Prep. For All-State Auditions

[JEdge]

I am preparing for yet another, and last, shot at the All State band this year. They are asking Chromatic and scales to be played at MM-120. Wondering how fast some of you high school tenor players can tongue?

I am thinking the differences between the top players and the few who want to knock off the top are successful completion of that chromatic scale at MM-120 in sixteenth notes. I can barely get out 105 in sixteenths but not much more, I have to keep practicing. Everything else from sight reading to the prepared piece I should be fine as far as the audition goes...

[Saxydude]

JEdge- I actually just returned from my All-State jazz concert. I was selected as 2nd tenor this year (Ohio). I really think that it is not the speed of the chromatic scale that the judges are interested in hearing. I think they ask for a full-length chromatic simply to hear the even-ness of your tone and how solid your intonation is through all ranges of the horn. I am a junior this year and was selected, and I played my chromatic scale in quarter-notes at a hair faster than 120. Do I think that my lack of a "lightning speed" chromatic scale is the reason I got 2nd tenor?---no, not at all, I'm a young player and I have next year to be #1. I would play your chromatic at a speed you're comfortable with and not worry about. Be more concerned about the other aspects of your taped(?) audition. For Ohio this year we had to prepare 2 contrasting jazz etudes and a play-along piece with improvisation. I personally feel that the etudes and improv. are the more important part of the audition than the scale, IMO. Good luck with your audition!

[JEdge]

No, not taped... In person at one selected destination in the state. Only a concert and symphonic band, no jazz or anything. Two pieces of sight reading, prepared piece that they provide, two major scales that they select at random, and then chromatic scale.

I do agree that evenness and tone come into play a lot, but figured that is why they ask for the regular major scales. So regular scales at eighth note 120 for evenness and more tone oriented, then the chromatic at sixteenth note 120 to show your speed. The thing that originally made me think this is what the judges are looking for is that is what all the Altos do, yet it is far easier (for me) to tonque at such speeds on alto than it is on tenor.

[KSQ]

I'm guessing you mean playing the scale in eighth notes, with quarter note at 120 bpm? Are you sure they expect you to tongue the chromatic scale? When I used to take those auditions, one or both of the major scales would be tongued (as specified by the judges), but chromatics were always slurred. And I think that they're probably looking for more than just speed or intonation/tone quality -- what I (speaking as an experienced player and teacher -- and all-state veteran!) would be looking for from the chromatic scale would be a smooth, even technique (all notes even and the same length, like a machine), a steady, consistent rhythm... and, naturally, that the player didn't "accidentally" miss any notes!

[JEdge]

I'm guessing you mean playing the scale in eighth notes, with quarter note at 120 bpm

Exactly, and/or sixteenth notes on a quarter note 120. Our chromatics are up slur down tongue; major scales are tongues as well.

I am glad i decided to come back to this site and ask because your answers are different from what i would have expected. However, the top alto players had to get the idea somewhere...

[saxguy9345]

I was just reading this post and realized how different All State auditions (and regional band) are between states! In Pennsylvania, the last time we play scales and chromatics is at district pre-auditions. From then on we audition on the music for the concert (makes sense huh? makes sure everyone knows their stuff well before the concert haha).

Anyway, I got totally ripped at district band this past weekend. My pre-audition score was a 188/200 overall, first chair by at least 10 points. We auditioned for chair placement Wednesday night, and I came out second by 10 points. How you might ask? There were 2 judges for the saxophones, one was a saxophone instructor from a local college (very credible)... and the other was a high school band director who specialized in trumpet!!!! So it turned out that the sax professor gave me three 10's, 3 9's and two 8's, while the trumpet player scored me straight 7's!!!!!! Oh, and it didn't help that he was good buddies with the saxophone that ended up getting first place... bugger. I know for a fact that my own director is going to play jury selection with the judges at regional band this March, after this incident.

On the bright side, I recieved second chair alto sax in District Jazz Band, which was a taped audition of 3 district-selected songs and an improv. over any track from Abersold No. 2 (Fast Blues in Bb all the way!) And what did the sax that beat me in concert band get? Nothing. Ha. Different judges? Oh yes :)

[JohnL]

JEdge, I just realised we will both be auditioning for the same band on the 28th! small world....Anyways, I'm auditioning on alto and my teacher thinks that the key to getting a high score on the chromatic is actually going faster than 120. He said that that is the minimum. Ive found that by slowing it down and slurring the whole range, really making sure my fingers are moving consistently throughout the range of the horn helps my tongue and my fingers stay together at faster speeds. Sometimes I play it at a quick swung 8th note. Im not really sure why this helps, but I am slowly getting up to about 128 (on alto). Good luck on your practice.

[saxguy9345]

So I might just be talking to myself, but I need to vent.

I was excited that I got second sax in District Jazz, I'm really not that strong a jazz player BUT I'm critical of myself.. so maybe my audition tape proved otherwise...

But I recently purchased a new Antigua 590LQ soprano from Kessler Music in NV, I absolutly love it to death. I shopped around here trying sopranos in the $3-$2k range, but ordered this horn on a whim (and from many good posts here) and (of course, redundant) I love it!

BUT my director told the district jazz director that I happen to double on soprano now. I've had the thing for 2 weeks, out of which I might've played for 10 hours tops. I can hardly be said to double on the soprano as of yet. Despite this fact, they sent me a piece of music that has at least a page and a half of soprano improvisation. I could hardly do that on alto. So might I panic? Yes.

I am half competant with an alto improv solo, but a soprano? How hard is it to change from Eb instrument improv to Bb instrument improv? I hope someone finds this :shock: I have about a month to prepare.

[ShadowSlicers]

I guess I'll see you guys at JMU. As for playing the chromatic, ther is a too fast. Its about playing it clean and even. I can rip it out at 180=1/4 note but in the end you aren't getting the clean articulation needed to show off your sound, which is what the scales and chromatic are for, to show off your sound, speed is second. This is what my director thinks and I have to agree at this point. At districts I took my scales a little slower, not too much, but made sure every notes was heard and was clear, pulled a first chair out of it. This is true almost more so for lower saxophones. You don't want to loose the sound especially down low.

At this point I don't are that much about making all-states, my college auditions are more important. It's still an honor though. Good luck VA sax players!

[JohnL]

I agree with you about the college auditions, ShadowSlicers. I just finished my last audition yesterday and have only started concentrating on the All-State stuff intensively today. When you talk about playing your chromatic at 180, is that using the sixteenth note slurred up, tongued down style? If so then that is pretty amazing. I also agree that the key to these style of auditions is tone. I meet a lot of high school players that would meet the technical qualifications needed to make the band, but many of them lack the maturity in style and tone that can really hinder a section IMO.

[ShadowSlicers]

yeah slurred up double tounge down on a good day. It really isn't that good yet. I use it when warming up in jazz, bebop, etc. In the end it is just practice for those Concertos I guess. Reminds me of a work we did at a district band once. I was on beri and the low voices were doing a 1/16 and 1/8th note line at about 170, then later at 210, crazy piece of work that was, and our conductor went crazy with the tail end going way past the speed we took in practice, made me wish I was on alto.