PLEASE READ COMPLETELY: Your ability to READ and FOLLOW directions are of utmost importance. Students who come unprepared or not knowing what to do will not seriously be considered for upper level ensembles.
Below you will find the answers to many of your questions:
Dates/Times
Who Needs to Audition?
What are the Ensembles?
Materials
Format
If after reading everything you still have questions, please email me for clarification. Thanks.
Audition Dates/Times
Friday, April 25
3:30-4:30 – Trumpets
4:30-5:30 – Trombones
6:00-6:30 – Percussionists
6:30-7:15 – Rhythm Section (piano, bass, drums, guitar)
7:15-8:00
– Saxophones
Monday, April 28
3:00-3:30 – Baritone, Tuba, Horn, Oboe, Bassoon
3:30-4:00 – Flutes
4:00-4:30 – Clarinets
Who needs to audition?
For Concert Bands:
Incoming freshmen who wish to play in the Symphonic Band (non-auditioned ensemble) do not need to audition. Returning students will be placed in the Wind Ensemble, unless they audition. All students interested in playing in the Chamber Winds need to audition!
For Jazz Bands:
All students interested in playing in jazz band next year need to audition. It is not clear at this time if Jazz Ensemble 3 will be offerred. Therefore, I need to know exactly who is interested and I need to take a listen to all students so that I can put together great ensembles regardless of what happens with the budget and scheduling.
PLEASE NOTE: I encourage all students to audition for upper level ensembles. You never know, I might hear something in your playing or some potential and select you when you never thought it was possible. Also, you might not really know how you compare to others or what the particular needs of an ensemble are. If you are at all interested in excelling in music, please audition.
What are the ensembles?
Concert Bands:
There are three levels of concert bands at MTHS.
Symphonic Band is primarly for entering Freshmen.
Wind Ensemble is primarly for sophomores and juniors and any other students who are not quite ready for the demands of Chamber Winds.
Chamber Winds is the highest level of classical performing ensemble. Students in this group are very serious about achieving a high level of musical performance personally and as an ensemble. The group welcomes students of all grades. Students in this group are required to participate in the Summer Workshop August 11-15.
All Band students are welcome to participate in the Summer Concert Band Workshop August 11-15.
Jazz Bands:
Jazz Ensemble 2 and Jazz Ensemble 3 will meet during zero period. The exact format of this still needs to be worked out.
Jazz Ensemble 1 is the highest level of jazz band. Students in this band are required to sign a contract which includes committing to out of class sectionals once a week, private lessons, participating in the summer workshop (August 18-22), and participation in all gigs, concerts, and festivals, etc.
ALL JAZZ BAND STUDENTS MUST PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE CONCERT BANDS!
Materials
Concert Bands
1. Prepared Piece
Please play a piece of your choice which demonstrates your ability to:
-Play stylistically correct in both a “song” style and a “dance” style
-Articulate Correctly
-Phrase Musically
-Play in tune
-Produce a good tone
Your “piece” can be sections of your band music, an etude/study, or a solo/ensemble piece that you have worked on with your private teacher. Your prepared piece should last a maximum of 2 minutes.
2. Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read as part of your audition. To prepare for the sight-reading portion, practice sight-reading over the next few days!
3. Scales
You will be asked to play a number of major scales. This will be done by memory.
Jazz Ensembles
1. Prepared Piece
Please play a piece of your choice which demonstrates your ability to:
-Play stylistically correct in a jazz style
-Articulate Correctly
-Phrase Musically
-Play in tune
-Produce a good tone
Your “piece” can be sections of your band music, and etude/study, or a transcribed solo of a professional jazz musician. Your prepared piece should last a maximum of 2 minutes.
2. Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read as part of your audition. To prepare for the sight-reading portion, practice sight-reading over the next few days!
3. Scales
You will be asked to play a number of major scales. This will be done by memory.
4. Improvisation (required)
Improvise in the style of the jazz tradition to a song of your choice. Bring a playalong to play with. This should be a chorus or two.
Rhythm Section Players
Please prepare the following music:
Blues in Bb
Blues in F
Killer Joe
Autumn Leaves (in key of BbMajor/Gminor)
Piano, Guitar, and Bass – please learn the chord changes and the melodies. In the case of the blues, find and learn a standard head to play in each key. You will need to improvise, even if you are just beginning.
Drums – Learn these songs as well. You will need to know the form and what kind of a groove to play.
Please Note: I’m not giving you any music. This is to test your resourcefulness! Can you find what you need in order to be successful or do you wait for the teacher to give it to you. I recommend finding some classic recordings of these songs played by jazz greats.
Format
All like-instruments will come to the MTHS Band Room at the same time. This will allow me to better assess and compare the various musicians. All students will sign in and then wait in the hallway until asked to enter. I will either have students play the materials above or have them play together as in a section.
For example, all trumpet players, classically and jazz oriented will show up at 3:00 on June 19th. The first part of the time might be spent listening to individuals whose playing I am not familiar with. Then I will invite different combinations of players to play together. This means you will need to be prepared to play alone and as part of a group.
All Trumpets, Trombones, Saxophones will come at the same time regardless of whether you are interested in jazz or not. Please prepare the materials for the type of group you are interested in. This means that if you are playing in only in concert band, you only need to prepare that. However, if you are planning on playing in jazz band, you will need to prepare both sets of materials. Remember jazz students also play in one of the concert bands.
If there is a problem with making the time you are asked to audition at, please let me know BEFORE the audition time. If you tell me afterwards, it may be too late.
Thanks for your interest. |
