District / All-State Chromatic Scale Requirements
As well as the Percussion Requirements
Middle School (6-8) CHROMATIC SCALE REQUIRED RANGE
Flute, Piccolo: Low C to High F
Oboe: Low C to High C
Sop. Clarinet: Low E to High D
Bass, Contra Cl.: Low E to High A
Bassoon: Low Bb to High F
All Saxophones: Low C to High D
French Horn: Low F to High F
Trumpet, Baritone T.C.: Low F# to High G
Trombone, Baritone B.C.: Low E to High F
Tuba: Low E to High F
Concert Band (9-10) CHROMATIC SCALE REQUIRED RANGE
Flute, Piccolo: 3 octaves from Low C
Oboe: Low Bb to High D
Sop. Clarinet: Low E to High G above High C
Bass, Contra Cl.: Low E to High C
Bassoon: 3 octaves from Low Bb
All Saxophones: Low Bb to High F
French Horn: Low F to High A
Trumpet, Baritone T.C.: Low F# to High C
Trombone, Baritone B.C.: Low E to High Bb
Bass Trombone: Low (Pedal) Bb to High F
Tuba: Low E to High Bb
Symphonic Band (11-12) CHROMATIC SCALE REQUIRED RANGE
Same as Concert Band (9-10).
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• Major Scales and Arpeggios: Required major scales and arpeggios for each level (middle school, concert band, and symphonic band) can be found on the GMEA website (www.gmea.org) in PDF format. Scales must be played exactly as the appear on the GMEA website, including indicated tempi.. Judging will be on tone quality, evenness, smoothness, and accuracy.
• Sight-reading (one technical). There will be three different levels of sight-reading exercises, one each for middle school (6-8), Concert (9-10), and Symphonic (11-12).
• Lyrical etude. The lyrical (first) portion of the required etude will be performed at the district level audition. The lyrical and technical portions of the etude are both performed on the final all-state audition only (the lyrical alone is performed on the district level audition).
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Percussion
Students will be required to pass any two areas with an 85 and one with a 70 (Snare Drum, Timpani, and Keyboard Percussion) in order to be recommended for State Level Final Audition. Students will be required to perform on all three areas for both the district level, and the state level audition. There will be one sight reading exercise in each of the three areas. The area’s district level, first round audition requirements are as follows:
• Snare Drum: Rudiments to be played in an open-close-open rudimental presentation fashion: Middle School - Long Roll, Flam Accent, Ruff, and student’s choice. Concert and Symphonic Bands – Long Roll (Double stroke), Flam Accent, Single Ratamacue, student’s choice..
• Keyboard Percussion: Chromatic scale, full range of instrument; major scales and arpeggios as noted below by grade level:
• Middle School Scale Requirements: concert F, Bb, Eb, and Ab major, 2 octaves each, memorized, using the same rhythm pattern and tempo as required of middle school woodwind and brass scales/arpeggios.
• Concert & Symphonic Scale Requirements: middle school scales as listed above, plus:
Concert Band, grades 9/10: Concert Db, Gb, B and E, 2 octaves each, memorized, using the same rhythm pattern and tempo as required of 9/10 woodwind and brass scales/arpeggios.
Symphonic Band, grades 11/12: Middle school and Concert band
scales/arpeggios as listed above, plus Concert A, D, G and C, 2 octaves each, memorized, using the same rhythm pattern and tempo as required of 11/12
woodwind and brass scales/arpeggios.
In short, all-state mallet scales/arpeggios should be played in an identical fashion as woodwind/brass scales are required on each level (i.e. Middle School, Concert and Symphonic Bands), regarding keys, order, rhythm pattern, and tempo. All mallet scales/arpeggios are 2 octaves each, memorized.
• Timpani: Tuning test requiring student to tune one time to the sight-reading exercises. Middle School and Concert Band timpani auditioners should allow students to use any type of tone producer (pitch pipe, mallet instrument, etc.) for tuning. Symphonic Band timpani auditions shall require that each student be given one pitch at the beginning of sight-reading, and that the student must tune to any subsequent pitches by ear only. There will be a 30 second per drum time limit on the Middle School and Concert Band timpani tuning audition, and a 30 second total time limit on the Symphonic Band timpani tuning audition. This applies to both the DISTRICT and STATE level auditions.
THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM SCORES MUST BE ACHIEVED BY STUDENTS ON THE DISTRICT ALL-STATE AUDITION IN ORDER TO BE “RECOMMENDED” FOR THE FINAL AUDITION:
1. Flutes, soprano clarinets, alto saxophones--minimum passing score of 85
2. Trumpets--minimum passing score of 80
3. All other wind instruments--minimum passing score of 70
4. Percussion--minimum passing score of 85 must be achieved in two areas (Snare Drum, Timpani, Xylophone) and a minimum of 70 in the third