Come study percussion at Tarleton State University!

The Performing Arts Department at Tarleton State University offers several degrees on our beautiful campus, including music performance, music education, music business, and a jazz studies concentration. Performance opportunities include percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and marching band.

Percussion faculty are Dr. Benjamin Charles and Mr. Connor Kent.

Students get to perform on a world class inventory of percussion instruments. Just some of our instruments include:

Faculty and students maintain an active performance profile on campus and beyond. Check out some of our recent performances!

Featured
Tarleton Percussion Ensemble

Tarleton Percussion Ensemble performs Zack Browning’s Flying Tones

Dr. Charles and the TSU Wind Ensemble

Dr. Charles performs Michael Daugherty’s Raise the Roof with the Tarleton Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. David Robinson

Mr. Kent and the Raul Reyes Trio

Mr. Connor Kent performs Secret Love with the Raul Reyes Trio

The Sound & The Fury

The Sound & The Fury performs Big Noise from Winnetka for the President’s General Assembly, with drumline arrangement by Dr. Charles

Interested in joining the Tarleton Percussion Studio? Follow these simple steps!

  1. Apply to Tarleton State University

  2. Fill out a Prospective Member Form for our music department

  3. Fill out a Tarleton General Scholarship Application

  4. Email Dr. Charles to schedule an audition date

What should you play for your audition?

Auditioning students are expected to demonstrate competency on concert snare drum, marimba, timpani, and optionally drum set. It is normal to feel more experienced in some areas and less experienced in others. You should demonstrate your highest level of competency in each area. Suggested audition repertoire is:

Snare drum: Anthony Cirone, Portraits in Rhythm

Marimba: Mark Ford, Marimba: Technique Through Music

Timpani: Richard Hochrainer, Etudes for Timpani

Drum set: Demonstrate jazz, Latin, and funk styles

If you have any questions about your audition repertoire, ask Dr. Charles when scheduling your audition!

What should you expect from your audition?

Auditions can be stressful! We fully understand all of the nerves that go into auditioning for a college music program. Practicing your audition can help with nerves: perform your audition music ahead of time for your band director, percussion director, and private teacher. They will be able to give feedback to help prepare you.

For the audition, make sure to dress for success! You will feel more confident if you are looking sharp.

You will be given adequate warmup time on all of the instruments.