audition requirements
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All NMYO students are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher. |
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All NMYO musicians are to be actively taking lessons with a private teacher. The most important aspect of your NMYO audition is that you present your best playing and select works that you, in consultation with your private teacher, have prepared in advance of your audition. Audition pieces should be works the student knows well and that demonstrate his/her range of technical abilities and musicianship. Below are the requirements for each of the NMYO ensembles by instrument type.
Symphony Orchestra String Musicians
Auditions will include scales, a solo piece or two of your choosing showing contrasting styles, and sight reading at an appropriate level. Pieces should show the ability to play in several positions. For strings, the minimum entry level piece is equivalent to Suzuki Book 5 or the Bach a minor Concerto. Violinists must have the ability to play in fifth position and beyond.
Audition adjudicators will be listening for the musician to:
Intermezzo Orchestra String Musicians
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight-reading at an appropriate level. The Intermezzo Orchestra’s string musician level is the end of Book 3 through Book 5.
Audition adjudicators will be listening for the following:
Overture String Ensemble
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight reading at an appropriate level. The skill level for Overture is the end of Suzuki Book 2 through Book 3.
Scale Requirements:
Prelude String Ensemble
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight reading at an appropriate level. The skill level for Prelude is the end of Suzuki Book 1 through Book 2.
Scale Requirements:
Wind, Brass & Percussion Musicians: Wind Ensemble, Intermezzo & Symphony
All wind, brass and percussion musicians will be heard for placement in NMYO’s Wind Ensemble. Depending upon the musician’s level and seats available, the musician will also be considered for placement in Intermezzo Orchestra or Symphony Orchestra. Musicians placed in an Orchestra also play in the Wind Ensemble at no additional cost. Flute musicians can also be considered for a spot in one of NMYO’s Flute Choirs [see below].
Auditions include scales, sight-reading at an appropriate level, and a piece of your choosing from the MMEA Northeastern District repertoire lists or equivalent and should show contrasting styles.
Symphony Orchestra 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:
Intermezzo Orchestra/Wind Ensemble Winds and Brass Scale Requirements:
Percussion Requirements:
Players auditioning must demonstrate skill on a range of instruments as follows:
Snare: Understanding of basic rudiments. Solo selection from MMEA Northeastern District audition lists or selection of equivalent difficulty
Accessories: Ability to demonstrate proper playing technique on bass drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, and small percussion accessories such as triangle, wood block, etc.
Mallets: Experience preferred but not required. To be considered for Symphony, the musician should demonstrate knowledge of all major scales, two octaves
Timpani: Understanding and ability to tune timpani. Solo selection should be from MMEA Northeastern District lists or equivalent
Flute Choirs
NMYO aims to challenge each student within the Flute Choir setting, and expects 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.
Flute Choirs meet on Sundays in the late afternoon/early evening. Members of a Flute Choir can also play in one of the Orchestras and Wind Ensemble which meet on Mondays. All flutists auditioning will be considered for all ensembles, but we ask you to indicate a preference on your audition registration form.
Each Flute Choir must have a minimum of eight enrolled musicians or the Choir will be cancelled and audition/enrollment fees will be refunded. Audition requirements for each Flute Choir ensemble are as follows:
Select Flute Choir Audition Requirements
Flute Choir Audition Requirements
Junior Flute Choir Audition Requirements
Auditions will include scales, a solo piece or two of your choosing showing contrasting styles, and sight reading at an appropriate level. Pieces should show the ability to play in several positions. For strings, the minimum entry level piece is equivalent to Suzuki Book 5 or the Bach a minor Concerto. Violinists must have the ability to play in fifth position and beyond.
Audition adjudicators will be listening for the musician to:
- Demonstrate a practical range on a given instrument which includes mature tone quality, accurate intonation, and good posture
- Demonstrate ability to tune his or her instrument
- Demonstrate ability to count and play several rhythms accurately
- Demonstrate good sight-reading ability
- 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 major scales C, D, D flat, G, A, E, E flat, F
All other major scales are two octaves - Melodic minor scales – a, c, e, f, d – two octaves
- Double Bass:
- All two-octave major scales
- Melodic minor scales – a, e, b, d, g – two octaves
Intermezzo Orchestra String Musicians
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight-reading at an appropriate level. The Intermezzo Orchestra’s string musician level is the end of Book 3 through Book 5.
