Northwest District

NCBA Northwest District

Auditions Information

1. What time/where are the auditions?

 Registration: 9:00 AM  Judge’s/Director’s Meeting: 10:00 AM  Auditions Start: 11:00 AM Middle School auditions are at Central Davidson Middle School (2591 NC Highway 47 – Lexington) High School auditions are at Central Davidson High School (2747 NC Highway 47 – Lexington) 2. How will audition times be selected? When will my student audition?

There is no set time for individual auditions. Students are placed in audition order randomly. If a student needs to audition out of order, that will be permitted but judges will not be asked to “wait around” if a student chooses to arrive after auditions start. Once the last call announcement is made, judges will finish up and turn in materials. No on-site late registrations will be accepted, please have those in by Thursday before auditions.

3. Can the students use their own copy of the solo, or do they have to use the one provided for them?

They may use their own copy. We simply provide one to illustrate which section of the solo to play.

4. Do the scales have to be memorized?

Yes. Middle School should tongue all major scales and slur the chromatic, and 9/10 and 11/12 students should be prepared to tongue OR slur their major scales (decided by chairperson), and slur the chromatic. Go to the Honors Band page of the State NCBA Site for scale sheets.

Middle School

 Students are required to play ALL six scales and chromatic in a 3.5-minute time limit. The scales will be played in the following order (listed here in concert pitch): G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab

High School

 Students will be required to play ALL scales in a 3:30 time limit (Chromatic scale for flute, clarinet and trumpet will not be included in the 3:30 minute time limit. Those students will complete their scales and solo in one room and chromatic scale and sightreading in another room.) The scales will be played in the following order (listed here in concert pitch):

o 9/10 (G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)

o 11/12 (D, G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)

 Students auditioning for timpani will be given a 3:30 time limit on tuning timpani intervals.

A list of the scales (in order) will be placed on the stand for the students to see.

5. How should I teach the scales?

At ALL high school grade levels, students may be asked to play them tongued OR slurred. Middle School scales should ALL be tongued. Chromatic scales are slurred for middle and high school grades (except trombone, which are legato tongued).

6. Are there guidelines for the sight-reading?

Yes. Our sight-reading examples are composed specifically for the auditions, and the composer uses the following parameters from our Contest Sight-reading Guidelines:

• Middle School sight-reading is based on Grade II/III parameters.

• 9/10 High School sight-reading is based on Grade III/IV parameters.

• 11/12 High School sight-reading is based on Grade IV/V parameters.

Students at the Middle School level get 30 seconds to preview the sight-reading. Students at the High School level get 60 seconds to preview the sight-reading.

7. When will we find out the results of the auditions?

Results will be emailed Sunday. The results will be posted on the website as soon as possible (usually the day after auditions).

8. How do I know if my student placed high enough to audition for Honors Band?

ELIGIBILITY FOR NC HONORS BAND AUDITIONS FROM EACH DISTRICT (Middle, High School (9/10) and Senior High (11/12) Bands)  4 Flutes  2 Oboes  2 Bassoons  6 Bb Clarinets  2 Bass Clarinets  1 Contrabass Clarinet  2 Alto Saxophones  1 Tenor Saxophone  1 Baritone Saxophone  5 Trumpets  3 French Horns  3 Trombones  2 Baritones  2 Tubas  1 String Bass  2 Snare Drums  1 Mallet  1 Timpani Go to http://www.ncbandmasters.org/sections/honorsband.html to get forms and information about the auditions.

9. Will there be refreshments for the students?

Refreshments will be provided in the cafeteria. Students will be able to purchase food, candy, and sodas from the local band booster organization.