CB South Advanced Ensembles Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble Auditions Thank you for your interest in auditioning for our CB South Advanced Ensembles. In addition to the two advanced groups (Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble), CB South offers a number of performance and musical education opportunities. See the materials enclosed for full details. Audition Procedure for 2019-2020 There will be no live audition held for the 2019-2020 advanced ensembles All applicants will submit an audio or video recording of their audition materials directly to Mr. Cox. All submissions must be received BY OR BEFORE Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Recording Guidelines Please speak your name, current grade, and current school prior to your performance Feel free to complete as many takes as you d like and send the best one. Feel free to record during a private lesson with a private tutor. Audio recordings can be made using programs like Audacity, Garage Band, Logic, etc. You may also use a recorder feature on any smart phone. If your computer does not have a built-in microphone, you may borrow one from CB South, or ask your middle school director. You may record each section in one long track/file or several separate tracks/files. The files will likely be large. If you have trouble attaching your file to an email, consider using a link from OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or similar service. Please email me with any technical questions you may have! All audition criteria can be found in this packet or by following the link below.
Advanced Ensemble Audition Information All students currently enrolled in 9th grade band or not currently in the Symphonic or Jazz Ensemble will enroll in Concert Band. Concert Band is the natural progression from 9th to 10th grade ensembles, offering more challenging literature, a more complete understanding of music theory, and a chance to make vast improvements on your instrument. Once the audition process is completed a list of students that have successfully auditioned into the advanced ensembles will be sent to guidance and the changes will be made to the schedule once the portal closes to students. The Symphonic Band should be viewed as an advanced-level Concert Band course. The music performed is often college and professional-level literature. Though not required, many members of the CB South Symphonic Band also study their instruments with a private teacher outside of school. Please contact your teacher or Mr. Cox if you would like a list of local private teachers. Students in Symphonic Band are also encouraged to audition for the PMEA Honors Ensembles (County Band, District Band, Region Band, etc.) CB South also features an award-winning Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble will participate in local jazz festivals in addition to in-school and public performances. Rehearsal will be devoted to jazz style and interpretation, improvisation skills, listening/jazz appreciation, and preparing performance material. Although we will compete alongside other groups, the focus of the jazz bands at CB South is personal improvement and enjoyment of the jazz art. If we have enough student interest and members to fill a group, a second, extra-curricular Jazz Ensemble 2 may be created.
Brief CB South Band Course Overview Concert Band All students currently enrolled in 9th grade band are encouraged to register for Concert Band in 10th grade The group will consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Students DO NOT need to audition to participate in Concert Band. This is an all call group for any student that wishes to have fun in band, but not necessary wants the stress associated with performing in an advanced ensemble. Symphonic Band Symphonic Band will meet during the school day as a class. If you are unable to fit Symphonic Band in your daily schedule, but would still like to participate in band, you should register for Concert Band. The group will consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Entrance to Symphonic Band is determined by audition only. In order to keep with the authenticity of our literature, only a limited number of students per instrument will earn a seat in Symphonic Band. Entry is based on the outcome of the audition. Jazz Ensemble Jazz Ensemble will meet during the school day as a class. The group will consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Entrance to Jazz Ensemble is determined by audition. Those students achieving the top auditions scores for each instrument will be placed in Jazz Ensemble. The prospective annual instrumentation for Jazz Ensemble is as follows: - 5 saxophones (2 alto, 2 tenor, 1 baritone), 4-5 trombones, 4-5 trumpets, 2-3 percussionists, 1-2 pianists, 1 bass, and 1 guitar. Marching Band (co-curricular ensemble) Beginning in the summer, our Marching Band performs throughout the fall season for all football games, marching festivals, and parades. The BEST way to meet 80+ new friends before the first day of school even begins! All wind players and percussionists MUST be enrolled in Concert or Symphonic Band in order to be eligible to participate in Marching Band. (Exceptions can be made for students in the MBIT Program) Participating in the marching band is highly encouraged for all members of the CB South Band Program!
Specific Audition Information: Symphonic Band All Students will prepare the following: Literature Excerpts: students will perform brief excerpts from several pieces of Symphonic Band-level literature. Major and Chromatic Scales: students will perform 2 major scales and 1 chromatic scale for the audition, all of which are listed within the packet. Mallet Percussionists will also perform scales. Snare Drum Rudiments (PERCUSSION ONLY): Percussionists focusing on Snare Drum will perform 3 rudiments, all listed below. Fundamental Techniques (WINDS ONLY): all students will demonstrate fundamental techniques (articulation, range, flexibility, etc.) necessary to adequately perform challenging literature. Percussion Info The percussion audition requires all candidates to perform on 4 different instruments (Vibraphone, Bells, Snare Drum, and Timpani). We have made the CB South percussion instruments available for you to practice and/or complete your recording. Please email Mr. Cox (BrianCox@cbsd.org) or speak with your current band director if you would like to schedule a time to use this equipment. Tempo and Range Considerations Do the best you can to perform your audition material as close to the requested tempo as possible. If there are notes that are higher/lower than you are used to playing, do the best you can to use good air support to play them confidently.
Major and Chromatic Scale Requirements- Wind Instruments Major scales should be tongued, and chromatic scales slurred. Scales are listed in TRANSPOSED (not concert) pitch. All scales should be performed at a minimum of = 100 using the following rhythms: Flute Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) Oboe Scales Eb major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) Bassoon Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) F chromatic scale (2 octaves) Clarinet Scales D major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) F chromatic scale (3 octaves) Saxophone Scales (alto, tenor, and bari) E major (2 octaves) and Db major scale (2 octaves) E chromatic scale (2 octaves) (continued on next page)
Trumpet Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (1 octave) F Horn Scales F major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) G chromatic scale (2 octaves in treble clef) Trombone Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves) Euphonium (Baritone Horn) Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves) Tuba Scales Eb major (2 octaves) and B major scale (2 octaves) Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves) Important Percussion Information Percussionists must prepare all 4 excerpts on the literature page, but may choose ONE of the two options below, based on your instrumental focus. Mallet-focused students should perform scales and snare drum-focused students should perform rudiments. Option 1 - Mallet Percussion Scales Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) Option 2 - Snare Drum Rudiments Perform the three rudiments below from slow to fast and back to slow. Watch John Wooten demonstrate all rudiments (slow fast slow) o #6- Double Stroke Roll (http://vicfirth.com/double-stroke-roll/) o #17- Double Paradiddle (http://vicfirth.com/17-double-paradiddle/) o #28- Swiss Army Triplet (http://vicfirth.com/28-swiss-army-triplet/) You should also search online for additional Vic Firth videos with John Wooten for tips and strategies for these and other rudiments. They are a fantastic resource and practice aid.
Final Checklist: review of materials Please review all items below to ensure your audition is complete prior to sending. Symphonic Band Audition Literature excerpts Fundamental exercises Major and chromatic scales (winds and mallets) Rudiments (snare drum only) All submissions due to Mr. Cox by or before Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Please feel free to email (BrianCox@cbsd.org) with any questions you may have! Best of luck!