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All students who would like to perform with the Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Jazz Band or Honors Jazz Band next school year must audition this school year with the music provided in the links below. This is a requirement for incoming students as well as current MBHS students.
Auditions for current MBHS students will take place the week of January 27-30 during class and after school, and the audition will comprise your first grade of the second semester. Auditions for incoming freshmen will take place at Montgomery Blair High School on Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27 from 3:15-5:15 P.M. by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please email Ms. Roberts (Michelle_Roberts@mcpsmd.org) with your top three choices for an audition time by Friday, May 8. She will try to accommodate as many people as possible.
Current students not enrolled in a music class next semester but who would still like to audition should sign up for an audition time on the windows outside of Room 14.
Prepare the excerpts listed below for your audition. You may also be asked to perform scales (up to 4 sharps and 4 flats), and perform sight-reading.
Note: Improvisation is optional for those auditioning for a jazz band. If you choose to improvise, it should be over a 12-bar blues in B-flat (Aebersold, Nothin' but Blues).
You will not find out your placement on the spot. A roster will be posted the week of February 2 with this information, and placement information will be forwarded to your counselor.
If you have any questions, please see Ms. Roberts or Mr. Doyle in Room 14.
| Links to the excerpts to be prepared for each instrument are below. Where there are two or three excerpts listed (as in "1, 2"), all should be prepared. Note: These are large files. Most are between 3 and 4 MB. Allow time for downloading! |
| Brass and Percussion
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Strings
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Winds
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French Horn 1, 2
Mallets
Snare
Trombone 1, 2
Trumpet 1, 2
Tuba 1, 2
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Bass 1, 2
Cello 1, 2
Viola 1, 2
Violin 1, 2
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Bassoon
Clarinet 1, 2
Flute 1, 2
Oboe 1, 2
Saxophone 1, 2
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Jazz Audition Requirements
Students who would like to perform with the Jazz Lab Band or the Honors Jazz Band must first audition.
Non-traditional jazz instruments are welcome to audition for the Jazz Lab Band (Violin, flute, clarinet, etc.) The Honors Jazz Band, however, follows strict big band instrumentatiion (saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, vibes, guitar, bass and drumset).
Audition Requirements:
1) Scales: Blues Scale study, Concert Cmi7 study
2) Required excerpt:
3) Improvisation (optional): Aebersold, Nothin' but Blues Fast Blues in B♭
4) Rhythm Section Groove Requirements
5) Sight Reading
Rhythm Section Groove Requirements:
• Guitar, Piano, Bass, Vibes:
Blues changes in the key of B♭.
Swing mm = 100
Swing mm = 240
• Drum Set:
12 bars of time in the following styles:
Swing mm = 100
Swing mm = 240
Latin (bossa nova) mm = 100
Funk mm = 92
4 bars of solo in the following styles:
Swing mm = 100
Swing mm = 240
Latin (bossa nova) mm = 100
Funk mm = 92
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