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
- Ability to play at a minimum level equivalent to the end of Violin Suzuki Book 3 through Book 5
- 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 one's instrument with minimal assistance
- In order to maintain good posture essential to good playing, some kind of shoulder pad (any thickness) will be used by all violinists and violists while playing in orchestra
- Violin: two octaves C, G, D, A, F, B flat, E flat
- Viola: two octaves C, G, D, A, F, B flat, E flat
- Cello: two octaves C, G, D, A, F, B flat, E flat
- Double Bass: two octaves C, D, A, G, F; one octave B flat, E flat
Overture String Ensemble
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight reading at an appropriate level. The skill level for Overture is the end of Suzuki Book 2 through Book 3.
Scale Requirements:
- Violin: two octaves A, B flat, C, D, G
- Viola/Cello: two octaves C, D, E flat, F; one octave A, B flat, G
- Bass: one-octave scale of B flat, C, F, G
Prelude String Ensemble
Auditions will include scales, a piece of your choosing, and sight reading at an appropriate level. The skill level for Prelude is the end of Suzuki Book 1 through Book 2.
Scale Requirements:
- Violin: two-octaves A, G; one-octave C, D
- Viola/Cello: two-octave scale of C; one-octave scale of D, F, G
- Bass: one-octave scale of B flat, F, G
Wind, Brass & Percussion Musicians: Wind Ensemble, Intermezzo & Symphony
All wind, brass and percussion musicians will be heard for placement in NMYO’s Wind Ensemble. Depending upon the musician’s level and seats available, the musician will also be considered for placement in Intermezzo Orchestra or Symphony Orchestra. Musicians placed in an Orchestra also play in the Wind Ensemble at no additional cost. Flute musicians can also be considered for a spot in one of NMYO’s Flute Choirs [see below].
Auditions include scales, sight-reading at an appropriate level, and a piece of your choosing from the MMEA Northeastern District repertoire lists or equivalent and should show contrasting styles.
Symphony Orchestra 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 players must have professional mouthpieces
Intermezzo Orchestra/Wind Ensemble Winds and Brass Scale Requirements:
- Scale rhythmic pattern is a quarter note followed by eighth notes pattern at 84-96 bpm
- Ability to play memorized scales, in tune,in the following keys (up to 3 flats and 3 sharps): A, B flat, C, D, E flat, F, G
Percussion Requirements:
Players auditioning must demonstrate skill on a range of instruments as follows:
Snare: Understanding of basic rudiments. Solo selection from MMEA Northeastern District audition lists or selection of equivalent difficulty
Accessories: Ability to demonstrate proper playing technique on bass drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, and small percussion accessories such as triangle, wood block, etc.
Mallets: Experience preferred but not required. To be considered for Symphony, the musician should demonstrate knowledge of all major scales, two octaves
Timpani: Understanding and ability to tune timpani. Solo selection should be from MMEA Northeastern District lists or equivalent
Flute Choirs
NMYO aims to challenge each student within the Flute Choir setting, and expects 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.
Flute Choirs meet on Sundays in the late afternoon/early evening. Members of a Flute Choir can also play in one of the Orchestras and Wind Ensemble which meet on Mondays. All flutists auditioning will be considered for all ensembles, but we ask you to indicate a preference on your audition registration form.
Each Flute Choir must have a minimum of eight enrolled musicians or the Choir will be cancelled and audition/enrollment fees will be refunded. Audition requirements for each Flute Choir ensemble are as follows:
Select Flute Choir Audition Requirements
- 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 at an appropriate level
Flute Choir Audition Requirements
- 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 at an appropriate level
Junior Flute Choir Audition Requirements
- 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 at an appropriate level
NMYO reserves the right to cancel an ensemble offering due to insufficient enrollment. In this case those affected will be notified as soon as possible and, if paid, a full audition fee, registration fee, and tuition refund will be issued.
