Strategies for making All District

Strategies to help make All-District

How to Make All-District Band
School Year 2025-2026

Before the Audition: Prepare Methodically, Practice like a Professional!

As You Practice the Etude:

Continue to focus on the tricky passages within the etude.

Isolate each 1 or 2 measure chunk, and practice each one SLOWLY.

DO NOT continually practice the parts you know how to play very well at maximum speed. That is not helpful and will only build bad habits.
Practice the difficult parts SLOWLY and METICULOUSLY. Aim to make every detail perfect, from dynamics, to articulation and style. Always practice with your best possible sound.

Use a metronome when you practice!

When you are working difficult passages slowly, set the metronome at Quarter Note=60 and force yourself to play each chunk PERFECTLY.
As you make each chunk better, you can bump the metronome up a few clicks each time, until you are in the Quarter Note=78-84 range.

Remember, you can only play the entirety of the etude during your audition as fast as you can cleanly play the final few measures!

The entirety of the etude must remain in a consistent tempo. Make sure you start the etude at the exact tempo you can accurately and cleanly play the ending with all the 16th note passages.

Know Your Scales!

Only one of the following pairs of scales (plus chromatic) will be called the day of the audition, but you MUST have all 8 memorized. The pairing your audition room will receive will be decided the morning of the auditions. Every student who auditions in your room will get the same pairing for consistency and fairness!

Pair 1: C and Ab
Pair 2: F and Db
Pair 3: Bb and D
Pair 4: Eb and G

Remember: they will ask for YOUR written pitch of the scale, NOT concert pitch!

Example: Alto Sax number 4, play YOUR F Scale: (Not Concert F Scale). You will receive 0 points for playing the wrong scale, even if you play it perfectly!

Scales MUST be memorized!

As you practice your scales and are working to memorize them: practice them slowly with the metronome. The goal is to get them to quarter note=100, but as long as they are completely accurate and at a consistent tempo, anywhere from 80-100 is fine.

Memorization Tricks: Have your scale sheet on your stand but use it only as a reference. Practice the scale you are working on memorizing once WITH the sheet, then once WITHOUT. Then progress to once WITH, then twice WITHOUT. Keep the pattern going until you have it dialed in.

Scales are MUSCLE MEMORY. The more you exercise this “muscle memory” with meticulous practice, the more they become sealed in your technique!
Learn and prepare extra octaves AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

Each extra octave (for the major scales) you perform successfully in your audition yields 2 extra bonus points. Playing a two octave scale perfectly would yield a 12 out of 10 for each major scale you perform two octaves. For instruments where it is possible, performing a three octave scale perfectly would yield 4 extra points, a 14 out of 10.

The Chromatic Scale

Practice the scale SLOWLY and in chunks of 5 notes.
Use your fingering chart as you are beginning to memorize each part of the scale.
If you are doing great going up the scale, but going down the scale is a challenge, practice going down the scale! Don’t keep working on the parts you are very good at. Practice the chunks of 5 notes that need the most attention.
Practice the chromatic scale with the metronome. Quarter Note=75 is a good starting point for the tempo: 120 is the target, but getting it perfect at 100-105 will always score higher than stumbling through it at 120.
There are ZERO extra points on the chromatic scale for playing it faster than 120, or adding notes outside of the range of the requirements. Don’t be a hero: be accurate!

The Sight reading

Do not worry too much about the sight reading: relax and do the best you can! Remember STARS to help yourself scan the music quickly.

Signatures: Time and Key Signatures.
The following time signatures and key signatures could appear in the audition
Time Signatures: 4/4 or 3/4, Key Signatures: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab

Tempo: There may not be a tempo marking at all on the sight reading: This means you can play it at whatever tempo is comfortable for you. SLOWER IS ALWAYS BEST!

Accidentals: Scan the sight reading for any accidentals (flats, sharps, or naturals) NOT in the key signature. Remember, they carry through the measure! You will stand out among the other auditions if you manage to perform these correctly.

Rhythm: Scan the sight reading for any tricky rhythms (usually it is syncopated rhythms, or 16th note combinations.)
The following rhythms could appear in the audition:
Whole, half, quarter, eighth (dotted variants of half, quarter), quarter note triplet

IMPORTANT:
You MUST play the entire sight reading at the tempo you can accurately play the greatest rhythmic subdivision!

Locate the greatest rhythmic subdivisions in the example below. (Measure 2 and 4)
When you’re in the sight reading room, you can quickly shadow-play through the passage to find out the tempo that you can play those parts accurately.
Pick THAT EXACT TEMPO to perform the sight reading!

Signs: There shouldn’t be any repeat signs or D.C. al Fine/Coda jumps in the sight reading, so check for dynamics and if there are any crescendos or decrescendos. There might not be any, but check! Again, you will greatly stand out from the other auditions if you can accurately perform these in the sight reading.

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The Day of the Audition: How to be Successful!

A few things to keep in mind:

Make sure you are physically and mentally well rested!

Get a FULL night’s sleep the night before. We will be meeting at BMS EARLY to get on the road to Botetourt. The drive is about an hour.
Eat a good breakfast: especially bananas! They are high in potassium (great focus) and have natural beta blockers. Beta blockers help calm your nerves and will encourage good focus.

Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need before you leave your house to BMS.

Instrument (with all essential parts), Music Folder (Etude).
Reed Players: You MUST have at least FOUR good reeds! I cannot stress this enough!

