via campus concerts, clinics, master classes, and private lessons.

Encourage student participation in major professional associations such as the Percussive Arts Society, National Association of Jazz Educators, Music Educators National Association, etc.

Percussion studio enrollment is limited to a maximum of 25 percussion majors in order to offer each member an ideal amount of performance experience and individual attention. This limit is based on facilities, faculty, and ensemble capacities.

Provide studio members professional employment referrals and opportunities in the Youngstown, Cleveland, Pittsburgh region and beyond to build professional experience and earn income.

Provide recommedations and referrals for our percussion graduates throughout their professional careers. Maintain an active alumni network through the YSU Percussion Newsletter and YSU Percussion Web Site.

Visiting YSU

We believe that after you see our program "in-action" you will be convinced that it offers one of the finest opportunities for your education and career. In addition, our relatively low tuition costs provide you one of the best values anywhere. We take great interest in our students from the moment they inquire about our program, throughout their studies here, and as they continue their careers beyond YSU. The quality of individual attention you will receive here will be apparent from the moment you contact us.

This attention begins with a complete visitation day itinerary. We encourage you to visit our campus on a school day to meet our students and faculty. You will have the opportunity to see the percussion ensemble, jazz combos, jazz ensembles, wind ensembles, or symphony orchestra rehearse. You may also observe percussion lessons and attend our percussion seminar class. You will receive a tour of our percussion facilities and we will also arrange a campus tour for you. You will also have the opportunity to talk with our percussion majors about our program. Please call Dr. Schaft before you visit and we'll set-up a complete visitation day itinerary for you.

The visitation day could include your audition if you wish, or the audition can be at a later date.If you require an overnight stay you may choose between a nice hotel (the Wick-Pollack Inn with special YSU rates) next door or we can arrange for you to room with one of our percussion majors.

Career Planning

If money was no object, what would you want to do? Students should not choose careers just because of the amount of money they will be making or because it is what someone told them to do. They should choose a career they will enjoy as a lifelong pursuit. You must dictate life and not let life dictate you. Set career goals and a game plan to acheive them. This will probably not be the path of least resistance. We are here to help students set realistic career goals and achieve them.

Preparing for a Music Career

Your success in music is, in large part, determined by the quality of your private instruction, the quality of your ensemble experiences, and you demeanor with your colleagues. We strongly urge you to study with and prepare your audition with the most qualified percussion teacher you can find. We will be glad to recommend some excellent teachers if you call us. Quality teachers who have significant professional performance experience often charge $25-75 per hour. You may need to drive to reach them, but it is worth your time and money. Many of the best students that audition here take an hour lesson each week and practice several hours per day prior to their audition. They perform in numerous school ensembles, solo and ensemble contests, district, regional, and all-state bands and orchestras, attend summer percussion camps, etc. They understand the importance of being a versatile musician - which as a percussionist means mastering numerous instruments.

Choosing a Music Degree Program

When you visit we will discuss your career goals and make initial recomendations for a particular degree program that may best suit your goals. After your audition we will be able to make a more informed recommendation. If you have a strong and sincere desire to be a professional musician or music educator, have dedicated listening and practice habits, and demonstrate sufficient musical and academic progress, we fully expect you to have a rewarding career in music. Otherwise we would not accept you into our program.

Choose music performance or jazz performance if you really wish to perform. This degree, of course, does not preclude you from private teaching and college/university level teaching positions.

Choose music education if you really wish to teach in (K-12) elementary up through high school public education. You should not select music education as something to "fall-back on" but rather because you love to share your experiences through teaching others.

For university/college level teaching positions you should be aware that a music education degree (and certification) is not required. However, you still may wish to pursue an education degree so that you might aquire teaching experience at the high school level before moving up to a university level position.

If you are interested in composing or arranging music a theory/composition degree would probably be your best choice.

If you are interested in a music business profession such as retail, manufacturing, management, a bachelor of arts degree with a minor in business would be an excellent choice.

Undergraduate Degree Programs for Percussionists

Bachelor of Music in Performance - Percussion Emphasis - Preparation for careers in music performance. Emphasis is placed on the development of all the standard orchestral percussion instruments, contemporary multiple percussion and keyboard repertoire, as well as, drum set and Latin percussion instruments.

Bachelor of Music in Performance - Jazz Emphasis - Preparation for careers in jazz performance. Emphasis is placed of the development of jazz drum set and popular music styles, jazz improvisation on the vibraphone, and Latin percussion instruments.

Music Education Major - Preparation for careers in music education, including certification to teach classroom and instrumental music, grades K-12. The instruments studied are similar to those for the performance degree.

