What is All-County??

The Elementary All-County Orchestra is comprised of the best 5th & 6th Grade musicians throughout Orange County. This year, auditions for Elementary All-County Orchestra and Band will not take place due to Covid-19. take place on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at CJ Hooker Middle School in Goshen, NY. Your specific 10 minute time slot will be assigned about 2 weeks prior to the audition. Your time slot will be sometime between 9am and 3pm and you will need to be present about 30 minutes prior to your audition. Once your audition is complete, you are free to head home. Results from the audition are about 2-3 weeks after the audition.

In order to audition you must be able to perform the following by the end of December:

-All scales from memory

-Your assigned solo

You will also be expected to perform 8 measures of sight reading. This is a skill we will be working on in lessons.

Competition for this ensemble is difficult and students who audition must be willing to practice their audition materials regularly. If accepted into the ensemble, your child must be able to attend every rehearsal in its entirety as well as the concert. Please carefully check and mark your calendars to ensure your availability prior to auditioning. The list of rehearsal and performance dates and locations is on the All-County Commitment Form below.

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Links to Videos

Below are a few links to the pieces you are performing for All-County. Please watch them, track across your music, try singing and playing along and get it stuck in your head!!

2019 - 2020 Solos

VIOLINS - March - Bach/Etling Solo Time for Strings, Book 3

March, as played by Patrick Murphy - The description on this video says viola, but it is played on a violin. Follow along with your music and listen to his comments before he begins to play.

VIOLAS - Minuet No. 2 - Back, Suzuki Viola School, Book 2

Minuet No. 2: Viola played by Michael Hall - This performance has both repeats.

Minuet No. 2 - Tutorial - This version visually puts all the fingers on the four strings. If you have any questions about where to place a finger in any part of the music, this would be a good version to reference. Remember, L2 means LOW 2 on that string.

CELLOS - Musette from English Suite No. 1 - Bach, Suzuki Cello School, Book 2

Musette From English Suite No. 3 - Cello & Piano - Follow your music and then sing along before you try to play it! The solo performance is followed exercises that will help you with the second position music in the solo! Give it all a try!

BASS - Minuet - Pleyel, String Festival Solos Volume 2 (Beginning to m. 49)

2021-2022 Solos

Gavotte - Gossec - This is a violinist playing with piano accompaniment. It is not exactly the same as your but incredibly similar.

Gavotte at Practice Tempo - This is not exactly the same version because of a few repeats here and there so listen first, then sing along, then play along. This is a good practice tempo and would be too slow for the audition.

CELLOS

Witches' Dance - Cello Soloist - Listen, sing and play along with this cellist! He has an incredibly clean, clear sound. Work on attaining this sound!

Witches' Dance - Cello & Piano- This is a slightly faster tempo and has a piano accompaniment. Again, listen, sing and then play along.

BASSES

Minuet No. 1 - Bach/Etling - You'll realize quickly that this is a viola player playing your piece! She has great rhythm and it is in the same key as your piece. Listen, track the music, sing along, then play. Please focus on getting your rhythms correct!

Minuet No. 1 - Practice Tempo - Again, not a bass player but it is a slow tempo and in the same key as your piece so you can play along with him.

Professional Bass Player!! - Ok, so since you don't have a bass player performing your All-County piece, here's a bonus video of a professional string bass player playing Bach. He's amazing and he's all over the bass!! It's so much fun to watch!

INFORMATION FOR ALL-COUNTY PARTICIPANTS

Now that you've made it in....

Refer to the All-County rehearsal notes in the file below for notes from the conductor. Use these notes to help you practice accurately.

Links to Audio of All-County Orchestra Music