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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:54 pm
by EMT-911
I had to, but I knew I would have gotten in no matter what because my director is desperate for trombone players. Next Marching season it will be serious, though(or so he says, like the 3 years before!!!!)

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:09 pm
by kristiie
we have three concert bands- the freshmen band, symphonic band, and wind ensemble.
all freshmen go to freshmen band, hence the name. there are few exceptions to this rule.
after freshmen year, you go to symphonic band unless you successfully audition for wind ensemble, but whether or not you make it is usually more based on your performance through out the year. you have to reaudition every year.

for jazz, we have top and lab jazz. you have to audition for both every year.

no auditions for marching band. pit band and symphony orchestra and picked without auditions.

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:54 pm
by swuster
auditions for placement in either concert band II, concert band I, or wind ensemble II. The directors choose who gets into wind ensemble I.

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:11 am
by LoyalTubist
In high school, from my freshman year on, I was the #1 tuba player at my high school. I studied with Gene Pokorny (now with the Chicago Symphony) when he was a student at the University of Redlands, before he transferred to USC.

In Junior College (San Bernardino Valley College), it was much the same. At that time, I studied with Jim Self. He always let me know that I wasn't the best tuba player he had.

I went to a small university in the South and, guess what? I had real competition for the first time in my life! I thought I was serious, but that wasn't true. I dropped out of college and joined the Army.

In the Army, when I went through the School of Music at Little Creek, Virginia, I was number 1 tuba in all the bands I played with. I learned to work hard, but I knew I had so much work to do to get where I really knew I could be.

My rank held me back a lot in the Army... While I was the "best" player, I wasn't the number 1 player because of my low rank. Everyone in the tuba section seemed to get promoted at the same time, so when I got promoted, I got more money, but my status in the band remained the same. I did play in the jazz ensemble. No one knew that tuba players could play improvised jazz that wasn't a Dixieland bass line--I could do that, too. I worked my tail off.

When I finally went back to college, I went to a small university where I was not only the only tuba player--I was the only music major. There were many music minors, but only one major! Because of my age, I was able to work some real playing jobs, which I won't describe here, but they were lots of fun.

Later, I played for professional symphonies and bands, as well as pickup gigs, such as weddings and funerals. You can never stop playing. You have to use it or you'll lose it. And there will always be somebody better than you, in something.

:D

Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:41 pm
by Boninetax
If you're worried about trying out for the top band, just relax.
I was really nervous about my audition and it all worked out.
I play clarinet too. My fingers were shaking so bad throughout the emtire thing. And then you had to sight read this peice. I totally forgot to look at the key. It was in concert Eb and I played all B naturals. She made me play it again. I was so embarassed.
But I made it. To this day, I'm not really sure what got me in.
My biggest thing was that I was too nervous.
CHILL OUT.