2019-2020 Audition InformationPercussion - Symphony Orchestra

AUDITION SITE DETAILS

What to bring •soloandexcerptmusicprovidedinthispacket •xylophonemallets,snaresticks,timpanimallets

What not to bring •woodorhardplasticmallets(weareinasmallroom,somedium-softorhardrubbermalletswouldbebest). •personalinstrumentsorstands,includingsnaredrums—weareonaverytightschedule,andinordertomove asquicklyaspossible,wewillrequireallcandidatestousetheinstrumentsalreadyintheroom

What is provided •extramusic;ifyouhavemarkingsinyourownmusic,youshouldbringyourowncopy •malletsandsticks,butweencourageyoutobringwhatyouareusedtousing •3-1/2octaverosewoodxylophone(Yamaha) •5x14”aluminumsnaredrum,cableandwiresnares(Pearl) •setoffourtimpani,copper,balancedactionpedals(Ludwig) •musicstands •tuningfork(A=440)

Warm-up room Therewillbeawarm-uproomthatyouwillbeallowedtousetenminutespriortoyouraudition.Therewillbea 3-1/2octavekelonxylophoneanda5x14”metalsnaredrumintheroom.TimpaniwillNOTbeavailableinthe warm-uproom.

PERCUSSION AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

1. Solo pieces Youarerequiredtopreparesolopiecesonthexylophone,snaredrum,andtimpani(attached).Yoursolopieces neednotbememorized.Foryourtimpanisolo,asetoffourtimpaniwillbeprovided.Youwillbegiven60seconds totunethetimpanibeforeyoubeginplaying,usingastandardA=440pitchtuningfork(provided)foryour referencepitch.Pitch-pipesandelectronictunerswillnotbeallowed.Tuninggaugeswillbecoveredatthe audition.

Withyoursoloand/oryourpreparedexcerpt(s),youmaybeaskedtoplayitagaininadifferentmanner(slower, faster,morelyrically,etc.).Pleaseregardthisasevidenceofyourmusicalflexibility,whichwillweighheavilyon thesuccessofyouraudition.

RequiredpercussionsolorepertoirefortheSymphony Orchestralevel: Xylophonesolo:Etude No. XII from Modern School for Xylophone Snaredrumsolo: Etude No. 4byDelecluse Timpanisolo:Exercise No. 71 fromGoodman Modern Method for Tympani

2. Excerpts Attachedarepreparedexcerptsonthetimpaniandbells.Ifyouareunfamiliarwiththeexcerpts,consultwith yourprivateteacheroracoachwhoisfamiliarwiththem.Itisrecommendedthatyoualsolistentoarecordingor liveperformanceofthepieceinordertogiveyourselfpropertempoandmusicalcontext.

RequiredexcerptsfortheSymphony Orchestralevel: Tambourine:Carnival Overture byDvorak Xylophone: Scythian Suite byProkofiev

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Percussion - Symphony, continued

3. Scales & technique Scales:Allrequiredscalesmustbememorized.Automaticallyplaythecorrespondingarpeggiostoascale,if required.Youmustbeabletoplaythefollowingscalesonthexylophonein2octaves:Allthemajorscalesinall keysandnaturalminorscales,aswellasthemelodicandharmonicminorscalesinthekeysofa,d,e,gandb. Allscalesaretobeplayedfrommemory.Practiceyourscalesonanactualxylophonesoyouwillbeprepared.

Technique:SNARELONGROLL:Thelongrolltestsyourabilitytosustainaneven,concert-style(buzz)rollwith extremedynamicchangessteadilyoverseveralsecondsandintheappropriatetime.Therollwillbedirectedby oneofthejudges.

4. Sight-reading Sight-readingforallorchestraswillincludecomplexrhythmsrelativetotheleveloftheorchestra.Feelfreetotell theconductorwhichorchestrayouaretryingoutfor.Sight-readingforRepertorywillbeonboththexylophone andsnaredrum.Rhythmswillconsistofstandardnotevaluesassmallassixteenthnotesandmayincludetriplets ordottednotevalues.Rollsmaybeincluded.

5. Orchestra placement Studentplacementiscompetitiveandisrankedinorderofartisticquality.Thosequalitiesincludesuperiority oftone,intonation,vibrato(asappropriate),dynamicrange,musicalityandgeneralaccuracy.Althoughastudent maybeabletoperformalltherequirementsforaparticularorchestra,heorshemaystillnotqualifybasedonthe levelofcompetitioninagivenyear.

6. Auditions are closed to the public, including parents and families.

7. Prior participation in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies is no gaurantee of placement.

FOR ADDITIONAL AUDITION TIPS, REFER TO THE AUDITIONS PAGE AT WWW.MNYOUTHSYMPHONIES.ORG.Questions? Call (651) 699-5811 or email mys@mnyouthsymphonies.org.