Wind Ensembles

Wind Orchestra (Ages 10-18)

Elijah Wirth, Conductor

Open to advanced level wind, brass and percussion players, this performing ensemble provides opportunities for the cultivation of a beautiful tone, the building of technical skills, team spirit, and responsible rehearsal habits. Students will strengthen listening skills, their ability to analyze and evaluate music, and music performances. Attention will also be given to relating their music experiences to the time and culture of the pieces they study, as well as to contemporary society. Several performances will be given on and off campus.

Wind Band (Ages 8-18)

Karen Seward, Conductor

Open to intermediate level wind, brass and percussion players, this performing ensemble provides opportunities for the cultivation of a characteristic tone, the building of technical skills, team spirit, and responsible rehearsal habits. Students will strengthen listening skills, their ability to analyze and evaluate music, and music performances. A special emphasis on music reading skills will prepare intermediate students for lifelong musical learning as well. Several performances will be given on and off campus.

Concert Band (Ages 8-18)

Open to beginning level wind, brass and percussion players, this performing ensemble provides opportunities for the cultivation of a characteristic tone, the building of technical skills, team spirit, and responsible rehearsal habits. Students will strengthen listening skills, their ability to analyze and evaluate music, and music performances. A special emphasis on music reading skills will prepare beginning students for lifelong musical learning as well. Several performances will be given on and off campus.

Auditions for New and Continuing Students
for ALL Wind Ensembles

Saturday, August 25, 2012, 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-5:00, L119

Please call the Preparatory Office at 410-234-4630 to schedule an appointment. New students and all members of the 2011-2012 Wind Band and Wind Orchestra must schedule an audition appointment for the 2012-2013 academic year.

First Rehearsal and Parent/Student Orientation: Saturday, September 8, 2012

Audition Requirements

Playing at the recommended repertoire level does not guarantee acceptance. If students are not accepted into the Wind Band or Wind Orchestra, they will be automatically be considered for acceptance in the Concert Band.

Wind Band

All auditions will also include a short sight reading example to be played by the student.

Wind Instruments

1. Please prepare the following scales (at least one octave):
   • B-flat Concert
   • E-flat Concert
   • F Concert
   • Chromatic one octave
      
2. Two contrasting solos, at least 32 measures in length.
   One must be a technical solo, one must be a lyrical, legato solo. At least one of the solos must demonstrate slurs. Suitable solos can be chosen from book 1 or book 2 of the Standard of Excellence series, Essential Elements Series, or Accent on Achievement Series (for appropriate instrument). Or an instrument specific method or etude book.

Percussion

Snare Drum (required)

1. Demonstrate the following:
   • Long Concert Roll
   • Paradiddles (alternated series)
   • Flams (alternated series)
      
2. Solo - at least 32 measures in length.  
   Solo must include rolls. Suitable solos can be chosen from book 1 or book 2 of the Standard of Excellence series, Essential Elements series, or Accent on Achievement series (for appropriate instrument). Or an instrument specific method/etude book.

Mallet instrument (bells or xylo) - optional

1. Demonstrate the following scales (two octaves):
   • B-flat Concert
   • E-flat Concert
   • F Concert
   • Chromatic
2. Solo at least 24 measures in length.
   Solo must include rolls. Suitable solos can be chosen from book 1 or book 2 of the Standard of Excellence series, Essential Elements series, or Accent on Achievement series (for appropriate instrument). Or an instrument specific method/etude book.

If you have questions about specific solos and if they are appropriate for use, please contact Karen Seward via email klseward77@mac.com.

Wind Orchestra

All auditions will also include a short sight reading example to be played by the student.

Wind Instruments

1. You will be asked to play three of the following major scales (at least two of them in two octaves):
   • C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab
   • Chromatic Scale
2. Two contrasting solos.
   One must be a technical solo, one must be a lyrical, legato solo. At least one of the solos must demonstrate slurs.

Percussion

Snare Drum (required)

1. Demonstrate the following:
   • Long Concert Roll (from pianissimo to fortissimo and back to pianissimo)
   • Paradiddles (alternated series)
   • Flams (alternated series)
   • Ruffs (drags)
   • Flam taps
   • Flam accents
2. Solo - at least 32 measures in length.
    Solo must include rolls and dynamic contrasts. Suitable solos can be chosen from Intermediate Snare Drum Studies (Mitchell Peters), Portraits in Rhythm (Anthony Cirone), or any of the Jacques Delecluse books of snare drum etudes.

You must also choose at least one of the following:

Mallet instrument (xylo or marimba)

1. Demonstrate the following major scales (two octaves). You must prepare all of them, however, you will only be asked to play two:
   • B-flat, E-flat, F, C, G, D
   • Chromatic Scale
2. Solo at least 24 measures in length.
   Suitable solos can be chosen from Modern School For Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone (Goldenberg), Percussion Keyboard Technique (McMillan), or any other comparable mallet etude book.

Timpani

1. Tuning – You must tune B-flat, E-flat, and F. You may use a pitch source.
2. Long Concert Roll from pianissimo to fortissimo back to pianissimo on all three tuned drums.
3. Solo at least 24 measures in length.
   Suitable solos may be chosen from Modern Method for Timpani (Saul Goodman) or any comparable method/etude book.

If you have questions about specific solos and if they are appropriate for use, please contact Elijah Wirth via email ewirth2@jhmi.edu