2020-2021 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. 8 byGoldenberg Snaredrumsolo: Etude No. 9byDelecluse Timpanisolo:Exercise No. 40 byHochrainer

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

RequiredexcerptsfortheSymphony Orchestralevel: Tambourine:Carmen byBizet Xylophone: Porgy and Bess byGershwin

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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.

Xylophone Solo: SymphonyGoldenberg:EtudeNo.8

Snare Drum Solo: SymphonyDelecluse:EtudeNo.9

Tympani Solo: SymphonyHochrainer:EtudeNo.40

Xylophone Excerpt: SymphonyGershwin:Porgy and Bess

Tambourine Excerpt: SymphonyBizet:Carmen