L.D. BELL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITION PACKET

Transcription

1 L.D. BELL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITION PACKET Audition Information ~ Scales, Two Etudes, Sight Reading, June Training Camp Information (June 5,6) Blue Raider Band Accomplishments Texas UIL Marching Band State Bronze Medalists Bands of America San Antonio Super-Regional Bronze Medalists St. Louis Super-Regional Silver Medalists

2 Dear Future Bell Band Member, L.D. BELL B l u e R a i d e r B a n d We would like to invite you to become part of the award winning L.D. Bell Band program. As you approach the end of your junior high school years and look to your future as a high school student, we would like you to make us, the L.D. Bell Band, a part of that future. The band program offers you a great deal. We have superior Concert Bands, Jazz Band, Color Guard, I.B. Music, as well as small woodwind, brass, and percussion ensembles. In the fall you will become part of one of the finest marching bands in the country, the L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band. You will also be keeping company with the top academic students in the school. As a member of this band program you will perform in concerts, football games, pep rallies and contests, attend summer Band Camps, take concert trips and attend social gatherings. You will develop long lasting friendships, and you will experience the pride, discipline, and tradition that make the L.D. Bell Band so special. Many students new to Bell are a bit unsure of the direction they plan to go. Often new students feel they do not play well enough. If you have a good attitude, great enthusiasm and a desire to learn, you are exactly who we need. Many students believe they will not have the time. This is not true. Throughout its history our Band students have consistently been among the top students at Bell. We encourage our Band members to be involved in extra-curricular activities. Many Band students graduate with honors, several are in the top ten of their class, and the band consistently has multiple national merit scholars and IB diploma recipients. Our Band members are involved in I.B., A.P., basketball, yearbook, tennis, soccer, baseball, track, swimming, gymnastics, choir, academic decathlon and many hold part time jobs. We will work diligently to cooperate with the directors and coaches of different school organizations in order to balance your load and responsibilities. The simple fact is, you can be in Band as well as almost any other activity or advanced academic. The L.D. Bell Bands are among the finest in the nation. In order for us to continue this tradition of excellence, we need you! If you need assistance, please one of the L.D. Bell Band directors. We look forward to having you with us as part of the L.D. Bell Band. Sincerely, Van Mathews mathews@ldbellband.org John Alstrin alstrin@ldbellband.org Brandon Holt holt@ldbellband.org Ben Maughmer maughmer@ldbellband.org

3 L.D. BELL HIGH SCHOOL BAND AUDITIONS THURSDAY, MAY 9th 4:30PM to 9:00PM AUDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE L.D. BELL BAND HALL Report to the Band Hall. To maintain anonymity, you will be issued an audition number and receive instructions for the specific room and report time for your audition. You may wish to bring homework or a book. A phone will be available in the band hall if needed for your ride home. The Wind Audition Will Include: 12 Major Scales & Chromatic Scale Two Etudes Sight Reading The Percussion Audition Will Include: All Region Etude Excerpts Sight Reading Mr. Mathews - mathews@ldbellband.org Mr. Alstrin - alstrin@ldbellband.org Mr. Holt - holt@ldbellband.org Mr. Maughmer - maughmer@ldbellband.org Band auditions decide Band placement and Chair placement. The L.D. Bell Marching Band is made up of students from all four Concert Bands. Participation in Marching Band is required. Marching Percussion and Color Guard have separate auditions. Separate auditions for Marching positions are held during Summer Band Camp in August for brass and woodwind players and in May for percussion.

