ADMISSION/SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION

Ratings Guidelines for Drum Set

The following descriptions serve as guidelines and technical benchmarks for determining ratings for admission and scholarship support of potential Berklee drum set principals. The Rating of 3 is a student acceptable to Berklee, while ratings of 4 and above warrants scholarship consideration.  As a policy, the performance division has recommended that the second number of the current ensemble ratings system be utilized as the measurement of accessing musical aptitude.   These listed criteria are in addition to the assessment of the student’s prepared piece.

Explanation of Ratings System:

First number = Reading

Second Number = Technique (Instrumental Skills)

Third Number  = Improvisation

Fourth Number  = Time Feel/Groove Sense

Fifth Number  = Accumulative Average of the Above #’s

EX: 2323 2.5

Ratings of 1:

• Student has not memorized “First Thirteen” Standard American Rudiments.  These aresingle & double paradiddles, long roll, 5, 7, 9 and single stroke rolls, ruffs, single, double and triple ratamacues, lesson 25 and flams
• Cannot accurately perform these at MM (quarter = 60)
• Trouble matching pitch
• Trouble reading basic note and rest values, from the given snare drum examples in audition packet

Ratings of 2:

• Student has memorized most of the “First Thirteen” Standard American Rudiments, but struggles to perform these accurately at MM (quarter = 60)
• Can match pitch
• Can read snare drum examples without rolls with minor mistakes. Lacks experience with drum set chart reading

Ratings of 3 (See Attached Criteria/Procedure):

• Has memorized “First Thirteen”, and can accurately perform them at

      MM (quarter = 60), with solid grip, good sound production and phrasing

• Can sing back “Basic Melody Skills”, with good time sense (see attached)
• Can accurately read snare drum examples without rolls, with interpretation of dynamics
• Can perform the drumset chart examples from the audition packet with a satisfactory level of technical execution

Ratings of 4:

• Has memorized all 26 of the Standard American Rudiments and can accurately perform them at MM (quarter = 60), with solid grip, good sound production and phrasing.
• Can sing back 4 – 6 note major and minor pentatonic melodic patterns with a good time sense.  These are to be given by audition team.
• Can accurately play snare drum examples as well as drumset chart examples from the audition packet with an excellent degree of technical and musical execution.

Rating of 5:

• Can perform rudiments in the context of written snare drum examples, that are at a level comparable to the Charles Wilcoxon “All American Drummer” in both simple and compound meters (included in audition packet)
• Can accurately demonstrate difference between Long Roll (rudimental) and Buzz Roll (orchestral)
• Can sing back 4 – 6 note chromatic melodic patterns with a good time sense.  These are to be given by audition team

Ratings of 6:

• Can accurately read an orchestral styled example, comparable to the

Fred Albright, “Contemporary Snare Studies” (included in audition packet), with detail to rhythmic, technical, and musical execution

• Can identify the qualities of major, minor, diminished and augmented triads, in any inversion

Ratings of 7:

• Has memorized and can perform the Alan Dawson “Rudimental Ritual” with samba feel pattern at MM (quarter = 60) through the flam section
• Can accurately read an orchestral styled example, with some simple time signature shifts.  Again detail to rhythmic, technical, and musical execution is a must. 

• Can identify the qualities of root position 7th chords (major, minor, dominant, diminished, minor b5, dominant #5)

Ratings of 8:

• Has memorized and can perform the Dawson “Rudimental Ritual” with samba feel pattern at MM (quarter = 60), through all the Standard American Rudiments (no Swiss necessary)
• Can accurately read an orchestral styled example, with time signature shifts between duple and compound meter.  Again detail to rhythmic, technical, and musical execution is a must.  Also student should give some attention to tempos as indicated
• Can identify the qualities of root position 7 chords with basic tensions (#9, b9, b5, #5)

 Submitted by Yoron Israel