High School Orchestra
Performance Test/Seating Auditions (2010-2011)
Orchestra is an academic class and students will be assessed on their knowledge and abilities through written and performance tests as well as midterm and final exams. Performance test material might include the literature currently being covered in class skill oriented exercises and etudes, scales, and perhaps some sight reading. The first performance test of the year will help the teacher determine the seating for the class so this is sometimes referred to as a seating audition.
This performance assessment will help the teacher determine what strengths and weaknesses a student has and will help both teacher and student develop a strategy for continuous improvement. This is also a time to discover which students have leadership potential so the teacher can help them reach their full potential.
The teacher will determine the seating arrangement based on what is best for individual students and for the ensemble as a whole. For example, a quality ensemble needs strong players in every section in not only in the front, but also in the middle and rear of the section. In fact, it is often more difficult to perform towards the back of an ensemble because it is more difficult to hear and it is further from where the directions are originating. Additionally, sound travels forward, so more of the orchestra will hear the sound coming from the back performers than they will from the front performers. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary for strong students to sit in the back of the ensemble as well as the front.
Individual students sometimes learn better under certain circumstances: a student with vision problems will need to be closer to the conductor in order to be successful. Students with IEP’s (a legally binding document) are sometimes required to have specific seating considerations such as being seated away from distractions.
Because of these individual and group concerns, students will not be strictly seated according to rank and there may be some moving of chairs throughout the school year based on the requirements of the piece or what students need to better learn. We will still have the ranking listed in the concert program and students will continue to be recognized for their commitment and hard work.
This is still a new model for us all, but I’m hoping that given the chance, both parents and students (and audience members) will see a marked improvement in the quality of the ensemble and education of its members.
As always, you may contact me at (330) 954-2130 or f you have any questions or concerns about this process.
High School Orchestra
Seating Auditions Specifications
Audition material will be performed during school in front of a video camera. Students will be assigned a specified time slot. Students are expected to be on time and ready for their audition. There are three elements to the audition:
- Perform a 2 octave scale. Scales will be chosen from the following scales:
A, D, G, C, F, B flat, and E flat Major
- Sight-read a few sections of a piece/s that are totally unfamiliar to any student in the class.
- Perform selections from pieces or exercises that we have been preparing during class. This performance assessment is a test and is part of the students nine weeks grade. It will provide a baseline from which the student is expected to improve. The goal is take each student where they are and help them progress into better musicians.
Philharmonic Orchestra
Exercise #70 and 71 from Advanced Technique book
Concert Orchestra
Just exercise #71 from Advanced Technique book
Seating Challenges
Seat challenges are no longer needed under this system. Students who want to be considered for leadership positions will show it to the teacher through their performance assessments and every day actions. A leader is defined by their actions, not by their title and leaders often emerge throughout the course of the year.