The following is information for the in-person audition part of an application for admission to the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School (ARGS) in the Music Focus Area.
The Music Focus Area at ARGS is divided into three majors:
Instrumental
Vocal
Music Tech
Calendar dates for the application process:
The due date for ARGS applications is Dec. 4, 2026 and is made through your district's Gifted Education Division.
In person auditions at ARGS have been scheduled for Jan. 9th and Jan. 16th, 2027.
Applicants will be contacted by ARGS Adjudication Coordinator at the end of December with a specific date and time for their audition.
Audition length is 15 minutes.
Preparation for the Audition:
Students are required to complete one full audition either Singing, Playing a Single Musical Instrument, or with a Tech Music Resume.
Multiple auditions are not permitted; students must choose to audition only in one major, which is defined as a single musical instrument, to only sing, or to only bring a Music Resume for Music Tech.
Auditions split between different instruments or part singing/part instrument playing are not permitted.
Students should bring their own instrument except for:
Harp (provided by ARGS)
Piano (provided by ARGS)
Percussion (provided by ARGS)
Amps will be made available for electric guitar and electric bass, if needed.
Students should choose a prepared piece and scale format that they are comfortable with and demonstrates their current ability.
There will be two adjudicators (judges) in the audition.
Instrumental and Vocal Music Auditions
The process includes:
Two Prepared Musical Pieces
Two Scales
Sight Reading
Interview
Two Prepared Musical Pieces. The performance of two prepared pieces of music, one from our Required List (linked below), and one piece of the student’s choice.
Prepared piece #1 is from our required list (linked below) and is specific to instrument or for vocal auditions.
Prepared piece #2 is of the student’s choosing. It can be a piece of solo music, an excerpt of band, orchestra, or choir music, or anything else that the student feels can be an example or their musical skill.
Piano students should choose one piece from our suggested list (link below) and then a second piece of their choice.
Vocalists should choose ONE piece from the required music folder (linked below) based on their vocal range, and one piece of their own choosing. Practice tracks with accompaniment are in the required music folder. Students may sing with the accompaniment or acapella (solo voice, no accompaniment) in the audition.
Electric Guitar and Electric Bass should be prepared to play the melody and "comp" the chords for their prepared pieces.
Percussionists should choose to audition one of three ways:
Concert percussion SNARE
Concert Percussion MALLETS
DRUM SET
Percussion students are only required to audition on either concert snare, concert mallets, OR drum set, and should prepare an audition ONLY for ONE of those three instruments, although the scale part of the audition IS THE SAME for all percussionists - two major scales on the xylophone.
'The drum set required prepared piece includes 3 grooves, and all three should be played at the time of the audition.
Two Scales
There is NO required format for the performance of the two scales.
Students should perform the two scales at any speed, in any rhythmic format, and in as many octaves as they feel comfortable.
All Instrumentalists will be asked to perform two Major Scales, selected randomly by the adjudicators, up to 3 flats or 3 sharps – this includes C, G, F, D, Bb, A, & Eb majors.
Piano scales should be performed hands together (both hands at the same time).
Vocalists will sing one major scale and one natural minor scale. These can be sung using solfege or using a single syllable of the student’s choice. Starting pitch will be according to the applicant’s singing range.
ALL Percussionists will perform two major scales on the xylophone (instrument provided by ARGS). ALL percussionists must play the scale part of their audition on a xylophone. (Concert Snare and Drumset will play prepared pieces and sight reading on their choosen instruments, respectively.)
Sight Reading
Students will be given music to sight read as part of the audition.
Sight reading is delivered in traditional music notation.
Guitar and Bass students ONLY may choose to read a chord sheet instead of traditional sheet music. That choice will be communicated to the adjudicators by the student at the time of the audition.
Vocal students will sight sing from traditional sheet music and may choose to use solfege or a single syllable of their choosing.
Percussion will sight read on their chosen instrument; either Concert Snare, Concert Mallets, or Drum Set.
Interview
I
Instrumental Music applicants will be evaluated in the following five areas:
Performance and Musicianship (Selection of appropriate repertoire. Interpretation. Phrasing. Articulation. Dynamics.) (5 points)
Technique (Posture, Tone quality. Intonation. Rhythm/Time.) (5 points)
Scales (Correct notes. Steady tempo. Tone quality. Articulation.) (5 points)
Sight Reading (Correct notes. Correct rhythms. Steady tempo.) (5 points)
Overall Assessment (Expresses a passion for music at ARGS. Appreciates the importance of musical preparation. Projects poise and maturity. Honors ensemble experience.) (5 points)
Vocal Music applicants will be evaluated in the following five areas:
Performance and Musicianship (Vocal appropriate repertoire. Interpretation. Phrasing. Articulation. Dynamics.) (5 points)
Technique (Singing posture. Tone quality. Intonation. Diction.)
Scales (Ear training – accurately matches pitches as played by instructor. Demonstrates vocal range.) (5 points)
Sight Reading (Correct notes. Correct rhythms. Steady tempo.) (5 points)
Overall Assessment (Expresses a passion for music at ARGS. Appreciates the importance of musical preparation. Projects poise and maturity. Demonstrates ensemble experience.) (5 points)
Music Technology Auditions
The process includes:
Music Resume
Interview
Music Resume Music Tech students should bring a Music Resume with them, which is defined as a portfolio of examples of the student’s experience and creations in music technology. This can include:
A list of DAW (digital audio workshop) and other audio software programs and apps with which the applicant has prior experience.
Examples of at least two musical compositions created using technology.
Tracking, producing, editing, mixing, or mastering examples.
Any other related materials that demonstrate a student’s experience using music technology.
FILL OUT THIS LINK or use it as a guide to develop your own resume. https://forms.gle/5372nfhqHVfT63tb9
Interview
Music Tech applicants will be evaluated in the following areas:
Quality of Work/Portfolio - includes Performing Audition (if applicable) (10 points)
Resume (software applications & experience) (5 points)
Applied Skills (Prior knowledge of music and/or music technology - will include a lesson/demonstration & Theory pre-test) (5 points)
Overall Assessment (5 points) - Expresses a passion for music at ARGS. Projects poise and maturity. Enthusiasm for learning basic piano keyboard skills and participation in an ARGS ensemble.
IMPORTANT! IF YOU ARE a Middle School STUDENT REQUESTING ACCESS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, you must be logged into your browser with a NON-SCHOOL email account (e.g. gmail, hotmail, verizon, etc). Many school districts restrict your access to documents outside your school's domain. Ask a parent or guidance counselor to email music@args.us for assistance. Your school email will block ARGS from replying or granting access. Please ask an adult for assistance.
Need help or have a question? Email music@args.us
If the links to the music below do not work for you, try here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VutFZ-SV_SS1c2wF8LVQ0KvKnY1qScht?usp=sharing