KMEA MS All-State

KMEA MS All-State Video Audition Guidelines

2025-2026

Students are to submit a video link of their audition materials to their band director, and their band director will submit the video for audition via Google Form. The video format requirement is an unlisted YouTube link or unrestricted Google Drive link (see below for instructions).

Video Requirements for All Students:

• Use landscape mode—portrait mode may transform into a YouTube Short with lower audio quality.

• The student & their instrument must be fully visible in the video frame at all times. (Percussionists, make sure your hands & instrument(s) are in the video frame. Timpani players must tune the timpani using a reference pitch as part of the audition video.)

• Video must be one take of the complete audition - all scales & both etudes in one, unedited video. Mallets: scales, primary etude, and secondary etude must be included in one continuous take. Snare: rudiments, primary etude, and secondary etude must be included in one continuous take. 

• Audible metronomes are not allowed in the audition. 

• Only one video submission per student per instrument is permitted.

• Video must not be edited or tampered with in any way. 

• When recording your video, do NOT state your name or your school. Although you will be visible to the judges, they will not know your name or what school you attend. This helps to keep the audition process unbiased. Make sure that your background and clothing do NOT display your school name. It is also important that you do NOT label your video with a title that includes your name or school.

Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in an invalid audition.

YouTube Posting Instructions

From a mobile device (phone, iPad/tablet, etc.) using the YouTube App:

1. Once you have recorded the video on your device, open the YouTube app.

2. Log into YouTube (any Google account will suffice).  

3. Click on the “Plus” button in the menu bar at the bottom.

4. Select the correct video to upload.  (You may have to allow the YouTube app to access your photos and videos.  The app may prompt you to do so or do it in settings on your device.)

5. Make the Title of your video in the following format:
   Instrument - [Current Year] KMEA MS All-State
   (i.e. Alto Sax - 2026 KMEA MS All-State)

6. Click on the world icon that says “Public,”  change the setting to “Unlisted,” then click the blue “Next” button on the top right.

7. Click “Yes, it is made for kids,” then hit “Upload” on the top right.

8. Go to “Library” on the bottom right in the menu bar at the bottom to look at your uploaded videos.  

9. Once the video upload/processing is complete, copy the YouTube video link by hitting “Share” and then “Copy link.”  Paste the link into the Google Form or email the link to your band director to submit.  

From a computer:

1. Go to www.youtube.com & log in (any Google account will suffice). 

2. In the top right-hand corner, click on your profile icon for the dropdown menu.

3. Click “Your Channel” (or “Create a Channel” if you haven’t previously uploaded a video).

4. On the Home tab, click the “Upload” button and select or “drag and drop” the correct file.

5. Make the Title of your video in the following format:
   Instrument - [Current Year] KMEA MS All-State
   (i.e. Alto Sax - 2026 KMEA MS All-State)

6. For Audience, select “Yes, it is made for kids,” and click “Next” in the bottom right corner.

7. The next section is “Video Elements,” skip this portion by hitting “Next.”

8. Under “Save & Publish,” select “Unlisted” and then “Save” in the bottom right.

9. Follow the instructions to keep the tab open until the upload is complete. 

10. Once the upload/processing is completed, copy the YouTube video link and email the link to your band director to submit using the google form. 

Google Drive Posting Instructions

1. Once you have recorded the video on your device, go to www.drive.google.com

2. Log into Google Drive (any google account will suffice).

3. Click on the “New” button at the top left.

4. Select the correct video to upload.  

5. Rename the Title of your video in the following format:
   Instrument - [Current Year] KMEA MS All-State
   (i.e. Alto Sax - 2026 KMEA MS All-State)

6. Click the “Share” icon at the top right. 

7. Under “General Access” options, select “Anyone with the link” and “Viewer.”  Anyone on the internet with this link can view.  

8. Click “Done.” 

9. Once the video upload/processing is complete, copy the Google Drive video link by hitting “Share” and then “Copy link.”  Email the link to your band director to submit using the google form. 

KMEA MS All-State Audition Materials

All-State Middle School Scale Sheet

Wind Audition Requirements

• 2 scales predetermined for each instrument prior to audition (chosen from Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C, G; to be announced Dec. 16, 2025) and

• 1-octave-plus-a-5th chromatic scale at the specified tempo and rhythm from the scale sheet.

• 2 etudes (lyrical and technical) 

Note: Students may perform the scales either tongued or slurred but may NOT change the rhythm or range.

Percussion Audition Requirements

Percussion students may audition on timpani, mallets, or snare. If auditioning on snare or mallets, students will declare their primary audition instrument (snare or mallet), perform an excerpt on primary and perform an easier excerpt on secondary instrument (for example: Snare auditions will play a primary snare excerpt and perform a secondary mallet excerpt. Mallet students will perform a primary mallet excerpt and a secondary snare excerpt).

Mallet Primary/Snare Secondary Audition Requirements

• 2 scales predetermined prior to audition (chosen from Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C, G; to be announced Dec. 16, 2025)

• 2 octave chromatic scale at the specified tempo and rhythm from the scale sheet.

• 2 etudes (primary mallet etude, secondary snare etude)

All-State Middle School Rudiment Sheet

Snare Primary/Mallet Secondary Audition Requirements 

• 3 snare rudiments predetermined prior to audition (chosen from list below; performed open/slow to close/fast to open/slow; to be announced Dec. 16, 2025) 

  • Roll Rudiments: long roll, 5-stroke roll, 7-stroke roll, 9-stroke roll

  • Diddle Rudiments: paradiddle, double paradiddle, paradiddle-diddle

  • Flam Rudiments: flam, flam accent, flam paradiddle, flam taps

  • Drag Rudiments: drag and single ratamacue

• 2 etudes (primary snare etude, secondary mallet etude)

Timpani Audition Requirements

• Tune the timpani: Students are expected to use a pitch reference device (pitch pipe, keyboard percussion instrument, etc.) to tune the timpani.

• 2 timpani etudes

Recorded Audition Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026