Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions

Programs - Percussion Studies

NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar / Summit

Read about our 2011 program in detail here.

Dates June 16 - 20, 2013
Program Fees
$850
Housing Dates

Check-In: June 16, Check-Out: June 21

Estimated Housing and Meal Plan Fees Housing: $211 shared, $286 single
Meal Plan: $125-$155
Application Deadline

 May 15, 2013

Application Procedure

1. Submit a general online summer application
2. Pay a $50 application fee (nonrefundable)
3. Fill out a workshop questionnaire (select Percussion-Broadway)
4. Submit audition materials

Program Director

Jonathan Haas, Director, jonathan.haas@nyu.edu, 212 992 9466

Program Overview

Hosted by the NYU Steinhardt Classical Percussion Program, with special guest percussionists, contractors and conductors from the world of Broadway and all areas of on-going Broadway productions.

For young professionals and high school and college percussionists

Broadway shows/sessions on drum set, percussion, mallet percussion, timpani and Latin percussion will be presented by the percussionists who "developed the books."

The NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar/Summit is a five-day intensive study of the skills, experience, and know-how into the world of Broadway percussion. Panel discussions will be held with leading percussionists, conductors and contractors who are actively pursuing musical careers on Broadway. In addition, students will attend two Broadway shows, offering the opportunity for each participant to visit and tour the pits of an actual show. Dinner will be served after the matinee performance, with the show's percussionists in attendance. Read about our 2011 program here.

Past Broadway Seminar presenters have included: Javier Diaz (Guys and Dolls and Tarzan), Wilson Torres (In the Heights), Dan Haskins and David Ratajczak (Mary Poppins), James Saporito (NYC Ballet), Valerie Naranjo (The Lion King), Kory Grossman (Broadway's Super Sub), Ben Herman (Film Recording), and many more.

Housing and Meals

All participants will be housed in unadorned dormitory bedrooms in multi-bedroom suites. Each suite typically has two or three bedrooms. Each bedroom has two or three beds and is furnished with a bed, desk, dresser and closet/wardrobe for each guest. If a resident is assigned to a single bedroom, he or she will not be assigned a roommate in their bedroom. Each individual suite has a bathroom shared by all occupants of the suite. There are no kitchens in our facilities used for short-term housing. NYU Summer Housing does not provide in-room telephone, television, or internet connectivity to short-term guests. Linens are provided; students should bring their own towels.  Click here for more specific housing information.

Campus meal plans range from 8 to 12 meals per week and include a card with $30 of Dining Dollars.

Cost

The cost of the program is $850 for participants (includes two Broadway show tickets and Seminar events). The housing and meal plan fee is not included in the program fee.

International Students

Acceptance into this program is based on your performanceability. English language proficiency is not required. However, we do need to know if you speak English or if you do not speak English. Please continue here if you are from a country where English is spoken natively or if you are a native speaker of English.
 
NYU requires international students to have an F-1 or a J-1 visa for entry into the US and for study an NYU. The NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) will assist you in obtaining an I-20 to process your F-1 or J-1 visa. Once you have submitted a complete program application (as outlined above) and received an admissions decision, you will receive instructions for submitting the I-20/DS-2019 documentation. OGS will assist you in obtaining an I-20 to process your F-1 or J-1 visa. Contact them with specific immigration related questions at newinternationalstudents@nyu.edu.
 
If you need additional assistance, please contact Patrick Cupo at patrick.cupo@nyu.edu or 212.998.5438.

Personal Expenses

A great benefit of the NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar / Summit is the chance for students to experience life in New York City and Greenwich Village. The cost of living in the city is high. The activities fee students pay for the workshop covers only the primary cost of participating in the evening and weekend events and does not cover personal expenses. Students should budget for enough money to last the entire time they will be participating in the workshop. Students are encouraged to discuss expenses and decide upon a budget with their families prior to arriving in New York City.

Application Fee & Recording Materials

NOTE: You may attend the Seminar without being a hands-on participant. Upon receipt of your application and CD or video recordings, we will assign you a portion of a Broadway show, consistent with your experience and skill sets. Your recordings should reflect the instrument groups that you would like to focus on for the Seminar. You may submit recordings in all, some, or one are of interest (percussion, drum set, or Latin percussion).
 
Upon receipt of your materials, you will be sent a portion of a Broadway show to prepare, with recordings and music. You will be expected to prepare these materials thoroughly and will then have the opportunity to perform that portion of the specified show in the session for the percussionist who plays the show on Broadway! (The NYU Broadway Seminar reserves the right to excuse or replace any participant who is unable to meet the necessary performance standards).
 
