All-State Band/District Honor Band

Area Private Teachers on the Respective Instruments

GMEA All-State Band

Why Should You Audition?

If earned, this will place you among the best players on your instrument in GMEA District 9 and, possibly, the entire state.
You will grow from preparing the audition material.
As you improve, you will find music more enjoyable and exciting.
By taking the risk, you are teaching yourself the important lesson that we must take risks to grow.
The audition is behind a screen so it will feel like you are just practicing.
The more auditions you take, the easier the process becomes and this will help you later in life.
If you do not make it, you will still have grown from the preparation and the experience.
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

“You miss 100% of the pitches you never swing at.”~Old Baseball Adage

Every year, we have numerous students with the skills to earn a place in the District Honor Band/All-State Band who never even try. They always regret this decision.

Audition/Event Information

GMEA All-State Information

Audition Materials

GMEA Middle School All-State Scales

GMEA Middle School All-State Chromatic Scales

GMEA Middle School All-State Etudes (Change Annually)

First Round Audition Process

The Four Parts to the Audition for Wind Players

This audition is used for placement in the GMEA District 9 Middle School Honor Band.

1. You will perform your four major scales (as written on your GMEA scale sheet). Remember to tongue up and slur down. You have one minute to complete the performance of all four scales (Clarinets and Percussion have 1:15 to complete the scales). There is no tempo requirement, but you will not have enough time if you perform slower than 120 BPM. There is no extra credit available, so I would not attempt scales at a faster speed than 144 BPM. Do not attempt any extra octaves. Do not stop or restart your scales.

2. You will then perform your chromatic scale. Same point about not restarting applies here as well. You are scored on evenness, accuracy, quality of

sound in all registers, and confidence. There is no requirement for articulation or speed, but I would recommend slurring and going at the fastest tempo you can play accurately and with your best tone. There is no extra credit available, DO NOT play any more notes than are noted on the GMEA chromatic scale sheet. If possible, try to play it in one breath. Stopping to take a breath and restarting can often cause mistakes.

NOTE: Some instruments perform all four parts in one room, some instruments perform the scales in one room and then go to another room to perform their etude and sight-read.

3. You will then perform the first/lyrical etude.

4. Then perform a brief sight-reading, where you will be given 30 seconds to study the piece and then perform it. You will have a chance to play your first note before you start the sight-reading-make sure you start on the correct pitch.

First Round Audition Process-Percussion

The Three Parts to the Audition for Percussionists

This audition is used for placement in the GMEA District 9 Middle School Honor Band.

You will complete a separate audition on each of the primary instruments-snare drum, keyboard, and timpani-in three separate audition rooms.

Keyboards: You will perform your four major scales (as written on your GMEA scale sheet). You have one minute-fifteen seconds to complete the performance of all four scales. There is no tempo requirement, but you will not have enough time if you perform slower than 120 BPM. There is no extra credit available, so I would not attempt scales at a faster speed than 144 BPM. Do not attempt any extra octaves. You will then perform your chromatic scale. Same point about not restarting applies here as well. You are scored on evenness, accuracy, quality of sound in all registers, and confidence. You will then perform a short sight-reading following a 30-second study period on the keyboard instrument.

Snare Drum: You will perform the marked section of the snare drum etude. You will then complete a short sight-reading example on snare drum. It will be the same 30-second study period as the keyboard sight-reading.

Timpani: You will be given two pitches to tune on the drums using a pitch pipe. Remember: These are in BASS CLEF, not TREBLE CLEF. You have 30 seconds to tune the notes. Do not use gauges if the gauges are on the instruments!! You must have your pitch pipe or use bells, if available. You CANNOT use any electronic tone generator on your phone. You will perform the bracketed portion of the Timpani etude. You will then sight-read a short piece, which will use the same pitches as the etude.

SFMS Band All-State Participants 2014-Present

2014-2017

2018-2020

2021-2023

2024-2025

First Chair All-State Band

Based on their score in the second round of the All-State Band audition process, these students placed first in the state on their instrument for that year. This is a significant accomplishment and represents the highest level of musicianship and commitment to musical excellence. Chloe Chun (oboe) achieved that honor in both her seventh and eighth grade year- a truly remarkable achievement.

SFMS Two-Time All-State Band Members

For a student, being selected for the All-State Band once is a major accomplishment at any level. To achieve it in middle school, a student must begin to work at the highest level early in their musical training. It is the result of deep intention and consistent effort. To achieve this honor twice in middle school, student was able to compete with the best musicians on their instrument in the state as a seventh grader and then maintained that level of focused effort through eighth grade. Congratulations!

2014-2020

2021-2025

SFMS All-State Band Students

Photographed before their performance at The Classic Center, Athens, Georgia. Missing pictures from 2014, 2020, 2021 (virtual).

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