Read about our 2011 program in detail here.

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.

You will receive meal tickets for two meals daily in campus dining halls.  Dining halls are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.  You will be responsible for your own meals then, as well as any other meals or snacks outside of the two meal tickets per weekday.

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.

Application Fee & Audition Materials

NOTE: You may attend the seminar without being a hands-on participant. Upon receipt of your application and CD recording, you will be considered for hands-on participation. Your audition CD should reflect the areas in which you would like to be considered. You may submit a CD in all, some, or one area of interest (Percussion, Drum Set, Latin Percussion, etc.)

If you are chosen to perform, you will be sent a portion of a Broadway show, with a recording and music. You will be expected to thoroughly prepare these materials. You will then have the opportunity to perform that portion of the specified show in the session for the percussionist who plays the actual Broadway show. (The NYU Broadway Seminar reserves the right to excuse or replace any participant who is unable to meet the performance standards necessary to be a hands-on participant).

If you would like to be considered for the workshop, you must submit the following:

• a general online summer application_ 
  
• Application fee of $50 (non-refundable, payable directly at the end of the summer online application, or separately using the online payment form_ or the paper payment form with a check)

• CD with a recording of each type of music for which you'd like to be considered (either percussion, drum set or Latin percussion). CD or online videos (instructions here), should be marked with your full name, school where you are presently enrolled, contact number and address and the area of interest represented on the recording. These types are as follows:

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 tempo shuffle
d) Any Latin Groove
e) Fast swing

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.

Broadway Latin Percussion: Play 16 bars of 3 contrasting styles

a) Two drum Conga Tumbao
b) Two drum Conga Guaguanco
c) Two drum Conga 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 777
New York, NY 10012

If you submit your audition 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.

Audition 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.