Principal Applied Percussion (Freshman Level)

Course Description

MVP1311 — Principal Applied Percussion is the freshman-level applied music course in percussion for students whose principal instrument is percussion. Unlike most applied music courses, percussion study is fundamentally multi-instrumental: students develop skills across the major percussion families — snare drum, keyboard percussion (marimba, xylophone, vibraphone), timpani, and drum set — alongside auxiliary instruments (cymbals, triangle, tambourine, accessory percussion) and, in some programs, world percussion (Latin, West African, hand drumming). The course consists of a weekly private one-on-one lesson supported by significant daily individual practice, plus required participation in an allied ensemble (typically wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, or orchestra).

This course is offered at approximately 27 Florida public colleges and universities, including Valencia College, Miami Dade College, Hillsborough Community College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, St. Petersburg College, Daytona State College, Santa Fe College, Palm Beach State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Florida SouthWestern State College, Eastern Florida State College, Pensacola State College, Northwest Florida State College, and Broward College. It articulates to the freshman applied percussion sequence at FSU, UF, UM Frost, USF, UCF, UWF, FGCU, and other State University System music programs subject to placement audition.

The Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) encodes information about applied music courses in the digits of the course number. Following the convention documented by Florida State University's College of Music, the first digit indicates academic level (1 = freshman, 2 = sophomore, 3 = junior, 4 = senior), the second digit indicates the applied music placement (2 = secondary, 3 = principal, 4 = performance), the third digit repeats the first, and the fourth digit indicates the specific instrument within the prefix family.

For MVP1311, the prefix MVP denotes Applied Music: Percussion; 1 indicates freshman level; 3 indicates principal placement; 1 repeats the academic level; and the final 1 places percussion within the prefix family.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of MVP1311, students will be able to:

• Perform the 40 Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments (or institutional equivalent rudimental list) at sight, demonstrating both open and closed forms.
• Demonstrate two-mallet keyboard percussion technique (Stevens or comparable grip) with appropriate touch, dampening, and dynamic control on marimba and/or xylophone.
• Perform major and minor scales on keyboard percussion (typically two octaves at the freshman level) with proper sticking and articulation.
• Demonstrate fundamental timpani technique: matched grip, balanced stroke, basic muffling, and tuning to a given pitch by ear.
• Apply basic drum set technique in standard styles (rock, jazz swing, Latin) with coordinated independence of the four limbs.
• Prepare and perform etudes from standard freshman literature on snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani.
• Prepare and perform a solo on at least two different percussion instruments (typically snare and one mallet instrument) drawn from standard freshman repertoire.
• Perform a faculty jury at the end of the semester demonstrating prepared materials across multiple percussion instruments.
• Participate concurrently in an allied ensemble (wind ensemble, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, or orchestra) and apply applied-study skills in the ensemble context.
• Perform at least once in studio class or student recital during the semester.

Optional Outcomes

• Demonstrate introductory four-mallet keyboard technique (Stevens or Burton grip) on marimba.
• Apply multi-percussion set-up principles for solo or ensemble performance.
• Develop introductory jazz vibraphone technique and chord-melody playing.
• Demonstrate Latin percussion styles (clave-based playing, congas, bongos, timbales) where program emphasis allows.
• Engage in chamber music through percussion ensemble or mixed-instrument chamber works.
• Apply orchestral excerpt study (introductory exposure to standard symphonic percussion excerpts).

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Snare Drum Technique: Matched and traditional grips, stroke types (full, down, tap, up), buzz and double-stroke roll development, rudimental vocabulary.
• Snare Drum Repertoire: Stone Stick Control; Wilcoxon Modern Rudimental Swing Solos; Cirone Portraits in Rhythm (introductory etudes); Pratt 14 Modern Contest Solos.
• Keyboard Percussion (2-mallet): Stevens grip or Musser grip; major and minor scales; arpeggios; double-stop technique; dampening on vibraphone.
• Mallet Repertoire: Goldenberg Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone; Whaley Fundamental Studies for Mallets; transcribed Bach Inventions for marimba; freshman-level original solos.
• Timpani Fundamentals: Stick selection, stroke production, single-drum tuning by ear, basic two-drum study, muffling techniques.
• Timpani Repertoire: Goodman Modern Method for Tympani; Hochrainer Etüden für Timpani Vol. I; introductory two-drum etudes.
• Drum Set Fundamentals: Set-up and posture, basic rock/funk grooves, jazz swing time-keeping, basic Latin (bossa nova, mambo) styles, brushwork introduction.
• Drum Set Methods: Reed Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer; Chapin Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer (introductory chapters).
• Accessory Percussion: Cymbal technique (crash, suspended), tambourine technique (shake roll, knee-fist roll, thumb roll), triangle, woodblock, castanets, basic bell technique.
• Mallet Selection and Stick Maintenance: Choosing appropriate mallets/sticks for instrument and repertoire; care and replacement.
• Performance Preparation: Set-up logistics for multi-instrument performances, page-turn planning, jury preparation, recital etiquette.

Optional Topics

• Four-Mallet Marimba: Introduction to Stevens or Burton grip; Stevens Method of Movement for Marimba; Stout, Maslanka, or Tanaka introductory works.
• Multi-Percussion Solos: Stout, Globokar, Bencriscutto introductory works.
• Latin and World Percussion: Conga technique, clave patterns, Afro-Cuban styles; West African djembe; Brazilian samba percussion.
• Jazz Vibraphone: Block voicings, basic improvisation over standards.
• Orchestral Excerpts: Introductory study of standard percussion excerpts (Stravinsky L'Histoire, Bartók Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta, snare excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov, mallet excerpts from Gershwin).

