Olathe South Percussion

Here's where you will find information and resources specific to percussionists in the program.

Marching Percussion Placement Auditions

All percussion students who have been selected to participate in Symphonic Band and/or Wind Ensemble are required to audition for placement in the marching percussion sections.  Non-percussion students can also audition, however, placement is not guaranteed.

The audition process will be proceeded by several optional clinics where the material will be introduced, practice methods taught, and time for students to work on and ask questions over the material.  There will be also be an optional mock audition the week of the actual auditions run by senior members.  These optional opportunities are highly recommended by directors, support staff, and upperclassmen.

Before the Audition

OPTIONAL CLINICS
Tuesday, March 23 @ 3:30-4:30
Thursday, March 25 @ 3:30-4:30
Tuesday, March 30 @ 3:30-4:30
Thursday, April 1 @ 3:30-4:30
Tuesday, April 6 @ 3:30-4:30
Thursday, April 8 @ 3:30-4:30
Tuesday, April 13 @ 3:30-4:30
Thursday, April 15 @ 3:30-4:30

OPTIONAL MOCK AUDITIONS
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 @ 4:00-5:30

Questions?

Chad Coughlin
Director of Bands
ccoughlinos@olatheschools.org

Michael Filla
Asst. Director of Bands
mfillaos@olatheschools.org

The Audition

 Thursday, April 22, 2021 @ 4:00-5:30pm
*a remote option will be available

Placement auditions will be done in a group format.  There are rudimental exercises all percussionists will have to demonstrate, as well as additional material specific to the instrument the student is wanting to be considered for placement.  The exercises can be located in our Keyboard Handbook and/or Battery Warm-Ups.  Those and the show excerpts required are located below. 
Battery WarmUps
File Size: 128 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Keyboard Handbook
File Size: 680 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Snare/Tenor Excerpt
File Size: 529 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Auditioning Material

ALL
  • 8 on a Hand(*)
  • 5-7-9(*)
BATTERY
  • in addition to "ALL"
  • Drags and Fives(*)
SNARE
  • in addition to "ALL" & "BATTERY"
  • Snare excerpt from Show
TENOR
  • in addition to "ALL", BATTERY", & "SNARE"
  • Tenor excerpt from show
FRONT ENSEMBLE
  • in addition to "ALL"
  • Eights(^)
  • Scale Patterns (^)

(*) - material found in Battery WarmUps: Snare
(^) - material found in Keyboard Handbook