Bachelor of Arts - In Music - Applied Percussion emphasis.

Graduate Studies and Graduate Assistantships

Degrees offered include the Master of Music in Performance, Education, History, or Theory/Composition.Contact our graduate music program director: Darla Funk, (330) 742-1829 for a Graduate Bulletin and all graduate application materials. Graduate teaching assistantships - are available pending audition results and an interview. Assistantships include complete tuition waivers, out of state fees, and a $6000 annual stipend. Duties are geared toward the candidates strenghts and may include teaching applied percussion lessons, directing the YSU Marching Drum Line, conducting Percussion Ensemble and Marimba Ensembles, performing in the YSU Jazz Ensembles.

Percussion Course Offerings

Applied Percussion - Weekly 50 minute private lessons. Students have the opportunity to study with both percussion faculty members on a rotating basis.

Percussion Ensemble - Percussion ensemble, together with applied lessons and percussion seminar class form the core of your percussion education at YSU. This is where you will learn repertoire, how to play contemporary chamber music with and without a conductor, including marimba ensemble repertoire and various ethnic percussion styles such as West African, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian in the Latin Percussion Group. Also includes readings and performances of student compositions. All majors should plan to enroll in percussion ensemble every quarter. We present numerous performances on and off campus each year.

Percussion Seminar Class - Weekly 50 minute repertoire and performance class allows all percussion majors to engage in intensive study of various instruments, repertoire, and performance techniques. This is our opportunity to work together to study instruments, musical styles, to perform for each other, and to host guest artist clinics and master classes. Diversity of instruments and styles is stressed. We use this class to focus on fundamental techniques on all instruments, the percussion proficiency curriculum, and to study standard repertoire necessary for a successful professional career. All students will regularly be scheduled to perform in this class. The diversity of ability and experience levels is a positive feature of this class and mirrors situations you will encounter in your professional career.

Percussion Methods Classes - Beginning level classes designed for music education majors to explore techniques and pedagogical approaches appropriate to public or private school music instruction. Each class meets two hours per week.

Music 658. Snare Drum Class. Study of rudimental and concert snare drum techniques and pedagogy. Fundamental techniques, writing, and scoring for marching percussion. Fundamental jazz band drum set concepts.

Music 763. Mallet, Timpani, and Accessories Class. Study of percussion keyboard instruments, Latin percussion, timpani, and standard orchestral accessories.

Dana School of Music Ensemble Offerings

Percussion Ensemble
Contemporary Percussion Group
Latin Percussion Groups
Marimba Ensembles
Wind Ensembles
Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Band
Symphony Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra
New Music Society
Jazz Ensembles Jazz Combos Jazz Improvisation Classes
YSU Marching Band - Drum Line and Pit
Other performance opportunities
Weekly Convocation Recitals
Student Recitals
Dana Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Concerto Competitions

Percussion Facilities

* Two large percussion teaching studios
* Excellent collection of professional quality percussion instruments
* Three percussion ensemble rehearsal rooms
* Eight fully equipped percussion practice rooms, including a large multiple percussion practice room
* Concert percussion storage room
* 250 Seat Recital Hall
* State of the art Jazz Studies rehearsal room and digital recording studio
* YSU Maag Library hosts the YSU Percussion Video, Book, and Recording Collection

Dana School of Music Admission Requirements

All graduate and undergraduate candidates must audition for acceptance into the Dana School of Music. The audition committee will include the percussion faculty, and conductors of the bands, orchestra, and jazz studies program. You will also be given a theory placement test which serves merely to place you in the appropriate level theory classes.

Audition Dates and Guidelines.

Contact the School of Music Office (330-742-3636) to schedule an audition. Althuogh there are specific audition days scheduled in February and March, special auditions may be scheduled through Dr. Schaft. We will provide all instruments for your audition. Please call Dr. Schaft to confirm your audition date. Once we have confirmation of your audition date, the Dana School of Music will send you a letter detailing the audition day schedule.

Students not qualifying for the first freshman major level percussion lessons course (Music 501) will be required to take preparatory work at the minor level (500 A) until reaching major level proficiency. Students will be notified by mail of the audition results by the Dana School of Music.

Minor level study. Auditions are required for study at the Minor Level, however Minor Level students will be accepted only when faculty workloads permit.

Transfer students must audition for acceptance to the Dana School of Music. Determination of the appropriate applied percussion course level will be determined following a competency examination at the end of the first quarter.

Audition Equipment. You are expected to supply all sticks, mallets, and music. Please provide one copy of your music for the audition committee. We will provide all thenecessary instruments.

