Audition Information

Central Kentucky Concert Band

Audition information for prospective members

Auditions for membership in CKCB are held during September of each year, at the beginning of the concert season. The first three regular Thursday night rehearsals of the season are designated as “open rehearsals,” which any interested musician may attend to learn if they are interested in pursuing membership. During or immediately following the open rehearsal period, the music director will audition those who are interested in joining the band.

New members may also be considered in January and March, at the beginning of rehearsal sequences for March and May concerts, respectively.

 

Audition materials

I.  Brass and Woodwind

  1. Chromatic scale, from memory.
    1. Performed over the practical range of the instrument, or as much of it as you are able.
    2. Slurred ascending, tongued descending.
    3. As fast as you can play it cleanly and evenly. Accuracy and control are more important than speed.
  1. Major scales as requested, from memory.
    1. Selected by the music director from the following concert pitches: D-flat, A-flat, E-flat, B-flat, F, C, G, D.
    2. As many complete octaves as available on the instrument.
    3. In quarter notes at mm quarter = 60. The goal is consistency through all registers.
    4. Slurred ascending, tongued descending.
  1. Prepared selection(s). (Memorization NOT required.)
    1. Ideally, two SHORT excerpts, etudes or solo passages selected by the player. One should be sustained and lyrical in nature, the other more technically challenging.
  1. Sight reading will NOT normally be required. However, the music director reserves the option to request this in borderline situations.

II.  Percussion

Competence on at least two of the three groups of percussion (snare drum, mallet keyboards, tympani) must be demonstrated.

  1. Snare drum – Demonstration of technique through performance of basic rudiments OR a prepared solo excerpt OR sight-reading.
  2. Mallets –
    1. Performance of chromatic scale two octaves, ascending and descending, as fast as you can play it cleanly and
    2. Performance of major scales from memory, selected by the music director from the following concert pitches: D-flat, A-flat, E-flat, B-flat, F, C, G, D, as fast as you can play them cleanly and evenly.
    3. Sight reading a simple melody.
  1. Tympani
    1. Tuning 4 drums to any combination of pitches requested.
    2. Sight reading a straightforward tympani part from a band work.