BREAKTHROUGH INDOOR PERCUSSION 2019-2020 AUDITION PACKET

Come be a part of Arizona’s Premier WGI World-Class Percussion Ensemble as we head into our 11th season!

INITIAL AUDITION CALLBACKS

Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 Sunday, September 29th, 2019 Registration: 9am-10am Registration: 9am-10am Auditions: 10am - 6pm Callbacks: 10am - 6pm

To Register Online and Access the audition packet: www.breakthroughindoor.org

COST: 25 paid on the day of your audition Your audition fee may be paid via cash, check, money order/cashier’s check, or credit/debit card.

*All checks/money orders/cashier’s check are made payable to Breakthrough Indoor Percussion*

The one time audition fee (includes both audition days): Includes your Audition/Clinic Packet, Instruction, a Breakthrough Audition T-Shirt and Lunch on both days. Please register online to ensure that we are prepared for your attendance.

On both September 22 and September 29, we will be discussing and releasing our season schedule, rehearsal details, competition details, WGI details and ALL details about our upcoming 2020 Season. Any and all questions you have, will be answered on September 22!

WHERE: ASU Percussion Blockhouse Rural Rd & 6th St. in Tempe, 85281

DIRECTIONS TO PERCUSSION BLOCKHOUSE: From the University Drive and Rural Road intersection travel north on Rural Road. Take a right, going east, on E 6th Street toward the Verde Dickey Dome (White Bubble). Take an immediate left, going north again. Follow the road as it travels north and then east again, soon opening up with a larger parking area on your right hand side. The Blockhouse will be on the south side of the parking lot.

EQUIPMENT: Please wear athletic-style clothing, water & sunscreen (as we are outdoors for the entire audition). Please also bring sticks or mallets to the instrument(s) that you will audition on. Breakthrough will provide all needed front and ensemble and battery instrumentation. You are welcome to bring your drum/instrument if you wish, but it is not required. Please see below for more detailed information about your specific section audition 2018 Breakthrough Indoor Percussion Front Ensemble Audition Packet

Within this packet you will find the audition materials for the 20202018 Breakthrough Front Ensemble. Prior to preparing the material please read through this information listed below to ensure you approach the material correctly.

MALLET PLAYER INFORMATION If you are interested in audition for marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone/glock please prepare the following: • 7/8 scales IN ALL 12 KEYS (80-160bpm) • 12 key green (60-148 bpm) • 12 key arpeggios (40-104 bpm) • 4 mallet matrix (see tempos in mallet materials)

SYNTH/GUITAR/BASS/DRUMSET/TIMPANI

If you are interested in auditioning for these instruments, the expectation is that you will prepare: • the material provided in this packet • a 1-2 minute video of you performing a solo of your choice that you feel best displays your abilities on these instruments.

Guitarist and Bassist Notes: • Please be prepared to read standard notation (not tabs) as it appears in this packet • Amps will be provided – you will be rotating with other candidates throughout the process. • Guitarists should bring ALL pedals and instrument cables necessary to fully display their capabilities.

Timpanist notes: • Be prepared to use proper french grip. • Be prepared to tune standard size drums (32, 29, 26, 23) off of a given pitch AND during exercises without the use of a pitch pipe/tuning fork. • Be prepared to use proper playing zones on all drums (approx. 2” off the rim). • Please bring your own mallets

Synth Notes: • Synth players will be asked to display proper beginning piano techniques – this includes functional fingerings for scalar exercises, proper hand positions, and the use of sustain pedals. • It is highly encouraged to become familiar with jazz harmonies prior to auditions. • Synth players are asked to work closely with our sound equipment throughout the season, therefore it is suggested that you become familiar with the Mac software Mainstage 3.

Drumset Notes: • A drumset will be provided for all interested in this position, please note that you will be rotating with other candidates. • During the season drumset players will receive notated music, however, it is a vital skill to be able to tastefully groove with the front ensemble – take advantage of the freedom in the audition material to show us how you can lay a creative foundation rhythmically and functionally. • Please bring your own sticks.