For hands-on participants, you must do the following:
  • Submit a general online summer application
  • Pay a $50 application fee (nonrefundable)
  • Fill out a workshop questionnaire (select Percussion-Broadway)
  • Submit a CD or video recording of each type of music you'd like to perform for the Seminar (percussion, drum set, or Latin percussion). CD or online videos (instructions here), should be marked with your full name, school you are presently enrolled (if applicable), contact number, and address the area of interest represented on the recording 

Broadway Percussion:

1) Any solo or chamber performance demonstrating your skills on either keyboard percussion, timpani, multi-percussion or snare drum (can be an excerpt)
2) It is not required, but you may also submit any orchestral excerpts demonstrating skills on xylophone, glockenspiel, timpani or snare drum

Broadway Drum Set: Play 16 bars of 5 contrasting styles

a) 4/4 Rock
b) Show 2 
c) Medium Shuffle 
d) Latin Groove
e) Fast Swing
NOTE: If you are unable to make a CD, you may send a CD or video link containing past performances with a big band, jazz combo, etc.

Broadway Latin Percussion: Play 16 bars of 3 contrasting styles

a) Two Drum Tumbao
b) Two Drum Guaguanco 
c) Two Drum Afro-Cuban 6/8
NOTE: If you are not able to make an audition CD, you may send a CD or video link containing past performances with a big band, jazz combo, etc.

Please be sure to include your contact information: phone number, mailing address, and your e-mail address, as well as the name of your school and your year of study (i.e. high school senior, college junior)

Send your application fee and supporting materials to:

Jonathan Haas, Director 
Program in Percussion Studies 
Music and Performing Arts Professions 
35 West Fourth Street, Suite 1077 
New York, NY 10012

If you submit your recording video online, you should put all your contact information requested above in the same email to Professor Haas at jonathan.haas@nyu.edu. You will still need to mail in your application fee to the address above.

Recording materials become the property of NYU Steinhardt and cannot be returned.

***PLEASE NOTE: Participants under the age of 18 will be required to attend activities on practically every evening during the program. Activities will include trips to the theatre, concerts and visits to important sites throughout New York City.***

 

   2010 Participants and Faculty at Lincoln Center, New York City

Previous Seminar Participants

"Over the course of the five days at NYU, it has been incredible experience learning from the most talented and knowledgeable musicians on Broadway. Nothing can compare to the experience of analyzing a show with the people who play it eight times a week and wrote the book themselves. We had the opportunity to hear other students perform selections of various shows, and were then able to watch a show from the perspective of the artists, inside the pit. The most invaluable information was learning about subbing for shows, since all musicians make their start on Broadway by subbing. By hearing the stories of these players, it's been inspirational and educational to continue delving deeper into my own percussion studies. Additionally, we learned about the importance of interpersonal relationships in the music business, and emphasized the significance of making a strong first impression with conductors, contractors, and other musicians. As a high school student, it was great to hear a range of skill levels, from undergraduate, to graduate, to professional players. The great thing about this program is that it could only be done in New York City, and Jonathan Haas has made sure to bring in the best Broadway percussionists to lead this seminar."

Eric Lee, San Jose, CA.

"I had a great time at the NYU Broadway Percussion seminar. The percussionists were very down to earth and gave me lots of tips on performing. When it came my time to play the part I worked on, Mr. Passaro and Mr. Redsecker helped me greatly. They answered all my questions. I really enjoyed going into the pit and seeing the real Broadway set up. It was cool to see how Mr. Redsecker could fly through the entire performance with no problem. The intensive study of percussion was great. Mr. Haas' explanation of History of the Soldier informed me about how to transfer mallets and the importance of counting. All in all, this week has been a great experience and has inspired me to keep on with my musical studies and to make it onto Broadway. I hope this program continues in the future, because it will help other upcoming percussionists get an in-depth look into the Broadway world."

Andrew Kendris, New Oxford, PA.

"Thank you for organizing the NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar. I found the professional percussionists very insightful and just unbelievable to work with. It was a fantastic opportunity to see New York City and get a feel for NYU!"

Marc Akiyama, San Diego, CA.

"I've always pictured myself in an award-winning, hard working, drum corp as my big percussion debut, but life after that has been a mystery. After meeting professional percussionists and learning extremely valuable lessons at this seminar, I realize there are many different occupations available for us if we work for it! Being so young and moldable, this gave me so much inspiration and drive to do what most think is impossible or unrealistic. I'm trying to stay true and keep shy of the cheesy sayings, but this seminar honestly changed my life by opening up such a broad and bright new future! Thanks for this awakening!"

Sabre Standifer, Paris, TX.

"The most incredible part of the seminar for me was discovering just how friendly and welcoming the Broadway crowd is. In that sense, meeting the director of West Side Story was especially rewarding. I had a great time hearing stories of how much fun it is to play in these shows and also personal stories of the difficulties in the business. Thank you for the opportunity to experience something like this and I hope the program continues well in the future."

Spencer M. Inch, University Park, PA.

Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - 35 W. 4th Street, Suite 1077 - New York, NY 10012 - 212 998 5424