HS Band Audition Requirements
Participation Eligibility RequirementsThere are three requirements for a student to be eligible to audition for the NEKMEA Band, Jazz Band or Orchestra Winds/Percussion membership:
- The student must first be a performing member of their school's band program.
- The student's director must submit an online audition form and a printed form with payment to NEKMEA for each student auditioning. This form must be submitted by the deadline established by NEKMEA.
- The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school.
- A chromatic scale slurred up and tongued down. Quarter Note MM= 60. Play the rhythm as written on the scale sheet. Memorization is not required.
- One major scale, as written on the scale sheet, with up to 4 sharps or 4 flats. Quarter Note MM= 60. Play the rhythm as written on the scale sheet. Memorization is not required. All scales will start on the notes indicated on the scale sheet for their instrument. Each scale is non-transposed (i.e., if a trumpet player is asked to perform a C scale, they will be expected to perform a C scale on their instrument, not a C concert scale.) The major scale for each instrument will be posted by the band chairpersons on the morning of live auditions.
- NEW for 2022-23 - A scale sheet link is provided indicating articulation and range for each scale. Please perform the rhythms as indicate with the metronome setting of quarter note equals MM=60
- Sections of the required etudes/solos listed below.
- Sight reading
Flute & Piccolo Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Bass & Contra Clarinet Saxophones Trumpet Horn Trombone & Euphonium Tuba
2022-23 Audition Excerpts
PiccoloSelected Studies for Flute, H. Voxman, Rubank/Hal Leonard (#4470700). Play page 38, Ab Major etude, first six lines plus two measures to the quarter rest, students should play measures 11 and 12 up an octave to avoid the range problem with the low Db and C; page 40, Gigue, the first five lines (no repeat).
NEKMEA Cuts
1. A-flat Major etude - Play measures 1 through 8.
2. F minor etude - Start on count 3 of the 4th line and play to the end of the 5th line (no repeat)
1. A-flat Major etude - Play measures 1 through 8.
2. F minor etude - Start on count 3 of the 4th line and play to the end of the 5th line (no repeat)
Flute
Suite in A-Minor, Telemann, published by International Music Co. (2260). Play No. 3 'Air a I'Italien' movement, but no da Capo. Measure 16 should use the same rhythm on count one and two as the rhythm in measure 15. The flute rhythm in the piano part is correct for measure 16.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Largo - play measures 14 to count 1 on measure 20
2. Allegro - play measure 27 to beat three of measure 35
1. Largo - play measures 14 to count 1 on measure 20
2. Allegro - play measure 27 to beat three of measure 35
Oboe
Concerto in C for Oboe and Orchestra, attributed to Haydn, edited by Rothwell, published by Oxford University Press (#3642131) (#9780193851627). First movement: page 1, begin at letter D (2nd line) and end on quarter note C (end of line 6). Page 5, play all of the Cadenza. Second movement: page 6, play from the beginning to the end of the 4th line.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Mvt. 1: Start playing the in the 11th measure after D beginning on the two half note C's play to the Quarter note C 3 before E
2. Mvt. 2 Begin pick up note C in measure 8 and play to the end of the phrase ending on F 5 before A
1. Mvt. 1: Start playing the in the 11th measure after D beginning on the two half note C's play to the Quarter note C 3 before E
2. Mvt. 2 Begin pick up note C in measure 8 and play to the end of the phrase ending on F 5 before A
Bassoon
Concertpiece, Op. 35, Gabriel Pierné, edited by Schubert-Garfield, published by International Music Co. (1617) Play from the beginning to letter C; letter F to letter H; and letter O to the end.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Begin at rehearsal mark A (measure 9) and play to rehearsal mark B (end on the C before B)
2. Begin at rehearsal mark F and play 12 measures. Ends on the dotted half note F#
1. Begin at rehearsal mark A (measure 9) and play to rehearsal mark B (end on the C before B)
2. Begin at rehearsal mark F and play 12 measures. Ends on the dotted half note F#
B♭ Clarinet
Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 74, Carl Maria von Weber, published by Carl Fischer (CU-752). Romance movement: begin after C at Recit. with note E on fermata (Lento) prior to Maestoso and play to the end of movement. Polacca movement: play beginning to ten measures rest, and page 10 (in newer editions page 11), begin playing six measures before M and play to the end of the piece.
Errata: (added Oct. 2, 2013) Measure 24 of the Polacca mvt. should have the same rhythm as measure 9. The correct rhythm is 2-16th notes, dotted 16th & 32nd note.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Page 7 - Start at the 6/8 and play 14 measures to the end of the movement.
