BandAcademy Audition Requirements

All auditions will consist of four sections: scales, a prepared solo, aural assessment and sight-reading.

Part 1: Scales

The following concert pitched major and chromatic scales must be played in the correct rhythm from memory.

Instrument / Bb / F / C / G / Chromatic Bb
Piccolo / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1
Flute / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Oboe / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1
Eb Clarinet / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Bb Clarinet / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Alto Clarinet / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Bass Clarinet / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Contrabass Clarinet / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Bassoon / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1
Alto Saxophone / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1
Tenor Saxophone / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1
Baritone Saxophone / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1
Trumpet / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
French Horn / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1
Baritone T.C. / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
Baritone B.C. / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
Trombone / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
Tuba / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Percussion (Mallets) / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1

All major scales should be played in the following rhythm either tongued or slurred:

All chromatic scales should be played in straight eighth notes both ascending and descending

Part 2: Aural Assessment

There will be a brief Aural Assessment for each student auditioning for the academy. This will consist of singing or humming back pitches, short melodic fragments, and recognizing whether pitches are higher or lower than a given pitch. As an instrumentalist, it is important we can imitate pitches and style. If we cannot imagine it, we cannot play it. Vocal quality and tone will not be assessed, only the ability to hum or sing a given pitch or melodic fragment. A great way to practice this is to play a note on a piano or your instrument and try to sing it. Once you are able to do this, try doing a melodic fragment of three or four notes in a row.

Part 3: Prepared Solo

Students must prepare a solo from the list provided. As an alternative, a student may prepare an excerpt that is not on the list, but it must be approved by either the middle school or high school band director prior to the audition. All-Shore and Regions pieces are excellent examples of alternative solos. All percussion auditions must prepare both the mallet and snare solos.

Instrument / Title / Composer/Arranger / Publisher
Piccolo/Flute / Serenade / Herbert/Voxman / Rubank
Oboe / Andante & Allegro / Loeillet/Voxman / Rubank
Bb/Eb Clarinet / Polonaise / Hofman/Waln / Kjos
Alto Clarinet / Sarabande & Bouree * / Bach/Hervig / Rubank
Bass Clarinet / Sarabande & Bouree / Bach/Hervig / Rubank
Bassoon / #23 Gavotte & # 24 Welsh Folk Song / Barasanti/Trad. / Faber
Alto Saxophone / Canzonetta & Giga / Ostransky / Rubank
Tenor Saxophone / Menuetto & Presto / Haydn/Voxman / Rubank
Baritone Saxopone / Largo & Allegro / Clerisse/Voxman / Rubank
Trumpet / Andante & Allegro / Clerisse/Voxman / Rubank
French Horn / Scherzo / Clerisse/Voxman / Rubank
Baritone / Andante & Allegrp / Clerisse/Voxman / Rubank
Trombone / Turquoise / H.A.Vandercook / Rubank
Bb Tuba / Sarabande & Gavotta / A. Corelli / Rubank
Mallets / Solo # 9 for Mallets / Whaley / Meredith Music
Snare / Musician’s Choice / Musician’s Choice / Musician’s Choice
  • Found in the Bass Clarinet Book

The best way to prepare for the solo section, is to play the solo as much as possible in front of different audiences. If you get nervous, give any pets you have at home a concert first! Once you feel comfortable, invite family and friends to hear you play.

Part 4 Sight-Reading

A short excerpt (5-10 measures in length) will be provided for the student to sight read. Each applicant will have 60 seconds to look over the excerpt before playing. The best way to prepare for this section, is to go online and search for free sheet music and try to play it after looking it over for a minute.

If you would like any help in preparing for the audition, please speak to Mr. Hensel or Mr. Wells. Try not to think of the process as an audition or major test, just prepare and make music the way you always do! Have fun!