Breakthrough 2018-19 Mallet Audition Material

Scale Exercises

**Both scale exercises should be played with 2 mallets (100-180bpm) and 4 mallets with inside mallets (80-140bpm)

Two-mallet Technique: Hold the mallets firmly between your index finger and thumb with the rest of your fingers holding the shaft against your hand. The mallet should lay in the crease of your first knuckle on each finger, while the thumb rests directly above your index finger. Your fingers should be relaxed so they lightly touch the inside of your hand. Turn your wrists upward so the first knuckle of your index finger is the highest part of your hand. The tip of your thumb should be about one-third the way up the mallet, with the bottom of the shaft sticking out about an inch and a half. When you’re not playing, your mallets rest in the “set” position. Keeping your mallets flat above the keyboard, they should make a ninety-degree angle perpendicular to you. From here raise the mallet heads up, keeping your wrists low and only bending them back, until the mallet heads are about twelve inches off the keys. You will always rest in this position unless otherwise defined.

Four-Mallet Technique: Our marimba/xylo players use Stevens grip and our vibraphone/glock players use Burton grip. If you would like to perform on these instruments, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the appropriate grip and motions. Both grips are made up of four fundamental motions (stokes): double vertical stroke, single independent stroke, single alternating stroke,

and double lateral strokes. Please utilize the resources below for proper definitions of our approach to these grips: Stevens Grip [book] Method of Movement by Leigh Howard Stevens (pages 1-38) [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MWlJCXKVM8 Burton Grip [book] Four Mallet Studies by Gary Burton (Introductory Chapter) [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfHoqV1ng5M

Piston Stroke Snap the mallet down in the key then straight back to the set position. Keep the forearms and wrist in place, using only the wrist muscles to move the mallets. This stroke requires a fair amount of force to create a strong, forte tone from the keyboard. Do not focus on speed’ work on returning back to the set position without overshooting or moving around. This stroke is very strong when articulate, but we will use a “medium” intensity for most of our exercises.

Legato Stroke Pull the mallet heads down into the key, then make a slightly circular path to settle into the set position. When the mallet head hits the key your wrist should pause slightly as you raise your forearms up. Moving the forearm is what causes the rounded path. When playing notes in a series, the motion should feel very fluid and each muscle movement connected. Unlike the Piston stroke, which is sharp and rigid, the Legato stroke is more relaxed and flows continuously. Arpeggio Exercise (2 mallets only)

4 Mallet Matrix

While this exercise does not seem like much, its intent is not in challenging players with as many notes as possible but rather presenting a consistent scenario with which to explore every possible stroke type combination. It is highly encouraged that great time is placed into this portion of the audition if a candidate would like to play marimba or vibraphone.

Directions: Every following number or sub-letter represents one time through the exercise above. Substitute the written rhythm with the provided instruction – pitches ALWAYS stay the same within the bar.

Double Vertical Matrix (80-120bpm) 1) Given notes on beat 1 of every bar (as written) 2) Given notes on beats 1 and 3 of every bar (2 of each chord) 3) Given notes on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 of every bar (quarter notes) 4) Given notes on 8th notes (straight 8th notes) **do each of these with piston and legato strokes, visually fill space appropriately

Single Alternating Matrix (60-160bpm) Double Lateral Matrix (140+ bpm) 1) Using 8th notes, apply the following stickings: 1) Using 16th notes, apply the a. 13-24 (aka left-rights) following stickings: b. 24-13 (aka right-lefts) a. 1234 c. 14-23 (aka outside-ins) b. 3412 d. 23-14 (aka inside-outs) c. 4321 2) Using 16th notes apply the following sticking: d. 2143 a. 1324 e. 3421 b. 1423 f. 2134 c. 2413 g. 4312 d. 2314 h. 1243 e. 3241 f. 3142 g. 4132 h. 4231

Breakthrough 2018-19 Synth Audition Material

Breakthrough 2018-19 Guitar Audition Material

Breakthrough 2018-19 Timpani Audition Material

Breakthrough 2018-19 Bass Guitar Audition Material

Breakthrough 2018-19 Auxiliary Percussion Audition Material

Set up and notation: For these particular exercises you will need 1 cymbal, 3 toms (bottom spaces), and 1 snare drum (top space). At auditions we will provide these for you.

Breakthrough 2018-19 Drumset Audition Material

Instrumentation: You are welcome to practice these exercises on ANY set up you have. However, at auditions we will provide a single pedal kick drum, 3 toms, snare, hi hat, crash, and a ride. Please be prepared for our equipment.