American Festival for the Arts, 2010 Summer Music Conservatory and Concert Series

 

Audition Requirements by Department


Woodwinds
•Two solo works in contrasting styles-these may be a movement from a sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice

•A two or three octave major scale of your choice and a two or three octave chromatic scale (as appropriate for your insturment).

•All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable

Applicants who wish to audition on flute and piccolo, oboe and English horn, or clarinet and bass clarinet should prepare one piece for each instrument. Clarinetists who are proficient on either A, Eb or bass clarinet (in addition to Bb) should bring these instruments to the audition.

Brass
•Two solo works in contrasting styles-these may be a movement from a sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice

•A two or three octave major scale of your choice and a two or three octave chromatic scale (as appropriate for your insturment).

•All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable

All Strings
•Two solo works in contrasting styles-these may be a movement from a sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice

•A two octave (Middle School applicants) or three octave (High School applicants) major scale of your choice and a one octave chromatic scale (as appropriate for your instrument).

•All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable

Harp
•Two solo works in contrasting styles-these may be a movement from a sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice

•A two hand, three octave major scale of your choice.

•All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable

Piano
•Two works in contrasting styles and characters (applicants may choose excerpts from longer pieces); total playing time should not exceed 10 minutes.

•Sight-reading (given when you check in to your audition) to be played after a thirty-minute practice period.

•A two-hand, four octave major scale of your choice and a two-hand, two octave chromatic scale.

Percussion
Applicants should prepare as many of the following items as possible. Please note that the listed method books are guidelines-similar material is acceptable.

  • Timpani: Etudes such as selections from Goodman Modern Method for Timpani or Hochrainer Etudes for Timpani or Firth Solo Timpani.
  • Snare Drum: Etudes comparable to selections from Goldenberg Modern School for Snare Drum or Cirnoe Portraits in Rhythm or Delecluse Twelve Studies for Snare Drum.
  • Mallets: Etudes such as selections from Goldenberg Modern School of Xylophone, Marimba or Vibraphone or any arrangement of Bach, Handel or Haydn.


Voice
•Two solos from the art song, operetta, music theatre or opera repertory, preferably in contrasting styles. All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL solo music is also acceptable.

• Pitch memory exercises (given at audition)

PLEASE NOTE: AFA staff pianists will accompany auditions held on Saturdays ONLY; Applicants auditioning at Regional Auditions during the week must provide a CD accompaniment. A cappella auditions will only be heard in instances where a CD accompaniment is not available.

Composition
Applicants should submit a portfolio of their compositions at the time of application, including printed scores and recordings if available (MIDI realizations are acceptable). Your materials will be reviewed by adjudicators before your audition date. Auditions will not be scheduled until a portfolio is received. Please be sure to retain copies of all materials submitted. Recordings may be submitted on CD or cassette tape only. Find AFA's mailing address here.

Jazz
Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano and Bass
:
• One movement from a solo, sonata, concerto or solo transcription of your choice and an etude in a contrasting style. One of these works should be jazz oriented.
(All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable).

• A two octave major scale of your choice and a chromatic scale of your choice.

Trap Set:
• Demonstrate various styles as requested (swing, latin, rock, etc.) and demonstrate knowledge of the 24 basic rudiments.

Improvisation experience is helpful but not required. Those applicants with experience should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency by playing with a James Aebersold F or B-flat blues during the audition. AFA will provide stereo equipment.

Questions? Check our Frequently Asked Questions list!