Concert Band Audition Information

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Concert Band Audition Information

June 1, 2008

Please find below information concerning auditions for the concert bands at the University of North Dakota this fall.

We would like to encourage you to participate in as many ensembles as you feel you have the time and interest!  Ensembles in the instrumental area include the Wind Ensemble; University Band; 12:00 & 1:00 Jazz Ensembles; “Pride of the North” Marching Band, Hockey & Basketball Pep Bands; UND Chamber Orchestra; Greater Grand Forks Youth Symphony; and the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra.  There are also numerous chamber ensembles to choose from as well.  Please understand that all UND ensembles are open to all students regardless of major.  Also, you are not required to be in any particular ensemble in order to be in another (with the exception of the Hockey Pep Band).  The Wind Ensemble rehearses Mondays & Wednesdays 2:00-3:50 pm, and Fridays 2:00-2:50 pm.; the University Band, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-4:45 pm.

If you are interested in participating in the Wind Ensemble or University Band, auditions will be held during the first week of classes.  This audition will help determine ensemble placement and part assignments for both groups.  The University Band is an open ensemble (all students who enroll may participate), however all students should plan to play for me the during the first week auditions.  Students interested in the “Pride of the North” Marching Band should visit their web site (www.undpride.org), or contact Mr. Robert Brooks (robert_brooks@und.edu; 701-777-4396), for additional information. There is no audition for membership in the marching band, however rehearsals begin prior to classes starting.  Auditions for all other ensembles in the Music Department are held the first week of classes as well.

At the conclusion of this information letter, you will find an article of mine from a recent edition of the North Dakota Music Educators Journal that may help you prepare for your audition.  While these auditions are not meant to be stressful, the better prepared you are, the easier it is for me to make the decisions necessary.  There seems to be more and more students interested in playing in our concert bands, which should contribute to having two outstanding ensembles!  Generally, I would like to hear one or two short prepared solo excerpts or etudes which will demonstrate both your lyrical and technical playing ability.  Flutists who would like to play piccolo, should plan to play some piccolo for me during their audition.  I would prefer to hear percussionists perform for me in as many of the three main areas as possible (snare drum, mallets, and timpani).  The audition will also include two scales of your choice, and sight-reading excerpts for all.  You do not have to be currently enrolled in a concert band to participate in the auditions! 

Please sign-up for an audition time by the end of the day on Monday, August 25 if possible.  Sign-up sheets will be posted outside my office (HFAC 126).  I would like to listen to auditions in “like instrument” categories as much as possible:
           
          Tuesday, 8/26         Flute/Piccolo/Oboe                      
          Wednesday, 8/27    Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Bassoon/Saxophone
          Thursday, 8/28        Brass/String Bass/Percussion

We will have two short organizational meetings during the first scheduled class times of the University Band (Tuesday, 3:30) and Wind Ensemble (Wednesday, 2:00).  Please plan to attend one of these meetings, even if you are not currently enrolled in either ensemble.  At that time we will take care of instrument and locker check-out, as well as other related issues.  We do have some school instruments available for students to use.  Rehearsals for both ensembles will begin the week of September 2nd.

I hope you will consider being a part of our concert band program.  In addition to our normal concerts, we have many exciting events scheduled for both bands this coming academic year.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  If you know of any additional UND students who play band instruments, please encourage them to audition.  If you let me know how to contact them, I will be happy to send them information as well.  I look forward to making music with you this year!

Sincerely,

Dr. James Popejoy
Director of Bands
Associate Professor of Music
University of North Dakota
(701) 777-2815
james_popejoy@und.edu

SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW MUSIC MAJORS
If you are a new, incoming music major at UND this fall, please plan to attend our Orientation Day activities scheduled for Monday, August 25 in the Hughes Fine Arts Center.  If you have not received any information concerning this event, please contact the Music Department office at 701-777-2644.

AUDITIONS:  MAKING THE MOST OF AN OPPORTUNITY

Dr. James Popejoy
Director of Bands

Our students spend a significant amount of time and energy preparing for, and participating in, auditions.  As educators, part of our responsibility is to provide these students with as much information as possible to help them through this process.  Most music educators have extensive personal experience in dealing with the audition process, however we often neglect to share this valuable information with our students.  We all know of students who do well with the required work in their academic classes, but do poorly on exams.  Conversely, many fine musicians in our ensembles are eliminated from participating in honor groups, or from even achieving the opportunities they seek within their own school music programs, because they do not audition well. 

