Auditioning for Honor Band?

[Trombonium]

Okay, I decided I want to try out for the honor band around our area for the first time, but I just wanted to know about the audition process.

Some questions I have:

Are the auditions solo?

Are all audition processes the same or are some different?

Any advice you can give me?

Any books (like method, technic, etc.) that I can use to practice?



Please give an honor band newbie some advice. thanks.

BTW, if it matters, I'm auditioning on my Euphonium.

[altoclarinets]

Yes. Auditions are generally solo etudes, you may be allowed to perform a work with piano accompaniment. Most auditions for honor band are generally an on- site audition before a blind panel of judges, you may also be asked to send in a tape, which is good, because if you screw up, you can just hit "Rewind" and try again. My best advice is: try not to freak out. There is nothing that can hamper a good performance more than being nervous, and if you don't make it, it's not the end of the world. (although it may seem like it at the time.) Method books- the honor band etude book used in my state is (insert unknown # here) Melodious and progressive Studies for Trombone or Baritone. Don't know the author though. If this helps any, you're welcome.

[Trombonium]

Wait, so do you pick your own solo or do they provide it?

[stickshifty]

It depends on what you're auditioning for. If you're auditioning for something like an All-Region honor band, then they will supply the music. I think that if you do an honor band hosted by a University, then you can pick your music. Your best bet is to go to your band director or, even better, find a private music teacher (if you can find a professional, try asking a talented upperclassman) who can help you select a standard euphonium solo and then help you with it. That way you can be the most prepared.

[~*Not~a~Stalker~*]

Here an Honor Band audition is generally conducted one of two ways:
1. A prepared piece, picked by the judge, usually the same for respective instruments. You will play that, then usually one major scale and one chromatic. Then a short sightreading piece.

Or, alternatively (the way I had to audition this past week.)

2. No prepared. Two or three major scales, one chromatic. One or two sightreading pieces, depending on the judge. Some will provide more than one but you must do satisfactory on the first to move on to the next.

I find the first much easier to do because there's more chance to mess up. You will normally get more points if you play multiple octaves on your scales but it is not required.

Of course, this all depends on whether this is an audition for an Honor Band at a University, or an All-State/Region band (All-State/Region process here is about the same as the first one I described.) , and this is just what I've experienced in TN. I don't know how it is in other places.

Good luck!

[Trombonium]

Jan 28, 2009 22:19:14 GMT -5 ~*Not~a~Stalker~* said:

Here an Honor Band audition is generally conducted one of two ways:
1. A prepared piece, picked by the judge, usually the same for respective instruments. You will play that, then usually one major scale and one chromatic. Then a short sightreading piece.

Or, alternatively (the way I had to audition this past week.)

2. No prepared. Two or three major scales, one chromatic. One or two sightreading pieces, depending on the judge. Some will provide more than one but you must do satisfactory on the first to move on to the next.

I find the first much easier to do because there's more chance to mess up. You will normally get more points if you play multiple octaves on your scales but it is not required.

Of course, this all depends on whether this is an audition for an Honor Band at a University, or an All-State/Region band (All-State/Region process here is about the same as the first one I described.) , and this is just what I've experienced in TN. I don't know how it is in other places.

Good luck!

Don't you mean less?

[~*Not~a~Stalker~*]

No....I meant more, actually. I guess I didn't word it clearly. What I meant was that you're playing more music, therefore you have longer to impress the judge. More time to mess up, but more time to redeem yourself.
Sorry.

[Trombonium]

Crap, forgot one more question.

Do you have to memorize the etude (or prepared piece)? I don't want to have to do that, but I will if I have to haha.

[altoclarinets]

Some do. Some don't. Most don't. Obviously, if it's the send- in- a- tape- kind, they wouldn't know anyway.

[stickshifty]

Feb 4, 2009 19:09:49 GMT -5 Trombonium said:

Crap, forgot one more question.

Do you have to memorize the etude (or prepared piece)? I don't want to have to do that, but I will if I have to haha.

They will explicitly state in the rules if it needs to be memorized or not. I've only had to memorize for maybe three auditions, and those were for concerto competitions (in which if I won, I would have to perform without music). For All-Regions, I never memorized.