Please also bring something to do once you are done auditioning (cards, games, etc.)
We will be waiting around until all auditions are concluded, which will be the early afternoon. Having something to keep you occupied will be ideal!
There will be concessions (food) available to be purchased. You may bring cash to purchase some food, or pack a lunch/snacks to eat.

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Arrival and preparing for the audition

Once we arrive at Botetourt, we will unload the buses and head to a holding area. This will likely be the gym. We will hang out for a minute, and get ready to draw audition numbers.

You CANNOT PLAY in the holding room. This includes percussionists with practice pads!

Once they begin handing out audition numbers, we will send you in groups to get in line. Once you get your audition slip,

DO NOT LOSE YOUR NUMBER, and DO NOT TELL MR. MERCY OR MR. QUAKENBUSH YOUR NUMBER!
We will be judging in audition rooms, so you cannot tell us your number in an effort to keep the auditions completely blind and fair.

Once auditions are ready to begin, an announcer will start calling groups of students over the microphone by numbers. Example: (Clarinets numbers 1-10 may now head to the warm-up room.)

When your number is called, take your instrument (in its case) and folder to the warm-up room. Once you are in the warm-up room, you may begin warming up for a few minutes.

Avoid playing too loud/too high/too fast once you enter the room. Find an isolated spot in the room and keep to yourself: you don’t need to rip through the etude at max tempo or try to “show off” to other students.

Overconfidence can ruin a successful audition! Mindset is everything!

When it is your turn, another announcer will call a small group of three students to grab their instruments and music to walk down the hallway to wait for the actual audition. At this point, you MUST LEAVE ANY SCALE SHEETS in the Warm-Up Room, AND, YOU CANNOT PLAY IN THE HALLWAY!

Do bring YOUR Etude that you have marked up and worked with!
Reed players: have your reed case in your pocket (just in case!)
Bring a water bottle also (if needed).

You’ll wait outside the audition room with a room guide for your turn.

As you are standing there, keep taking slow and full deep breaths, and getting in the audition mindset.
Stay focused on your audition and how successful you will be, because of all the hard work you put in to prepare! Don’t fixate and focus on how the students ahead of you sound!

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Now the Real Thing! What to expect in the Audition Room.

You will have a room guide who will open the door and escort you in. He/She will also announce that you are entering the room. (Example: Clarinet Number 4 is now entering the room).

Reminder: AT NO POINT SHOULD YOU TALK while in the audition room. The audition MUST be anonymous and blind. Stay behind the screen at all times.
Should you need to communicate something to the judges (broken instrument/reed, etc.) Leave the room, and tell your room guide to talk to the judges.
Take a moment to get settled and get the music stand adjusted to the right height
Place your etude on the stand and wait for the judges to ask you to begin
They will ask you to play both major scales first, one at a time

The Judge will say: “(Instrument and Number), play YOUR (Whichever scale they call) scale at this tempo”. The judge will play 8 clicks on the metronome at 100. Once the 8 clicks are done, you may play your scale.

Remember: Play the scale at the exact tempo you can perform it PERFECTLY. I’d rather the judge take off only a point for it being under tempo than you trying to play it faster than you can play it cleanly!

This process is exactly the same for the second major scale.

Only one of the following pairs of scales (plus chromatic) will be called in the audition, but you MUST have all 8 memorized. The pairing your audition room will receive will be decided the morning of the auditions. Every student who auditions in your room will get the same pairing for consistency.

Pair 1: C and Ab
Pair 2: F and Db
Pair 3: Bb and D
Pair 4: Eb and G

After this: some instruments will play their etude, then change rooms to finish their audition with the chromatic scale and sight reading. This is due to the large number of students who audition on these instruments.

This only applies to Flutes, Clarinets, Alto Saxes, Trumpet, Percussion.

Everyone else: You’ll play your chromatic scale after the major scales.

Again: Play the chromatic scale at the exact tempo you can perform it PERFECTLY.

After the chromatic will be the prepared piece. Remember: choose the exact tempo you can play the ending perfectly. You will score much higher if you perform it with a consistent tempo.

After the prepared piece is the sight reading: know the pitfalls and how to avoid them!

The judges will give you 30 seconds to study the sight reading. At this time, you may shadow-play through the music, sizzle, or clap a rhythm, You CANNOT make a sound on the instrument other than keys clicking or valves moving.

As another reminder:
IMPORTANT:
You MUST play the entire sight reading at the tempo you can accurately play the greatest rhythmic subdivision!

Remember STARS: Signatures, Tempo, Accidentals, Rhythms, Signs

Take the sight reading at a tempo that is comfortable for you! Most students will rush through it. Take the time to force yourself to take a slower and more relaxed tempo!

Once the sight reading is over, your audition is finished! Close the sight reading folder and exit the room with all of your things!

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After the audition:

Head back to the holding area (likely the gym). At this point, it may be slightly before or after lunch. You are free to eat a packed lunch/snacks or purchase food from the concessions stand at this point!
Hang out with other BMS Band kids and play games/cards as we wait for everyone to finish up. It may be awhile you are waiting! We should be all wrapped up and completely done with auditions by 1:30 or 2 PM at the latest. After auditions are done, we should pretty much know who is in or out of the bands. As soon as we know the results, we will relay it to you all and send a congratulatory email out. We will have official results that evening.
Once we are all done, we will load the buses and head back to BMS. Once we are back at the school, you are free to go.
Additionally, if parents want to pick you up in Botetourt, they are free to do so as long as they fill out the correct form. We have that form we can share with you.