What is the audition committee looking for?
For most auditions, I generally prefer to hear one or two short solo excerpts or etudes that have been prepared in advance by the student.  Unless the audition music has been specified, selection of the proper music is certainly one of the most important aspects of any audition process.  Most audition committees expect to hear both lyrical and technical playing from the student.  While much of the solo literature available will include passages that demonstrate both of these styles of playing, it is perfectly acceptable to perform excerpts from two different solos, or use melodic etudes.  Length is not usually the issue, as most seasoned committee members can make a fairly accurate judgment in a very short time.  I also usually recommend that students not change their repertoire selections immediately prior to an audition, as this will usually only cause them to be more nervous about the process. 

My auditions usually include the performance of several scales and sight-reading excerpts as well.  I find that scale performance can be very helpful in determining a student’s facility, range, basic intonation, and ability to articulate cleanly.  If the student has taken the time and effort to prepare their scales thoroughly ahead of time, this part of the audition can provide an opportunity for them to relax during the performance of something that is routine.  I also use the scale portion of an audition to allow the student to play without the distraction of the printed music.  Many committees believe that this part of the audition often demonstrates a student’s degree of preparation for the audition as well.  

I typically will ask for students to perform two short sight-reading excerpts at auditions.  While some music educators feel that this does not really show much with young performers, I disagree.  If the student is proficient in sight-reading, they will typically learn music and develop

their skills at a faster rate.  This also will allow the conductor and ensemble to move towards the actual making of “music” in a rehearsal much quicker.  I have also found that some students who play their prepared excerpt with wonderful tone and technique (often due to spending an inordinate amount of time on this one selection) will play with a completely different tone and technique when asked to sight-read.  Students can learn to sight-read!  All it takes is a little time and effort during practice sessions.  Working on sight-reading during each daily practice session (and in ensemble rehearsals) can make all the difference.  As music educators, we must help our students by teaching them how to sight-read.  Encouraging the student to simply take a few seconds to carefully look through the excerpt before starting would help many young musicians as well.   

A final thought concerning the scale and sight-reading portion of an audition:  Many times I have had students walk into an audition and say “I don’t really know my scales very well” or “you know, sight-reading has never been a strong point of mine.”  In addition to not providing the proper atmosphere for the committee to listen in, the student is also stating a very simple fact that has a very simple solution.  I usually always try to assure the student that they will be fine, but what I would rather say to them is:  “OK, if you know you don’t know your scales, or you know you are not a good sight-reader, then do something about it!  Take responsibility for the things you don’t know, as soon as you know you don’t know them!”  Knowledge can be a very dangerous thing in the hands of a dedicated and motivated student!

A few helpful hints:
•Take control of the situation!  Present a professional image.  Dress comfortably to help you perform your best, however do not wear shorts, jeans, hats, etc.  An audition is also not the appropriate time to try and make a fashion statement! 

•Show confidence without being “cocky.”  Introduce yourself and your musical selections, carefully preparing the correct pronunciations.  Speak clearly and look the audition committee members in the eye.  Do not make excuses, and try to maintain a positive appearance, even if you do not play as well as you had hoped.  Sell yourself to the committee!

•On the day of the audition, plan everything out as much as possible in order to give yourself the best possible opportunity for success.  Arrive early to the site and allow plenty of time to warm-up properly.  Avoid over-practicing your prepared materials during the warm-up time, as this may cause you to be more nervous.  Have all of the proper equipment with you, as well as extra reeds and supplies.  Leave your instrument case, coat, purse, etc. outside of the audition room.  If something happens beyond your sphere of control on the day of the audition, do not let it affect your performance.  Most committees are happy to adjust their schedules slightly (if at all possible) to accommodate unexpected problems and help you to stay at ease and perform your best.

•Please remember that the members of the audition committee want nothing more than for you to do your best and succeed.  Hearing an audition that has been carefully prepared and well performed is our goal as well!

Reprinted from the North Dakota Music Educator, October 2002.