Audition Information

• only Camerata requires an audition

• No auditions are required for returning students who will be in the same ensemble as last year

• No auditions are required to join the Sinfonia 

• New students who would like to join Camerata, or current Sinfonia students who want to join Camerata are required to audition

 

 

Fall audition date: September 1st, time slots starting at 5:00 pm

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Spring audition date: January 12th, times TBD

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It is also possible to audition mid season, please contact Sarah

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Sinfonia Skills:

While there are no auditions for Sinfonia, these are the skills that set up students for success in Sinfonia:

1. Basic ability to read quarter, eighth, half and whole notes that fall within first position

2. Able to identify the note names on the staff (say their letter name) and find them on the instrument with relative ease 

3. Some familiarity with F Naturals, C Naturals and G Naturals (violins on the E string) 

4. Able to point to the key signature on the page and has some knowledge of how to determine the sharps or flats. 

5. Can identify the time signature and play in 3/4 and 4/4 time. 

6. Can play 2 note slurs, basic hooked bows, bow circles and follow bowings in the music

Examples of Sinfonia level pieces and scales:

Violin: Suzuki Book 1, Etude or later, or end of Essential Elements Book 1

Viola: mid - Suzuki Book 1, or end of Essential Elements Book 1

Cello: Suzuki Book 1, Etude or later, or end of Essential Elements Book 1

Bass: mid - Suzuki Book 1 or end of Essential Elements Book 1

 

Scales

Violin: 1 Octave: A Major, D Major, 2 octaves G Major

Viola: 1 Octave: D Major, G Major; 2 Octaves: C Major

Cello: 1 Octave: D Major, G Major; 2 Octaves: C Major

Bass: 1 octave: D Major, G Major

 

Camerata Audition Requirements (auditions last 10-15 minutes)

 

1. Solo Piece

Prepare to play one solo piece (or prepare 2-3 minutes of a longer piece) that is at or

above these example pieces. Does not need to be memorized.

Violin: Middle of Book 3, or equivalent, demonstrating shifting and vibrato

Viola: Suzuki Book 2 or later, or equivalent

Cello: Suzuki Book 3 or later or equivalent

Bass: Suzuki book 2 or equivalent

Winds, brass, percussion: A solo piece or excerpt from a school band piece that demonstrates your current playing level

 

2. Scales

Played with the metronome at Quarter = 60

Half notes (long legato bows); Quarter Notes, 2 notes slurred; 2 staccato eighth notes per

note

Violin: 2 octaves: G Major, D Major, C Major, G melodic minor

Viola: 2 Octaves: C major, D Major; Possibly G Major, 2 Octaves

Cello: 2 Octaves: C Major, D Major, G Major, G Melodic Minor

Bass: 1 Octave C Major, G Major, D Major, F Major, B Flat Major

Winds and brass: 1 major and 1 minor scale of your choice that demonstrates your current playing level

 

3. Sight Reading Level and Skills to Demonstrate

1. Ability to play a short excerpt using quarter, eighth, sixteenth, whole and half notes

with notes from the scales above

2. Shifting between first and third positions for violins and violas, and between first,

second, third, and fourth for cellos with fingerings provided

3. Has a solid grasp of intonation

4. Developing vibrato

5. Recognizes and can define basic dynamic and tempo markings