Taped auditions. If a personal audition is not feasible (especially in certain out of state situations), a cassette tape may be submitted. This should contain no more than 20 minutes of music demonstrating preferably at least three of the following: snare drum, percussion keyboard, timpani, drum set, or multiple percussion. It should be a high bias cassette and clearly labeled with your name, repertoire, composers, and any additional personnel. Audition material should demonstrate technical facility, musicality, and stylistic awareness. Video tapes are not recommended. Piano accompaniment is not required.

Undergraduate Entrance Audition Repertoire

Please plan to demonstrate proficiency in preferably three, but at least two, of the following areas - snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, drum set, ethnic percussion.

Auditions should include 10-15 minutes of music and include performances on snare, keyboard, timpani, and drum set. Sight reading may be requested.

Plan on performing a rudimental snare drum solo, the twelve major scales (two octaves, memorized), a prepared percussion keyboard piece, and a timpani etude, solo, or excerpt.

Prospective jazz majors should plan on playing rudimental snare drum, drum set, major scales (two octaves, memorized), and a solo or etude on vibes, marimba, or xylophone.

1. Snare drum solo or etude.
Suggested repertoire: pick one
Any class A (difficult) contest solo
Wilcoxon, Charley - The All American Drummer
Cirone, Anthony - Portraits in Rhythm
Peters, Mitchell - Intermediate or Advanced Studies for S.D.
Pratt, John - The New Pratt Book, or 14 Modern Contest Solos

2. Keyboard Percussion - xylophone, marimba, vibraphone solo or etude employing 2, 3, or 4 mallets.
Suggested solo repertoire:
Any class A contest solo
Bach - Violin Concerto in A Minor (In Goldenberg - Method for Mar)
Handel - Six Sonatas for Violin and Piano (One movement)
Eyles - George Hamilton Greens Xylophone Rags
Peters - Yellow After The Rain, Sea Refractions (4 mallets)
Musser - Etude or Prelude (2 or 4 mallets)
McMillan - Percussion Keyboard Technique (Pick one piece pgs. 49-52)

3. Timpani - solo, etude, or excerpt.
Demonstration of tuning ability. You will be asked to tune several pitches and expected to sing (pitch match) a series of 10 pitches played on the piano.
Friese/Lepak - Timpani Method - tuning etude #1 or 2.
Goodman - Timpani Method - both exercises # 9 and 12, or #37.
Mitchell Peters - Fundamental Method for Timpani (Etude #29 or 30)
Suggested solo repertoire:
Any class A contest solo
John Beck - Sonata For Timpani (1 movement)
John Bergamo - Four Movements For Timpani (1 movement)

4. Drum set - A demonstration of basic style concepts such as, swing, jazz brush playing, Brazilian (bossa nova, samba), Afro- Cuban, rock, and funk. Suggested repertoire:
Play over the form of a jazz tune such as a 12 bar blues or 32 bar AABA tune. You could learn the melody and play time for one chorus of the tune while singing the tune, then play a solo over the next chorus.
Trade 4 or 8 measure solos with yourself - this might include 4 measures of a swing time feel followed by a four measure solo - repeating this numerous times.
Prepare a composed drumset solo such as: Max Roach - Blues for Big Sid (published in Nov. 1994 Modern Drummer Magazine), Roy Burns - Drum Set Music, Collection of 12 solos.

Graduate auditions should include about 20 minutes of music. Plan on performing snare drum (rudimental and orchestral style), keyboard percussion, timpani, and drum set if desired. Senior recital repertoire is appropriate. Orchestral excerpts may also be chosen from the standard orchestral repertoire for snare drum, xylophone, and timpani. Graduate candidates may also wish to submit a cassette tape of a multiple percussion and/or drumset performance.

For Music Scholarship information please contact Professor John Turk, Dana School of Music (330) 742-1837. There are two primary sources of scholarship monies available. YSU academic scholarships: Criteria for consideration include grade point average, class rank, and SAT or ACT test scores. Dana School of Music scholarships, Friends of Music Scholarships, and YSU Jazz Society Scholarships. Music scholarships are of various amounts and are decided by the music scholarship committee after all audition dates have been completed. Criteria for the Music Scholarships include your performance ability, personality, cumulative grade point average, and ACT or SAT test scores. Music scholarship award recipients will be notified by mail under separate cover in April.

YSU General Scholarship Information: Please be aware that all applications for YSU academic scholarships are due by March 1. YSU Financial Aid Office, Jones Hall (330) 742-3505.

Please call New Student Relations at (330) 742-2000 if you need a YSU application, financial aid forms.