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Audition Requirements for 2015-2016

2015-2016 Audition Requirements: Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

All NMYO students are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher.
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing showing contrasting styles, and sight-reading at an appropriate level.

Audition adjudicators will be listening for the following:

  • Demonstrate a practical range on a given instrument which includes mature tone quality, accurate intonation, and good posture.
  • Have the ability to tune your instrument.
  • Demonstrate ability to count and play several rhythms accurately
  • Demonstrate good sight-reading ability.

Audition Requirements:
Bring in one or two pieces of contrasting styles that show the highest level of the musician’s proficiency; pieces should show the ability to play in several positions.

Strings Scale Requirements (Major and minor): Scales should be memorized. Scale rhythmic pattern is a quarter note followed by eighth notes pattern at 92-104 bpm.

  • Violin:Three-octave major scales C, D, D flat, G, A, A flat, B, B flat, E flat
  • All other major scales are two octaves (E and F)
  • Melodic minor scales – a, e, b d, g – two octaves
  • Viola and Cello:Three-octave scales C, D, D flat, G, A, E, E flat, F
    All others are two octaves
  • Melodic minor scales – a, c, e, f, d – two octaves
  • Double Bass: All two-octave scales
    Melodic minor scales – a, e, b, d, g – two octaves

Winds and Brass Scale Requirements:  Scales should be memorized. Scale rhythmic pattern is a quarter note followed by eighth notes pattern at 92-104 bpm. Winds and Brass should prepare ALL MAJOR scales. The chromatic scale requirements are as follows:

  • Flute: C-C three octaves
  • Oboe: C-C two octaves
  • Bassoon: Bb-F two and one-half octaves
  • Clarinet: F-F three octaves
  • Bass Clarinet: E-G two plus octaves
  • French Horn: G-G two octaves
  • Trumpet: C-C two octaves
  • Trombone: F-G two plus octaves
  • Tuba: F-F two octaves
  • Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Baritone): low B flat to high E

Brass Requirements: Brass players must have professional mouthpieces.

Percussion Requirements: Players must demonstrate skill on a range of instruments. Mallets should follow all major scales, two octaves.

2015-2016 Audition Requirements: Intermezzo Orchestra

All NMYO students are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher.
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight-reading at an appropriate level.

Audition adjudicators will be listening for the following:

  • Ability to recognize and count basic rhythms.
  • Ability to play with good tone, accurate intonation, and good posture.
  • Ability to sight-read a simple piece.

Skill Level for Strings:

  • Ability to play at a minimum level equivalent to the end of Violin Suzuki Book 3- Book 5.
  • All strings: some ability to shift to and play in third position.
  • Ability to play with good position, good bow hold.
  • Ability to note read all notes in first position for all strings.
  • Ability to tune own violin with minimal assistance.
  • In order to maintain good posture (which is essential to good playing), some kind of shoulder pad (any thickness) will be used by all violinists and violists while playing in orchestra.

Strings Scale Requirements: Scales should be memorized. Scale rhythmic pattern is a quarter note followed by eighth notes pattern at 84-96 bpm. String players should demonstrate the ability to play two octave scales in tune in the following keys.

  • Violin: two octaves C, G, D, A, F, B flat and E flat
  • Viola: two octaves - C, D, E flat, F, & G; one octave - A, and B flat
  • Cello: two octaves - C, D, E flat, F, G Major; one octave- A and B flat
  • Double Bass: two octaves- C, F, G

Winds and Brass Scale Requirements:

  • Scale rhythmic pattern is a quarter note followed by eighth notes pattern at 84-96 bpm.
  • Abilityto play memorized scales, in tune,in the following keys (up to 3 flats and 3 sharps): C, G, D, A, F, B flat and E flat.

2015-2016 Audition Requirements: Overture String Ensemble

All NMYO students are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher.
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight-reading at an appropriate level.

Scale Requirements:

  • Violin: two octaves G, A, C, D, B flat
  • Viola/Cello: two octaves C, D, E flat, and F; one octave G and B flat

2015-2016 Audition Requirements: Prelude String Ensemble

All NMYO students are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher.
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight-reading at an appropriate level.

Scale Requirements:

  • Violin: two-octave scale of G; one-octave scale of C, A or D
  • Viola/Cello: two-octave scale of C; one-octave scale of D, F, G.

2015-2016 Audition Requirements: Flute Choirs & Orchestra Flutists

Flute Choirs

Overview and General Requirements: We work hard to challenge each student within the flute choir setting, and expect all students to be relatively accomplished on their instrument and studying with a private teacher. Our goal is to spend rehearsals exploring a variety of musical styles and rehearsal techniques without having to spend time teaching individual parts. We are looking for flutists who can demonstrate the ability to come to rehearsals well- prepared and ready to be a positive member of their flute choir team.

Audition requirements for each Flute Choir ensemble are as follows:

Select Flute Choir - Geared toward elite high school flutists.

  • All Major scales up to 6 sharps & 6 flats, 2 octaves (3 octaves for C Major). One harmonic minor scale of your choice.
  • Chromatic scale, 3 octaves.
  • Two contrasting solo pieces or movements similar in level to Senior District/All-State, one of which must be from the 20th or 21st century. Chosen repertoire should demonstrate a variety of articulations, dynamic contrast, technical agility, flexible embouchure, and accurate pitch. Examples of appropriate composers include but are not limited to: Chaminade, Hindemith, Faure, Martinu, Bach, & Mozart.
  • An exercise or excerpt demonstrating familiarity with harmonics.
  • Sight reading.
  • Students are expected to own a metronome.

Flute Choir - Geared toward high school players. Exceptional younger students may also be accepted.

  • All Major scales up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, 2 octaves.
  • Chromatic scale, 3 octaves.
  • Two contrasting solo pieces or movements similar in level to Junior/Senior District. Chosen repertoire must demonstrate slow and fast tempos with clear articulation, dynamic contrast, and tone/pitch control. Examples of appropriate composers include but are not limited to: Telemann, Handel, Godard, Marcello, Faure, & Gaubert.
  • Sight reading.
  • Students are expected to own a metronome.

Junior Flute Choir- Geared toward intermediate players in grades five through eight.

  • Two scales of your choice.
  • Two contrasting pieces or movements demonstrating a variety of rhythms, tonguing and slurring, dynamic contrast, and clear tone.
  • Sight reading.
  • Students are expected to own a metronome.

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