CBW Advanced Ensembles · 2015. 12. 14. · - Basie, Straight Ahead (from the album Straight Ahead...

CBW Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble Audition Information 2016-2017

CBW Advanced Ensembles Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble Auditions

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for our CB West Advanced Ensembles. In addition the two advanced groups (Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble), CB West offers a number of performance and musical education opportunities. See the materials enclosed for full details.

New Audition Procedure for 2016-2017 - There will be no live audition held for the 2016-2017 advanced ensembles - All applicants will submit an audio or video recording of their audition materials

directly to Mr. Delson.

- All submissions must be received BY OR BEFORE Monday, January 25, 2016.

Recording Guidelines - Please speak your name, current grade, and current school prior to your performance - Feel free to complete as many “takes” as you’d like and send the best one. - Feel free to record during a private lesson with a private tutor. - Audio recordings can be made using programs like Audacity, Garage Band, Logic, etc. You

may also use a recorder feature on any smart phone. If your computer does not have a built-in microphone, you may borrow one from Lenape, Tohickon, or CB West.

- You may record each section in one long track/file or several separate tracks/files. - The files will likely be large. If you have trouble attaching your file to an email, consider

using a link from Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, or similar service.

Please email me with any technical questions you may have! All audition criteria can be found in this packet or by following the link below.

complete audition info found at http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312

All audition information and music can be found by visiting http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312

http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312


Advanced Ensemble Audition Information

All students currently enrolled in 9th grade band are encouraged to enroll in Concert Band in 10th grade. Concert Band is the natural progression from 9th to 10th grade ensembles, offering more challenging literature, a more complete understanding of music theory, and a chance to make vast improvements on your instrument. Students enrolled in Concert Band will perform as the “Central Bucks West Concert Winds” in all major performances throughout the school year. The Concert Winds make up our largest instrumental group at West, comprised of nearly 100 members. Most incoming sophomores should register for Concert Band.

For the advanced incoming sophomore, auditioning for Symphonic Band may be appropriate. This ensemble should be viewed as an “advanced-level” Concert Band course. The music performed is often college and professional-level literature. Though not required, many members of the CB West Symphonic Band also study their instruments with a private teacher outside of school. Please contact your teacher or Mr. Delson if you would like a list of local private teachers. Students in Symphonic Band are also encouraged to audition for the PMEA Honors Ensembles (County Band, District Band, Region Band, etc.)

CB West Features a Jazz Ensemble and a jazz "lab” class. The Jazz Ensemble will participate in local jazz festivals in addition to in-school and public performances. Rehearsal will be devoted to jazz style and interpretation, improvisation skills, listening/jazz appreciation, and preparing performance material. Although we will compete alongside other groups, the focus of the jazz bands at CB West is personal improvement and enjoyment of the jazz art. If we have enough student interest and members to fill a group, a second, extra-curricular Jazz Ensemble “2” may be created.

 


http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312


Brief CBW Music (Band) Course Overview

Concert Band - All students currently enrolled in 9th grade band are encouraged to register for Concert Band

in 10th grade - The group will consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Students DO NOT need to audition to

participate in Concert Band.  

Symphonic Band - Symphonic Band will meet during the school day as a class. If you are unable to fit

Symphonic Band in your daily schedule, but would still like to participate in band, you should register for Concert Band.

- The group will consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Entrance to Symphonic Band is determined by audition.

- In order to keep with the authenticity of our literature, only a limited number of students per instrument will earn a seat in Symphonic Band. Entry is based on the outcome of the audition.

Jazz Ensemble - Jazz Ensemble (formerly Jazz 1) will meet during the school day as a class. The group will

consist of musicians in grades 10-12. Entrance to Jazz Ensemble is determined by audition. - Those students achieving the top auditions scores for each instrument will be placed in Jazz

Ensemble. The prospective annual instrumentation for Jazz 1 is as follows: - 5 saxophones (2 alto, 2 tenor, 1 baritone), 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, 2-3

percussionists, 1 pianist, 1 bass, and 1 guitar.

Jazz Lab - Jazz Lab is a fantastic semester long A/B elective during which you will work extensively on

jazz improvisation, jazz history, and jazz appreciation. - ALL students (on any instrument) are encouraged to register for Jazz Lab. - NO AUDITION IS REQUIRED to register for Jazz Lab.

Marching Band (co-curricular ensemble) - Beginning in the summer, our Marching Band performs throughout the fall season for all

football games, marching festivals, and parades. - Marching Band is the BEST way to meet 80+ new friends before the first day of school even

begins! - All wind players and percussionists MUST be enrolled in Concert or Symphonic Band in order

to be eligible to participate in Marching Band. - More info will be distributed in early 2016




Specific Audition Information: Symphonic Band

All Students will prepare the following: - Literature Excerpts: students will perform brief excerpts from several pieces of Symphonic

Band-level literature. - Major and Chromatic Scales: students will perform 2 major scales and 1 chromatic scale for

the audition, all of which are listed within the packet. Mallet Percussionists will also perform scales.

