Each audition consists of an excerpt, scales, and sight-reading. Click on your instrument in the drop down menu under the “audition details” tab above, for specific details about your instrument.
String students should find the audition material for their ensemble on the following pages:
- Strings: p. 1 only
- Chamber: p. 2 and 3
- Symphony: p. 4 and 5
- Viola packets have one Symphony scale on p. 3 for space saving purposes. Violists auditioning for Chamber orchestra do not need to play Eb Major.
- Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass Students Should be able to perform scales from lower level ensembles in addition to their own. For example, a Cellist auditioning for Chamber orchestra should also be prepared to play the String orchestra scales, and a violinist auditioning for Symphony orchestra should be able to play the scales and arpeggios from both strings and chamber audition materials.
- A short sight-reading excerpt will be provided.
- Wind, Brass, and Percussion should find the scales and etudes from their packet for their instrument.
Below are the set of skills students need to know to get into each of the VYS groups. This will help new students decide which group to audition for, and returning students know what goals to set in preparation for moving to the next group.
String
~Rhythm Whole, half, quarter, eighth notes
~Keys D and G Major
~Articulations Pizzicato and Arco
~Musicality skills Introduction to dynamics, developing instrument sound on all strings
Chamber
~ Rhythm Whole, dotted half, half, quarter, eighths, sixteenths, tied notes
~ Keys Scales- 2 octave D, G, C, A; and 1-2 octave a, e minor
~ Articulations Identify, define and demonstrate: slurs, hooked bows, accents, legato, staccato Introduced to: spiccato
~ Musicality skills Dynamics: pp-ff; Tone: quality instrument sound on all strings and in position Blend: can recognize melody, counter-melody, harmony parts in a piece; Introduction to: vibrato, phrasing
~ Shifting Violins/violas: basics of 3rd position Cellos: basics of 3rd and 4th position
Symphony
Strings
~ Rhythm All from previous groups, plus understand the basics of syncopation, triplets, compound time signatures
~ Keys Scales- regional audition requirements up to 3 flats, 3 sharps- 1 scale has to be a 3 octave
~ Articulations Slurs, hooked bows, accents, legato, staccato, spiccato
~ Musicality skills Dynamics: pp-ff; Tone: quality instrument sound in all positions; Blend: can recognize melody, counter-melody, harmony parts in a piece; Phrasing: basic understanding of phrasing
~ Vibrato Comfortable with using vibrato and know how to use it in context with the music and phrasing.
~ Shifting Violins/violas/cellos: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th positions Bass: all positions through thumb position
Winds
~ Rhythm All from previous groups, plus understand the basics of syncopation, triplets, compound time signatures
~ Keys 1 octave (2 when possible) major and minor scales from 3 sharps to 3 flats concert pitch (E- Eb Concert)
~ Articulations
~ Musicality skills Dynamics: pp-ff; Tone: quality instrument sound in in all positions; Blend: can recognize melody, counter-melody, harmony parts in a piece; Phrasing: basic understanding of phrasing.
Brass
~ Rhythm All from previous groups, plus understand the basics of syncopation, triplets, compound time signatures
~ Keys 1 octave (2 when possible) major and minor scales from 3 sharps to 3 flats concert pitch (E – Eb Concert)
~ Articulations
~ Musicality skills Dynamics: pp-ff; Tone: quality instrument sound in in all positions; Blend: can recognize melody, counter-melody, harmony parts in a piece; Phrasing: basic understanding of phrasing.
Percussion
~ Rhythm All from previous groups, plus understand the basics of syncopation, triplets, compound time signatures
~ Keys 1 octave (2 when possible) major and minor scales from 3 sharps to 3 flats concert pitch (E – Eb Concert)
~ Articulations Basic rudiments: flam-tap, paradiddle,etc; Double sticking for mallet perc
~ Musicality skills Dynamics: pp-ff; Tone: quality instrument sound in in all positions; Blend: can recognize melody, counter-melody, harmony parts in a piece; Phrasing: basic understanding of phrasing.