Students may find themselves having to audition for not only for a position in public school groups, but for summer camps and youth symphonies. What is required and how do you prepare them?
Youth Symphony
- It would be a great idea to attend one of the youth symphony’s concerts so the student understands the type and difficulty of this music. Hopefully the number of students involved from different schools, the variety of instruments and the fabulous sound of a large orchestra will really get them excited to prepare a good audition.
- Check the website for audition date and requirements.
- Select music as needed i.e. try to include a fast selection to show technique and a slow selection to show tone and musicality.
- Set practice expectations so that required scales and solo selections are prepared well by the audition date.
- Confirm whether you need an accompanist or whether you may audition unaccompanied.
- If sight reading is going to be a part of this audition, be sure to spend extra time doing some sight reading during lessons. By sight reading duets the teacher will help keep the tempo going, which forces the student to think fast, look ahead and not stop if they miss a note. Sight reading some orchestral excerpts will familiarize the student with the type of music they are committing to playing.
- Confirm the date and location and hopefully the time for the audition.
- Be sure that the student has a ride to the audition.
- Be sure that the student’s family is ready to committee to rehearsal day, time and frequency, concert dates and any fees or costs associated with this group.
- Be sure to cover appropriate dress for an audition.
Summer Camps
- Check the website for application forms and audition requirements.
- Be sure that you follow any application details to the letter including the cut-off date for applications and performance submission CD’s or videos.
- You may have to help with creating recordings for submission although students are so tech savvy you may only need to hear it before it is submitted.
- Be sure that the student downloads and prints any music being programmed so it can be prepared before they arrive at camp.
- Let them know that they may have to play their audition pieces for chair placement once they arrive.
Public School Groups
If there are different performance groups in a school, students may need to audition to get in. The suggestion here is that students are always practicing scales, sight reading and should already have a solo ready. They can polish things for an audition which may take place on short notice. Try to keep your students ahead of the expectations. They are taking private lessons and should show knowledge of note and rhythm accuracy, key signatures, vibrato, good tone and appropriate breathing technique and location to mention just a few. By helping out as a flute coach once in a while at local schools, you can keep up on expectations at different grade levels and of music teachers you should know in your community. You may even pick up some new private students by being around the school
Bellevue Youth Symphony: Example of Audition Materials
Here is an example of an audition from the Bellevue, Washington Youth Symphonies for you. As you can see they have three levels of youth orchestra. These requirements also help a teacher to know what to include in private lessons at this performance level.
There is also a link to an example of a list of All State Wind Symphony audition materials.
The Bellevue Youth Symphony is located in Bellevue, Washington, USA.