- Snare Drum Rudiments: Percussionists focusing on Snare Drum will perform 3 rudiments, all listed below.

- Fundamental Techniques: all students will demonstrate fundamental techniques (articulation, range, flexibility, etc.) necessary to adequately perform challenging literature.

- Recordings: Recordings for each excerpt listed can easily be found on iTunes. Most pieces can be purchased for approximately $1.00.

- Smart Music: Every piece from which each Symphonic excerpt is selected is available on Smart Music, a subscription-based music software and practice aid. If you are looking for recordings and/or additional practice for these excerpts, it is HIGHLY recommended that you look into Smart Music (www.smartmusic.com).   


Tempo and Range Considerations Do the best you can to perform your audition material as close to the requested tempo as possible. If there are notes that are higher/lower than you are used to playing, do the best

you can to use good air support to play them confidently.

Percussion Info The percussion audition requires all candidates to perform on 4 different instruments (Vibraphone, Bells, Snare Drum, and Timpani). We have made the CBW percussion

instruments available for you to practice and/or complete your recording. Please email Mr. Delson ([email protected]) or speak with your current band director if you would like to

schedule a time to use this equipment.

mailto:[email protected]://www.smartmusic.commailto:[email protected]://www.cbsd.org/page/17312


Specific Audition Information: Jazz Ensemble

All Students will prepare the following: - Prepared excerpt: Students will perform excerpts of transcribed solos from classic jazz solos. - Scales: scale requirements for Jazz Ensemble are the same as Symphonic Band. You do not

need to perform scales twice if you are auditioning for both ensembles. - GUITAR will follow the scale requirements listed for FLUTE - BASS will follow the scale requirements listed for TUBA - PIANO will follow the scale requirements listed for FLUTE (2 hands for all scales)

- Improvised Solo (OPTIONAL but highly encouraged): - Students will perform an improvised (or pre-written) solo over standard changes. - Mr. Delson has prepared a Jazz Improvisation Method Book that we will use in class.

This packet should be valuable to developing improvisers. A link to that packet is included on the audition website under Jazz Ensemble Auditions. Click the link at the bottom of any page to go to that site.

- This portion is OPTIONAL. The improvisation section can only ADD to your overall score. Think of it as extra credit. You cannot lose points on this portion.

- Drummers will not participate in this portion of the audition

- Percussion Grooves: In lieu of scales, students auditioning on Drum Set will listen to and duplicate the drum grooves from the following recordings. No music is provided for this excerpts. Do your best to synthesize what you hear and incorporate it into your own performance.

- Basie, Straight Ahead (from the album Straight Ahead by Count Basie) - from 0m17s to 0m51s

- Soul Intro/The Chicken (from the album The Birthday Concert by Jaco Pastorius) - from 1m9s to 1m46s

- Nutville (from the album Cape Verdean Blues by Horace Silver) - from 0m0s to 0m24s

- Recordings: Recordings of each piece are available on iTunes.


Note for Jazz Flute, Clarinet, and Vibraphone players  

Audition material for these instruments is provided. Due to the lack of standard literature available for flute, clarinet and vibraphone players, however, students

auditioning on these instruments can only earn entry in Jazz Ensemble at the director’s discretion. If a second Jazz Ensemble (2) runs, all students meeting a minimum

technical requirement (raw audition score) will be eligible for that ensemble.



Major and Chromatic Scale Requirements- Wind Instruments

Major scales should be tongued and chromatic scales slurred. Scales are listed in TRANSPOSED (not concert) pitch. All scales should be performed at a minimum of ♩= 100 using the following rhythms:

Flute Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) - C chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Oboe Scales - Eb major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) - C chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Bassoon Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) - F chromatic scale (2 octaves

Clarinet Scales - D major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) - F chromatic scale (3 octaves)

Saxophone Scales (alto, tenor, and bari) - E major (2 octaves) and Db major scale (2 octaves) - E chromatic scale (2 octaves)

(continued on next page)  




Trumpet Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (1 octave) - C chromatic scale (2 octaves)

F Horn Scales - F major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) - G chromatic scale (2 octaves in treble clef)

Trombone Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) - Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Euphonium (Baritone Horn) Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and C# major scale (1 octave) - Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Tuba Scales - Eb major (2 octaves) and B major scale (2 octaves) - Bb chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Percussionists must prepare all 4 excerpts on the literature page, but may choose ONE of the two options below, based on your instrumental focus. Mallet-focused students should perform scales and snare drum-focused students should perform rudiments.

