​CONCERT BAND AUDITIONS

All concert band students audition twice a year, in November and May, for class and chair placement the following semester.  The audition for woodwinds and brass players is as follows:

  • Minimum of 8 Major Scales & Arpeggios (G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb) – must be played in order and as written.
  • All other “bonus” scales – up to 12 major scales.
  • All tempos must be interpreted in sixteenth notes; scores lowered if played in eighths or if tempo slows significantly.
  • Single tonguing and double tonguing (brasses and flutes) excersies
  • Full range chromatic scale range should be the same as All State
    • Flutes: 3 octaves from Low C
    • Oboe: Low Bb to High D
    • Clarinet: Low E to High G (above High C)
    • Bass Clarinet: Low E to High C
    • All Saxophones: Low Bb to High F
    • Trumpet/Baritone TC: Low E to High Bb
    • Horn: Low F to High A
    • Trombone/Baritone BC: Low E to High Bb
    • Tuba Low E to High Bb
  • One or two prepared etudes
  • One or two sight reading examples
 
Percussionists are responsible for:
  • Snare – Minimum: 4 Rudiments, played slow to fast to slow, Long Roll, Flam Accent, Single Ratamacue, and Student’s choice; Bonus: Maximum all 40 Rudiments
  • Students are strongly encouraged to utilize the materials on Vic Firth’s Snare Drum Rudiment website: www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.html
  • Bonus: Up to 12 major scales and arpeggios, 2 octaves on a keyboard instrument – more credit for faster tempo, accuracy, All State pattern or similar
  • Timpani: Tuning Test, extra credit tuning etude (major scale using all four timpani, Mary Had a Little Lamb, or similar)
  • Sight reading on snare, keyboard, and timpani

​ALL STATE SCALES & ETUDES

Scales and arpeggios and etudes are available for download at www.gmea.org.  Scales are posted year round; they do not change except that the requirements for 9th and 10th graders are different from 11th and 12th graders.  Etudes are generally posted in August for the coming year.  First round auditions are in December.  Registration is in September.  Final round auditions are in January.  All State Band and Orchestra will be held in early March in Athens, GA.