Iowa state university
Percussion studio
ISU percussion Ensemble
cyclone percussion group
Matthew Coley, director
Welcome to the ISU Percussion Studio web page.
You will find information on this page about auditions, ensembles, courses, and many other things percussion at ISU.
If you are interested in joining the percussion studio, performing in a university ensemble as a percussionist/drummer, or gaining access to the percussion practice spaces please view this link.
Currently the 
percussion studio consists of about 12-14 students. All students in the studio meet weekly with Prof. Matthew Coley for private study. The studio gets together weekly for Percussion Seminar Class to perform for each other and discuss various percussion topics. There are also Department of Music General Recital times held periodically throughout the semester for music students to perform for each other.
All percussion majors are encouraged to perform in the ISU Percussion Ensemble. Prof. Coley periodically will invite students to tour and perform with him. Additional courses offered in the percussion studio are Percussion Methods (for music education majors), Percussion Pedagogy, Cyclone Percussion Group and Percussion Literature.
Guest artists 2009-2010:
+Cory Hills; multi-percussion specialist, “The Art of Storytelling”
+Dr. Bjorn Berkhout; composer, Queensborough Community College, composed “Running on Empty” for ISU Percussion Ensemble
+Prof. Tomm Roland; University of Nebraska, Omaha
2010-2011:
+Neil Thornock; composer, Brigham Young University, composed “Ring the Heavens” for ISU Percussion Ensemble and Carillon
+Don Nichols and Rebecca Bryant; Post Modern Performance Duo
+Christopher Wilson, marimba
2011-2012:
+Ronni Kot Wenzell, percussion
+Mark Ford, marimba
+Andrew Ardizzoia, composer
+Members of the Iowa Percussion Group
Follow links below to get more i
nformation about Percussion Studio Courses:
Applied Lesson Stratagem (4-year plan)
Percussion Methods Final Exam Sample
Percussion Pedagogy and Literature Syllabus
Percussion Studio and Ensemble on FACEBOOK
Audition information below:
Auditions for acceptance into the School of Music and Percussion Studio and for scholarship money occur in FEBRUARY. Please look carefully on the Department of Music website for those dates and deadlines. To be accepted into the Percussion Studio you should be prepared to perform the following:
•Snare Drum solo or etude
•Marimba solo or etude (preferably 4-mallets, but good technique and control with 2-mallets is always acceptable)
•Timpani solo or etude
•Optional, but always a plus: Drum-set solo or beats, orchestral excerpts, vibraphone solo, xylophone rag, hand drum solo or patterns, or multi-percussion solo
•All major scales and arpeggios; eighth notes for the scale and quarter notes for the arpeggio, in time and directly following the scale
•40 PAS Drum Rudiments (You can use the music.)
•Sight reading on marimba (2-mallet)
Large ensemble auditions for Percussion 
Majors (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra) are held at the beginning of the fall semester and sometimes the spring semester, sign up sheet will be posted the week before on rm. 124 in Music Hall. Click here for ensemble audition excerpts. Sight-reading will be on xylophone.
Large ensemble and Percussion Ensemble auditions for non-majors and Music Minors (Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble) are held at the beginning of the fall semester. There will be specific times to choose from posted a week before on rm. 124 in Music Hall. Click here for ensemble audition etudes (different repertoire than Percussion Majors). Sight-reading will be on xylophone.
AUDITIONS WILL BE MONDAY, AUGUST 22 STARTING AT 7:15 PM. SIGN UP ON THE DOOR OF RM. 124 IN MUSIC HALL.
*To learn more about the university ensembles visit this page.