Resources & Tools

• Studio Faculty Member: Primary applied teacher (typically a part- or full-time percussion professor) who delivers weekly individual lessons (typically 60 minutes for principal-level study).
• Practice Facilities: Dedicated percussion practice rooms equipped with snare drum, marimba (typically 4.3- or 4.5-octave), xylophone, vibraphone, timpani (set of 2–4), and drum set; plus practice pads and mallet practice instruments.
• Personal Equipment: Students typically provide their own snare drum sticks, mallets (yarn, cord, hard rubber), brushes, and practice pad. Institutional instruments (timpani, marimba, drum set) are typically provided.
• Standard Method Books: Stone Stick Control; Wilcoxon Modern Rudimental Swing Solos; Goldenberg Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone; Goodman Modern Method for Tympani; Reed Syncopation.
• Reference Texts: Cook Teaching Percussion; Black/Gerou Essential Dictionary of Orchestration; Adams Anthology of Orchestral Excerpts.
• Studio Class: Weekly group meeting for performance practice, peer feedback, and discussion of pedagogy and repertoire.
• Jury Committee: Multi-faculty panel for end-of-semester performance evaluation across the percussion family.
• Percussive Arts Society (PAS): Professional organization providing journal (Percussive Notes), the annual PAS International Convention (PASIC), competitions, and pedagogical resources. Florida hosts an active PAS Florida Chapter with state-level events.
• Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), and Florida Orchestra Association: Provide additional performance and competition opportunities for collegiate percussionists.

Career Pathways

• Music Educator (K–12, post-completion of BME and Florida teacher certification through FTCE Music K–12).
• Performing Musician in regional orchestras, opera and ballet pit orchestras, theatre productions, jazz ensembles, and chamber groups. Florida hosts the Florida Orchestra (Tampa Bay), Naples Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, and the Sarasota Opera.
• Theme Park & Entertainment Performer at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Disney Cruise Line.
• Cruise Ship Musician for vessels homeporting at Florida's major embarkation ports (PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, Jacksonville).
• Worship and Liturgical Musician for churches across Florida's metro and rural communities.
• Private Studio Teacher, often credentialed through the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) or instrument-specific Florida professional associations.
• Military Musician with U.S. Armed Forces premier bands or regional service bands (audition required; competitive).
• Studio Recording & Session Work, particularly in the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa recording markets.

Students intending to pursue performance professionally should plan on completing a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performance at a Florida university — typically Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami (Frost), University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, University of West Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida Gulf Coast University, or Florida A&M University — and continuing to graduate study or competitive auditions.

Percussion graduates frequently develop additional career destinations specific to the instrument family: theme-park percussion sections at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are sizable employers; marching arts and drumlines (Drum Corps International, WGI Sport of the Arts) provide summer-season instructional and performance employment; cruise-line show drummers; commercial recording and film/TV scoring work in the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa markets; and orchestral percussion positions (extremely competitive nationally) at regional symphonies including the Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and Sarasota Orchestra.

Special Information

SCNS Transferability

Applied music courses with prefixes MVB, MVH, MVJ, MVK, MVO, MVP, MVS, MVV, and MVW are not automatically transferable under the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System. Per FSCJ's published policy on the SCNS, these courses require evidence of skill achievement (audition, jury performance, or portfolio) and must be evaluated individually by the receiving institution. Students transferring to a four-year music program should plan to audition with the receiving institution's applied faculty regardless of credits earned. The Florida Common Prerequisites Manual (available at floridashines.org) lists state-wide prerequisite expectations for music majors transferring to State University System institutions; faculty in the receiving program place students into the appropriate applied level based on audition.

Audition and Placement

Admission to MVP1311 requires a placement audition with the applied percussion faculty, typically including prepared solos on at least two percussion instruments (commonly snare drum and a mallet instrument), rudimental demonstrations, sight-reading on snare and mallets, and basic timpani tuning if requested. Students whose technical level is below the principal placement may be assigned to a pre-principal sequence or class instruction.

Credit Hour Variation

Per the Eastern Florida State College catalog, MVP1311 is offered at 2 credits with a 60-minute weekly lesson, end-of-term jury, recital performance, and required allied ensemble corequisite. Other Florida institutions offer the course at 1–2 credits depending on lesson duration and program structure. State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota lists an "MVP 1311B" extension at 2 credits with prerequisite of MVP 1311 for additional intermediate work. Florida State University offers MV_1311 at 2 credits in the principal-applied series.

Co-requisite Requirements

Most institutions require concurrent enrollment in music theory (MUT 1111 or 1112), an allied ensemble (wind ensemble MUN 1120, percussion ensemble, or orchestra MUN 1710), and a student recital seminar (MUS 1010 at Eastern Florida State College). Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and other institutions require MUN 1120 as a corequisite to MVP1311.

Lab Fee and Equipment

Most institutions charge a private lesson lab fee in addition to standard tuition (typically $75–$200 per semester). Students should anticipate purchasing personal mallet sets and accessories totaling $200–$500 over the course of freshman year.

Continuation Sequence

MVP1311 is followed by a second freshman-level semester (often repeating MVP1311) and then by MVP2321 at the sophomore principal level. Per the FGCU catalog, MVP 3431 (junior) and MVP 4441 (senior) continue the sequence. Successful completion through the junior level (by jury) is a degree requirement at most Florida four-year music programs.