SYMPHONIC AUDITIONS PAGE
Thank you for your interest in auditioning for one of the premium ensembles offered to students in Ridgefield Public Schools.
Symphonic Orchestra is limited in size to 24-28 violins, 10-12 violas, 10-12 cellos, 4-6 basses. These numbers are only approximates and may be adjusted based on need for balance. For example, if we only have 6 qualifying violas, the whole orchestra needs to be smaller. However, we can not accept more players than what is listed above or it will compromise balance with winds.
In addition to passing the audition requirements, students are expected to have conducted themselves professionally in Concert Orchestra. This means treating your peers and directors with respect, being prepared for class, having good rehearsal attendance, having carried out your duties successfully if you were a leader, being easy to work with, and general adherence to the RHS mission statement.
Students who do not pass an audition this time around are expected to re-enroll in Concert Orchestra. Not doing so will disqualify an audition in the future.
All students must re-audition each year, with the following exceptions:
Incumbent sophomore members of Symphonic Orchestra who pass their Western Regionals audition and participate in the Western Regional festival. If this describes you, please follow step 1 under directions below, then skip to Step 8…except when hitting the submit button include “Western Region participation” instead of a playlist link.
Members of the Class of 2021, who are grandfathered into the course. Also see step 1, and skip to step 8, except when hitting the submit button include “Class of 2021” instead of a playlist link.
AUDITION SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 10, 2021. Minimum passing score is 175/220.
Directions for recording
This page contains all of the information necessary to audition for Symphonic Orchestra. This year, we are trying a new format that does not involve a live audition. You will submit a digital audition of yourself performing the required repertoire in a series of short videos. Please follow the directions closely.
When submitting your digital recordings, you and your entire instrument (including bow hand and fingerboard, and your face) must all be visible throughout your performance. Please position the video accordingly.
Each recording submitted must be unedited. If there is any evidence of tampering with the sound or video, your audition will be disqualified and you will be referred to administration for cheating.
You will upload your videos to your school YouTube account. PLEASE WAIT TO UPLOAD UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED RECORDING ALL OF THE REQUIRED ITEMS AND READ ALL OF THE DIRECTIONS.
Join the Google Classroom setup for audition submissions with this code: 7dfm54v.
Perform and record the following required scales and arpeggios as separate videos (one video for each scale):
Violin: 3 octave Bb Major AND 3 octave A melodic minor
Viola: 3 octave C major AND 2 octave D melodic minor
Cello: 3 octave Eb major AND 3 octave F melodic minor
Bass: 2 octave A major scale AND 2 octave G melodic minor
Perform the required audition piece, found by clicking here. Be sure to read the document labeled “Instructions” for measure numbers and tempo. There are two excerpts from the piece; you will record each as a separate file.
Perform a selection of solo literature of your choice. This video will be its own file. Your solo should be of Suzuki Book 4 or higher in difficulty. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of a solo selection, please ask ahead of time. We do not have solos to provide you with here. You may borrow one from a friend or purchase one of the books. Auditions of solos at a lower level will still be considered, but it is not ideal. You do not have to do a piece from the Suzuki books; these are merely offered as a point of reference for appropriate level of difficulty. You can play any piece that highlights your abilities. Here are some links to playlists that contain appropriate solo material for your reference as to difficulty level (or options to perform):
Again, you are not required to play out of the Suzuki books (but you may). These are merely points of reference for students wondering what the difficulty level of the piece should be. When selecting a piece of repertoire, you want it to be something that showcases your abilities, and make sure it is something you can play really well…it is better to be polished than show us a “reach” piece.
At the end of the process, you should have a total of 5 videos. If you do not, please reread the above directions before continuing.
The required major scale
The required minor scale
The first excerpt from the required audition piece
The second excerpt from the required audition piece
The solo of your choice
Upload each file to your school YouTube channel. When titling the videos, please make the title the descriptor. For example, “3 Octave A Major Scale” or “Audition piece”. If you do not know how to upload your video to YouTube, please visit the tutorial in Google Classroom on the audition page.
Create a Playlist entitled “[Your Name] Symphonic Audition 2021-22”. It’s pretty intuitive, but if you can’t figure it out, visit this link.
Submit the Playlist link via Google Classroom.
To see a rubric of how your audition will be scored, click here:
Tips for a successful audition
Start preparing now. Long term planning will yield better results and consistency for performance.
Practice slowly and be accurate, and work up speed with a metronome. Too many kids just “go for it” too soon and it ends up hurting their audition score. The importance of this can not be underscored enough.
It is highly recommended you consider private instruction if you’re not currently taking lessons. Private instruction is the only way to really work on technique and to move at your own pace. Extremely personalized instruction is incredibly important to being a successful musician and it is something the public schools can not offer. Bring the audition materials to your teacher.
If you do not have a private teacher, ask me for some time to review the requirements and what you need to work on for success.
If you are the type that gets nervous in front of an audience or when being videoed, do it frequently. Ask friends and family if they will listen to you play the audition requirements. Putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation frequently is a great way to begin getting over your nerves.
Take multiple recordings to select the best one. Don’t overdo it. You can drive yourself crazy trying to get the perfect recording. And funnily enough, I’ve always found that the first take is usually the best!
What if I don’t get in?
It would not be uncommon at all to not get into Symphonic, particularly for a rising sophomore. Your chances increase as you get older within the system. You should absolutely not be discouraged given the amount of total kids in our program. Stay in Concert Orchestra and be a leader in that class, hone your skills, and try again. This is the resilience part of the Ridgefield High School mission statement.
It’s never easy to not get into something you’ve worked hard for. I have experienced it many times in my own life when auditioning for groups and being rejected, applying to get into music programs and being turned down, applying for jobs I never got an interview for, etc. I am no stranger to what feels like failure. But failure in this sense is not the appropriate term. The only person you can ever fail in your life is yourself. All you can do is give it your best, as cliché as it sounds. Don’t give up. What matters most is that you are here and playing music the best you can for the right reasons…because music is love in search of a word.
I will be happy to meet with any student that doesn’t get in and discuss what we can do to help your chances next time. We are all about personal growth in our department.
Students who do not get in are expected to re-enroll in Concert Orchestra. Taking a gap year because you did not get into Symphonic will disqualify you from auditioning for it again. That is not what we are about. We believe in building character through music, and quitting because of not passing an audition does not adhere to our core value of resilience at Ridgefield High School. As stated above, adherence to the RHS mission statement is a non-musical requirement to get into the top level group.