I recently made 1st in my region and im trying out for Area in 2 weeks. I recorded myself on two of the etudes and put the Sheet music in the background of the video. If you can watch it and tell me what i should improve on, it would be greatly appreciated!
Do you think im ready for Area auditions?
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Do you live in Texas? Is there a private teacher near you? A one on one lesson could make a world of difference.
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All right, great to hear. I'll give it a listen.
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Not being an American, I've got no idea what an "area audition" is for, but I'm just baffled as to why the saxophone repertoire appears to include items which are actually impossible to play without pausing for breath in places where breaths destroy the flow of the music. I'm assuming the two etudes are two of a fixed choice of pieces which must be played?
In the middle of the first piece there are clearly thirteen consecutive bars of semiquavers without a single rest or longer note. At that speed one simply can't play it without breaking the beat to breathe, and I don't think the piece lends itself to much rubato which could be used as an excuse to take a leisurely breath anywhere in that passage.
I think it's silly. If you want to play that piece, play it on a string instrument, not a wind! Who decides this repertoire? And do they expect circular breathing as standard, or something?
Michael
In the middle of the first piece there are clearly thirteen consecutive bars of semiquavers without a single rest or longer note. At that speed one simply can't play it without breaking the beat to breathe, and I don't think the piece lends itself to much rubato which could be used as an excuse to take a leisurely breath anywhere in that passage.
I think it's silly. If you want to play that piece, play it on a string instrument, not a wind! Who decides this repertoire? And do they expect circular breathing as standard, or something?
Michael
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Not impossible! Just extremely difficult!! If you check out some of the other videos from TMEA Etude #3 you will come across a couple of excellent renditions including one that will blow you away!!! It can be done. (Of course, these are being played by teachers and professionals. The students are also are there too so you can get a good cross-comparison from where you are to where you want to be!)
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1) In Texas (where I believe the OP may be), there are honor bands at the regional, area and state geographical. The top people who make the regional honor band (probably a multi-county area), are invited to audition for the area band (encompassing several regions), and the top for those are invited to audition for the all-state band.
2) Those were not saxophone repertoire, but rather Ferling Oboe etudes "borrowed" for saxophone. All voices of saxophone audition on the same 3 etudes. The breathing is not as bad on alto as it is on baritone. The other thing, of course, is the faster it's played the less breathing becomes an issue. The Texas auditions seem to have almost nothing to do with musicality, simply clean, fast technique...
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In my opinion you sound great! Very nice technique and tone, good dynamic control. The only thing I would do is make sure you don't stop. I don't know if you were just stopping to breath, which would be understandable, but if you were try to pick out spots to breath ahead of time, where ever you feel it would be appropriate.
Stop where? In the first etude i stopped after the chromatic section for dramatic effect and in the third etude the measure of rest is written in.
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I have no idea how they judge these Area auditions. But I'd say yes you're ready to go try out. As MTKilpatrick said, I can't imagine having to play stuff like that on the sax, but I'm sure it helps your technique and you seem to do it very well.
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My daughter played the first etude for some all-district competition two years ago--but it's easier on alto. Watch your rhythm; it's not consistent. But you certainly have technique.
That's what we don't like about the all-district and all-state auditions. There is no credit given for musicality or tone quality. My daughter doesn't do them any more.
That's what we don't like about the all-district and all-state auditions. There is no credit given for musicality or tone quality. My daughter doesn't do them any more.
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you need to watch that 32nd rest in the middle of the second to last line of the first piece. I could not tell if you took a breath there or you just got caught in the headlights for a sec. if you were taking a breath, no prob man I feel you on these etudes played on bari. the ones we had in VA when I was in HS were absolutely horrible long technical passages only a piano could play perfectly.
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Oh alright, if the rest is written in then you're definitely ready to rip! Sorry I'm not familiar with the etude so I didn't know.
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I'd listen to your teacher, rather than a bunch of us on the internet.
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Congratulations!
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