page revised
12/30/2011
On this page you can find:
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Two times each year students have an opportunity to show off their progress. This show-off moment has a rather formal title: "BAND EXAMS". Exams happen twice a year and each one has slightly
different requirements. The chromatic scale is a give in all
exams and all auditions - including percussionists - so keep
it under your fingers! Generally, the requirement are below
(may vary somewhat from year to year)
DO NOT RELY ON THIS PAGE FOR INFO TO PREPARE FOR YOUR
EXAM!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS CHECK THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS!
- Winds:
- Chromatic
scale plus two others for concert band and three
others for symphonic band (major or minor)
- Some portion of one of new band pieces for winds - I will
select it and assign which parts are to be
prepared.
- Sight-reading based on a rhythm that we have been
working on in workshops. Be prepared to write in the
counting.
- Percussion:
- Chromatic
scale plus some rudiments, a long steady roll,
steady single strokes and other techniques we have
been working on.
- Concert Band Perccussion: Some portion of one of
our band pieces - I will select it and assign which
parts are to be prepared.
- Symphonic Band Percussion: The assigned piece is
usually the multiple percussion piece that is part of
the junior district percussion audition - it is tough,
but really pushes you to learn about the very important auxiliary instruments, and how to move around the
section and play different instruments. Students will
need to find time to come in to practice this piece
with the equipment. (Yes, everyone plays this, not
just junior district auditionees.) Piece for Jan 2012
- Sight-reading based on a rhythm that we have been
working on in workshops. Be prepared to write in the
counting.
- Sixth and Seventh Graders
- Again, chromatic
scale plus other scales or
rudiments.
- A piece of your choice. It should be something
that will show off your best playing and should have
some kind of style contrast in it, like fast/slow or staccato/legato. Be prepared to explain
the contrast. You may use sections from more than one
piece. You may use band music or lesson music or
something you have worked out yourself (beware of
popular tunes from books: I am fussy about having you
play the rhythm that is written - if you play it the
way you think it sounds, it will probably be wrong!).
What ever you choose, it should be at least 8 lines
long and have some kind of contrast like: style change
(jazz/classical, swing/Latin, march/quiet piece),
tempo change, staccato/legato...
- Sight-reading is again based on a rhythm that we
have been working on in workshops. Be prepared to
write in the counting.
- Eighth Graders
- No scales or rudiments (yes, I said NO scales/rudiments!)
- A piece to show off with (see 6th/7th grade
description)
- Eighth grade final sight-reading. This is a
comprehensive evaluation of your music reading skills.
It will cover basic quarter note, half note rhythms,
dotted quarters, dotted eighth/sixteenths, cut time,
and 6/8. Each of these rhythm samples will include
easy rhythms as well as more challenging rhythms with
rests, syncopation and tricky patterns. If you practice the review sheets, you
should be in good shape (pages R6, R11, R13 & R14 in the band stuff book). The assessment
will also test your ability to count correctly on long
held notes and rests. The test will be available for
viewing for a few days prior to the exams. You may not
take it home to practice, but practice rhythm sheets
will be available and we will work on all of these
rhythms in workshops. This assessment will go to Mr.
O. as you move to the high school.
HINTS
FOR PREPARING YOUR MUSIC...
- Always, always, always pay attention to
dynamics.
- Check for slurs, accents, staccatos, ritards and
other details.
- Be very careful to play correct dynamics.
- Winds be sure to use your tongue, no "who" to start the notes!
- Feel free to see me for help or take it to your
private lesson teacher - I want you to do well and will help you get there!
- If the assignment seems too hard, see me for help or
an alternative assignment (no loss of points)
Parents!! Contact
me if your young
musician is panicked or having trouble with the exam
material.
This exam is not intended to see who is good enough and who
isn't,
its purpose is to assess the musician's current progress and
what he/she should be focusing on next.
If the material is too difficult, an alternative
assignment can be supplied at no loss of
points.
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