Percussion at SUU

Welcome to the page of the Percussion Studio at Southern Utah University! The Percussion Studio is a close-knit group of students pursuing both percussion performance and music education under the direction of Dr. Jed Blodgett. Students have the opportunity to study orchestral percussion, solo artist development, drum set, ethnic percussion and chamber music in the striking natural setting of the rocks and mountains of Southern Utah. Students can also develop their own duos, groups, or education programs, and can collaborate with other areas in the arts.

Southern Utah University invites you to come study percussion at the undergraduate level, and hone your skills to be successful wherever you decide to go next!

Thank you for your interest in percussion at Southern Utah University! Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the percussion program.

How do I audition for SUU's Percussion program? You can find information about entrance and scholarship auditions on the SUU Music Department Admission & Auditions page.

What is required to audition for Percussion? It is desirable for applicants to play a solo piece in the following categories:

  • Mallets: The selection should be chosen for musical content and technical difficulty (two-and-four-mallet work is desirable). Scales, arpeggios, and sight-reading may be required.
  • Snare Drum: The selection should clearly demonstrate your level of technical ability. Rudiments, including an orchestra roll, at all dynamic levels may be required.
  • Timpani: The selection should utilize two or more drums. Rolls with different dynamic levels on different drums should be demonstrated. Intonation and sight-reading abilities may be tested.
  • Drum set and/or ethnic percussion is not required but may be included at the applicant's discretion.

Can I take private percussion lessons if I am not a music major? Yes, private instruction is available to students on a space-available basis; preference is given to those students participating in large ensembles.

  • MUSC 3240 - Percussion Ensemble, a half-unit class welcoming less experienced players to develop skills and technique.
  • MUSC 3241 - Advanced Percussion Ensemble, a two-unit course for more advanced players featuring cutting-edge repertoire and multiple performance opportunities.

The Southern Utah University Percussion Ensembles perform historically significant works for percussion, contemporary percussion literature, novelty percussion, and traditional non-western percussion music. The ensembles are comprised of both music majors and non-majors and welcome students with a variety of levels of experience. Several performance opportunities are available to members of the Percussion Ensembles, including concerts, performances and other promotional events for the College of Performing and Visual Arts and concerts on and off campus.