Overview of Site
This Site offers links to online videos of people playing the solos that you are being asked to prepare for your audition. Find your instrument and solo then listen to the music at least 3 times WITHOUT music. Listen then with the music. After this you can start to learn your piece.
District Music Festival Audition Requirements
You must learn all of these before your audition during the first weekend of November. It is a good idea to have it learned before the end of September so that it is natural for you.
Requirements: 1) Solo
2) All Major Scales on your scale sheet
3) Chromatic Scale (3 notes per beat)
4) Sight Reading
Music and Scales for Each Instrument
Click here for MUSIC and SCALES
Must use a bsdvt.org address to access this folder.
Practice Strategy
1) Solo- 1) Look over the piece. Notice the Key Signature, the Time Signature, and Skim the notes used in the piece.
2) Listen to the piece while watching the music if possible for your instrument.
3) Begin learning from the beginning and rough out the song measure by measure. Go slow do not rush.
4) As you understand a measure add another.
5) Continue this process being aware of any sharps, flats, or natural notes as well as rhythms.
Tip: When coming back to the piece at another practice session go over what you have already learned for only a short time. Once you have learned the whole piece you can begin to build and develop the details, and enhance your ability with the piece.
2) Scales- 1) Learn what notes are in the scale
2) Say these notes in order WITHOUT looking at the music (ex. For an A major Scale SAY "A B C# D E F# G# A G# F# E D C# B A")
3) Once that is comfortable Say the notes with the fingerings on your instrument
4) Now play the scale with quarter notes at 70 bpm.
5) Slowly increase your speed by 2-5 bpm
6) Once you are comfortable with the scale play it with the rhythm written on your scale sheet.
Tip: 1) Don't waste time simply reading the scales on the music. This will never yield results. Use the method above for each scale and MEMORIZE them.
2) Your chromatic scale is simply your circle of 4ths. There may however be the same notes but in different octaves needing new fingerings. Refer to your method book.
3) Sight Reading- 1) Pick a song or exercise from your method book that you have never played before
2) Look at the Key Signature, the Time Signature, and the Form of the music
3) Now skim over the Notes and Rhythms
4) Now play the piece at a medium tempo such as 80 bpm
5) Notice where you became confused or stopped. These are learning moments and checking out why this happened will help you sight read even better next time.
Tip: Do not learn the music you are sight reading. The point is to be able to play a piece of music just like you read a book. If you find a really cool piece book mark it for later.
4) Video Tape- It is helpful to video tape yourself playing so that you can hear what you need to work on. Watch your posture, listen to your notes, tone quality, and if you sound like you imagine you do. You can then use this self awareness to further develop your music.
5) Mind and Body- It is important to stay positive. You are learning challenging music and it should take some time to learn all that you need to for the audition. If you get frustrated just let it be for the day and come back tomorrow. Make sure that you get up and stretch while you are playing. It's important to keep the body relaxed so that the mind does too.
Online Practice Tools
Questions or Request to Add to This Page
Please direct any questions or requests for material to Mr. Lambert at gflamber@bsdvt.org