Mallet Percussion Scales - Ab major (2 octaves) and F# major scale (2 octaves) - C chromatic scale (2 octaves)

Snare Drum Rudiments - Perform the three rudiments below from slow to fast and back to slow. - Watch John Wooten demonstrate all rudiments (slow→fast→slow)

- #6- Double Stroke Roll (http://vicfirth.com/double-stroke-roll/) - #17- Double Paradiddle (http://vicfirth.com/17-double-paradiddle/) - #28- Swiss Army Triplet (http://vicfirth.com/28-swiss-army-triplet/)

- You should also search online for additional Vic Firth videos with John Wooten for tips and strategies for these and other rudiments. They are a fantastic resource and practice aid.  


Important Percussion Information

http://www.cbsd.org/page/17312http://vicfirth.com/double-stroke-roll/http://vicfirth.com/17-double-paradiddle/http://vicfirth.com/28-swiss-army-triplet/


Audition Scoring Rubric

Criteria Scale Weight Total Score

1 2 3 4 5

Pitch Pitches performed inaccurately, and mistakes detract from many areas

of the performance.

Pitches performed somewhat

accurately, and mistakes detract from some areas

of the performance.

Most pitches performed

accurately, and mistakes do not detract from the

performance.

All pitches performed accurately.

3.5

Rhythm Rhythms performed

inaccurately, and mistakes detract from many areas

of the performance.

Rhythms performed somewhat

accurately, and mistakes detract from some areas

of the performance.

Most rhythms performed

accurately, and mistakes do not severely detract

from the performance.

All rhythms performed accurately.

3.5

Timing (pulse) A consistent underlying pulse

is not present throughout the performance,

severely detracting from

the performance.

A consistent underlying pulse

is not present throughout the

performance, e.g. more difficult rhythms are

played at a slower tempo, detracting


A consistent underlying pulse is often present throughout the performance,

however, some phrases may be

rushed, detracting from the

performance.


is present throughout most

of the performance with minor flaws that do not detract



is present throughout the performance.

3

Intonation Necessary adjustments are

not made to pitches, e.g.

alternate fingerings, shading, or

lipping up/down, and flaws severely detract from the

performance.

Some adjustments are not made to

pitches, e.g. alternate

fingerings, shading, or

lipping up/down, and flaws may

detract from the performance.

Many necessary adjustments are made to pitches,

e.g. alternate fingerings, shading, or

lipping up/down, and flaws do not detract from the

performance.

All necessary adjustments are made to pitches,

e.g. alternate fingerings, shading, or

lipping up/down.

3.5




Criteria Scale Weight Total Score

1 2 3 4 5

Tone Uncharacteristic tone that lacks

fundamentals (full breath support,

good embouchure,

properly voiced oral cavity)

throughout the range of the instrument.

Partially characteristic tone

that lacks full breath support throughout the

range and registers of the

instrument.

Full characteristic tone that lacks

some control in one or more

registers of the instrument.

Full characteristic sound that is

controlled and mature in all

registers of the instrument.

3.5

Articulation Printed articulations are not performed,

and these mistakes detract from many areas

of the performance.

Printed articulations performed somewhat

accurately, and those mistakes

detract from some areas of the

performance.

Most printed articulations performed

accurately, and mistakes do not severely detract


All printed articulations performed accurately.

1.833

Dynamics Printed dynamics not performed,

and these mistakes detract from many areas

of the performance.

Printed dynamics performed somewhat

appropriately, and these mistakes

detract from some areas of the

performance.

Most printed dynamics

performed appropriately, and

mistakes do not severely detract


All printed dynamics

performed appropriately.

Dynamics performed

appropriately that go beyond those

on the printed page.

1.4

Style (phrasing, agogic weight,

and interpretation)

Stylistic attributes are not

demonstrated.

Few stylistic attributes are

appropriate for the piece and

inconstantly demonstrated

throughout the performance.

Stylistic attributes are

characteristically appropriate for the

piece but inconstantly

demonstrated throughout the performance.

Stylistic attributes are

characteristically appropriate for the

piece and are consistently

demonstrated throughout the performance.

1.834

Marked Tempo Piece performed drastically slower

or faster than metronome

marking.

Piece performed somewhat slower

or faster than metronome

marking.

Piece performed close to

metronome marking.

Piece performed at metronome

marking.

1.833




Final Checklist: review of materials

Please review all items below to ensure your audition is complete prior to sending.

Symphonic Band Audition  ____ Literature excerpts ____ Fundamental exercises ____ Major and chromatic scales (winds and mallets) ____ Rudiments (snare drum only)

Jazz Ensemble Audition  ____ Solo excerpts ____ Major and chromatic scales (only if NOT also auditioning for Symphonic) ____ Improvisation over Summertime

- this portion is OPTIONAL but encouraged - drums do not need to complete this portion of the audition

____ Drum grooves (drummers only)


All submissions due to Mr. Delson by or beforeMONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

Please feel free to email ([email protected]) with any questions you may have! Best of luck!
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cbsd.org/page/17312

CBW Advanced Ensembles · 2015. 12. 14. · - Basie, Straight Ahead (from the album Straight Ahead...

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