2. Page 7 - Polacca movement - measures 2-9 (stop after written C)
1. Page 7 - Start at the 6/8 and play 14 measures to the end of the movement.
2. Page 7 - Polacca movement - measures 2-9 (stop after written C)
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ and B♭ Contra Bass Clarinet
Adagio and Allegro, Johann Ernest Galliard, arr. by Lyle Merriman, published by Southern Music Co. (SS-686). (Hal Leonard 3774337). I: Adagio from Sonata No. 3, begin at A and play to the end of the movement. II: Allegro from Sonata No. V, play from the beginning to D.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Mvmt. I - start at rehearsal mark A and play four measures stopping at the note A on beat three of the fourth measure
2. Mvmt. II - start at beginning and play to the first eighth note (on F) in measure eight.
1. Mvmt. I - start at rehearsal mark A and play four measures stopping at the note A on beat three of the fourth measure
2. Mvmt. II - start at beginning and play to the first eighth note (on F) in measure eight.
Saxophones (Alto, Tenor, Baritone)
27 Virtuoso Studies by Bassi, transcribed for Oboe and Sax by Gerardo Iasilli, published by Carl Fischer (O-61). #1, page 4: play 3rd line from the top to the end. #14: play first three lines.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. #1, page 4: play 3rd line from the top to the 5th line/second measure ending at the D 8th note
2. #14: play from the beginning, ending on the first note (B dotted 8th note) in the 6th full measure.
1. #1, page 4: play 3rd line from the top to the 5th line/second measure ending at the D 8th note
2. #14: play from the beginning, ending on the first note (B dotted 8th note) in the 6th full measure.
B♭ Cornet and Trumpet
Prelude Et Ballade, by Balay, published by Belwin Mills (BWI-69). Play from line 5, last measure (Expressi) to the end of the first page. Skip to Allegro Moderato section: play all of page 2 and end after the first measure on page 3 (11 measures of rest).
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Page one - start playing in the last measure of the 5th line to the fermata on the 8th line
2. Page two - start playing at m. 9 on the first line to the end of the 4th line
1. Page one - start playing in the last measure of the 5th line to the fermata on the 8th line
2. Page two - start playing at m. 9 on the first line to the end of the 4th line
French Horn
Morceau De Concert, Saint-Saëns, published by Warner Bros. (TS-0002). Play #1 to #2; play #3 to #4; (CHANGE) play from fifth measure after #11 to end (no trill on the D).
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Start at box 1, play to 11 measures after box one. Stopping after the B-natural beat one quarter note
2. Start at the entrance after box 3. Play 8 measures through the dotted half note G
1. Start at box 1, play to 11 measures after box one. Stopping after the B-natural beat one quarter note
2. Start at the entrance after box 3. Play 8 measures through the dotted half note G
Trombone and Euphonium
Morceau Symphonique, Alexander Guilmant, ed. Falaguerra, published by Warner Bros. (TS-0046) Play beginning to 4th measure of 3rd line. Play last three lines of page 1. (CHANGE) Play from the beginning of Allegro Moderato to the end, the last 40 measures of the composition.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Page 1 - Andante Sosteunto - Play measure 3 through measure 10, stopping on the quarter rest in measure 10
2. Page 2 - Allegro Moderato - start at the Con Fuoco and play 9 measures ending on the high Concert Bb.
1. Page 1 - Andante Sosteunto - Play measure 3 through measure 10, stopping on the quarter rest in measure 10
2. Page 2 - Allegro Moderato - start at the Con Fuoco and play 9 measures ending on the high Concert Bb.
Tuba
Air and Bourée, by Bach, arr. by William Bell, published by Carl Fischer. (W-1647) Play all of the Air. Bourée: Play from the beginning through the half note 1 measure before #4.
NEKMEA Cuts
1. Air - Rehearsal mark 2 to the end of the Air
2. Bourée - three quarters before Rehearsal mark 3 to the B-flat half note before rehearsal 4
1. Air - Rehearsal mark 2 to the end of the Air
2. Bourée - three quarters before Rehearsal mark 3 to the B-flat half note before rehearsal 4
Percussionists may audition in one or more areas, but a separate form and payment must be submitted for each audition area.
Timpani
Solo Timpanist, Vic Firth, published by Carl Fischer (#04402), play page 4-5, Etude #1, Entire etude. Quarter note = 116-120.
NEKMEA Cuts
The Solo Timpanist, #1. Play measure 1 to beat 1 of measure 17
The Solo Timpanist, #1. Play measure 1 to beat 1 of measure 17
Mallets
Masterpieces for Marimba, arr. by Thomas McMillan, Pro Art Publications (1202). Play page 6: Sonatina by Telemann.
NEKMEA Cuts
Masterpieces for Marimba, Sonatina (pg. 6). Play measure 1 to beat 3 of measure 18. No repeat
Masterpieces for Marimba, Sonatina (pg. 6). Play measure 1 to beat 3 of measure 18. No repeat
Snare Drum
Portraits in Rhythm, Anthony J. Cirone, 50 Studies for Snare Drum, Belwin Mills, (HAB-00101): Play all of #3 (rolls are closed).
NEKMEA Cuts
Portraits in Rhythm, #3. Play measure 10 to beat 4 of measure 26.
Portraits in Rhythm, #3. Play measure 10 to beat 4 of measure 26.