Band Audition Information '09
Denver School of the Arts
Band Audition Information
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Band Audition Information
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The following information is intended as a guide for audition evaluation. Audition adjudicators will use a scale to rate a student in various areas of the audition process.
A 5-point scale is used throughout the audition process:
5 = Outstanding
4 = Excellent
3 = Good (Average for age)
2 = Below Average
1 = Poor
Promptness: Please arrive to the school 30 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time. Check in at the instrumental music registration table when you get here. There will be a parent there to help you. After checking in you will be shown to a practice room to warm up.
Please bring the following items to the audition:
Essay: (one page maximum) We are looking for desire to attend the school and a passion for music. We evaluate writing skills, appropriate terminology, evidence of training and enthusiasm.
Resume: We are looking for evidence of music training, lesson and teacher history, performance history, and awards in music or other evidence of scholastic achievement. Also, include evidence of musical projects or musical endeavors. Evidence of any artistic training helps.
Portfolio: We look for evidence and proof of above listed resume items. Also we look for evidence of any other art form the student may be interested in. We try to get an idea of the student's personality and sense of academic and artistic drive through the portfolio.
During the audition, be prepared to share your background and skill though:
Interview: In the interview, we evaluate the student's ability to respond to questions, the student's desire to be in the program and their general enthusiasm for music study. We look for attentiveness, alertness and positive behavior as well as the ability to articulate feelings.
Theory: The theory part of the interview is basic and is intended only to see if there has been any theory training in lessons or elsewhere.
Beat: Students may be asked to clap to a piece of music to see the basic ability to distinguish and follow pulse consistently.
Scales: Evaluation of scales is based on tone, note accuracy, facility and range.
Required: 2 Major scales, 2 Minor and 1 Chromatic
Prepared Piece: The prepared piece is evaluated based on these specific areas:
1. Note/rhythmic accuracy
2. Intonation
3. Articulation
4. Interpretation
5. Beauty of tone
6. Musical spirit
7. The prepared piece must be classical in style. This indicates knowledge of musical style and work with a teacher.
Sight Reading: The sight-reading piece is probably the most important evaluative piece of the audition other than the prepared piece. Sight reading is evaluated on these specific areas: note/rhythmic accuracy, intonation, articulation, interpretation, beauty of tone and musical spirit.
Percussionists: Percussionists must perform the audition on snare and a mallet instrument (ie. bells, marimba, vibes). All percussionists are responsible for the scale requirement outlined above. Be prepared to play at least the 4 basic snare rudiments (ie. paradiddle, flam, single and double stroke rolls) in slow – fast – slow style.
All parents of students auditioning are reminded that acceptance to the school is not solely based on the audition performance. Other factors such as grade level population, large group instrumentation requirements may be considered.
**Remember: Check the DSA website http://dsa.dpsk12.org for more information about DSA.