4 Please read this sheet carefully. If there is anything you do not understand, please ask your director. AUDITION PROCESS On Thursday, May 9 th you will bring your completed L.D. Bell Band Information Form and Emergency Release Form (included in your packet and on the Bell Band website). You will be able to warm up before you perform. The auditions will be run in the same manner as Region Band auditions. A monitor will give you an Audition Number as the judges are behind a curtain and the auditions are anonymous. To maintain anonymity, a monitor will announce your Audition Number when it is your turn. Please do not talk during your audition. In the event that a portion of your audition is not completed in a reasonable time frame, in order to keep the audition process on schedule, you may be asked to move on to the next portion of the evaluation. AUDITION MATERIAL 1. Scales You will perform the chromatic scale and 2-4 randomly selected major scales. These scales must be performed at your best tempo, please reference the Scale Standards (available on the LD Bell Band Website) for scoring information. The chromatic scale will be slurred up and down, major scales are tongued up and slurred down. Play all scales in the octaves indicated on the attached scale sheet (or as much as you are able). 2. Winds: Etudes Percussion: All Region Excerpts Please prepare both etudes/excerpts specific to your instrument. Work with a friend, get help from a band director or private teacher, practice with a metronome and do your best! We have chosen music that we feel is attainable by all students who will be auditioning with only a couple of weeks to prepare. That said, you will need to practice every night! When you have prepared all of the notes and rhythms with a metronome and tuner then start to work on phrasing, musicality, rubato, style, and dynamics!!! 3. Sight Reading There will be a brief sight reading excerpt following your etudes. It will be used to evaluate your ability to interpret and perform music at sight. The sight reading excerpt will be provided during your audition. You will have 30 seconds to analyze it. You may then play a reference note, and then perform the excerpt. The best way to prepare for this is to spend time reading new music daily. ALL STUDENTS WHO AUDITION AND FULFILL THE MINIMUM COMPETENCIES WILL BECOME PART OF THE BELL BAND PROGRAM. ALL BAND STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF CONCERT BAND ASSIGNMENT, WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE L.D. BELL BLUE RAIDER MARCHING BAND. L.D. BELL HIGH SCHOOL

5 Blue Raider Marching Band JUNE CAMP 2013 Wednesday, June 5...8:30 4:30 Thursday, June 6.8:30 4:30 June Training Camp is held at the L.D. Bell Band Hall. It is for all members of the Band Program (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Color Guard). We will introduce the music for the Fall marching show and learn the fundamentals that will be evaluated in marching spot auditions in August. We will practice 8:30 11:30 am & 1:30 4:30 pm. Lunch is on your own from 11:30 1:30. You can either bring food, return home, or go out to eat. Also, there will be a Social on Wednesday, June 5 th from 7 8:30 pm and a Band Parent Meeting at 7:00 pm. Bring: Wear: Your Marching Instrument (you will check out your Marching Instrument in late May at the LD Bell Band Hall). Flag/Rifle and any other material specific to Color Guard Sunscreen Water Bottle, labeled with your name Lunch or meal money B.E.R.P REQUIRED FOR ALL BRASS Comfortable clothing (shorts, white t-shirt) Black dancewear for Guard. Sneakers no flip flops or sandals. Athletic shoes are essential to proper technique.

6 AUGUST CAMP 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Band Picture * 16* * 20 * 21 * 22 * 23 * No AM Rehearsal 1 st Day of Classes 27 7:15 am :00 am 30 7:15 am 5:15pm 11:00 pm Bell vs. N. Crowley Football 31 Make-up Rehearsal 7:30 10:30am *This calendar may change! Keep yourself updated with the most current 3 week schedule, the L.D. Bell Band Calendar and potential changes in schedules at: August Training Camp is held at the L.D. Bell Band Hall. It is for all members of the Band Program (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Color Guard). We will audition for drill spots, learn a VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT of the Fall marching show and ALL of the Spirit Show. Bring: Your Marching Instrument (School owned marching instruments will be distributed during June Camp). Flag/Rifle and any other material specific to Color Guard Sunscreen Water Bottle, labeled with your name Lunch or meal money B.E.R.P REQUIRED FOR ALL BRASS Wear: Comfortable clothing (shorts, white t-shirt) Black dancewear for Guard. Sneakers no flip flops or sandals. Athletic shoes are essential to proper technique. We will practice,,. These times may change due to facility availability and/or weather conditions. Lunch and dinner are on your own from 11:00 1:30 and 4:00 6:30 pm. You can bring food, return home, or go out to eat.