District IV Honor Band Auditions 2019

7th & 8th Grade Band students are strongly encouraged to audition for the District IV Middle School Honor Bands, which rehearse and perform the weekend of January 16-18, 2020 at Southeastern University in Hammond.  The Mustangs who have been selected in the past have had an unforgettable experience participating in a fun overnight trip, performing new and challenging music, meeting other musicians, and learning from an accomplished band director.  Earning membership in these prestigious groups is a great addition to any young musician’s resume.  Last year we had the highest number of students from an Ascension Parish Middle School make the band and we hope to keep the record this year! 
 
Students are already preparing the audition music and scales in class as part of their final assessments for this semester -- so let’s push them to take the extra step to go for excellence and represent at a District level!

Students from all over the Greater Baton Rouge Area come together to play music!

CMS Students perform in the 2019-2020 Honor Band!

Audition Information

DATE:  Saturday, December 14, 2019 (individually assigned times, you may request times to avoid conflicts)
LOCATION:  Denham Springs Junior High
TRANSPORTATION:  Parents bring students approx. 30 mins. before scheduled time.

• BUS RIDERS:  Report to CMS back parking lot at 7:45 am.  Bring snacks/bottled water and/or money for lunch.  You may also want to bring a book or something to do while you wait.  We will stop on the way back to get some lunch.  We will send a remind message when we are 30 minutes away from school.  We should be back around 1:30/2:00 pm.

FEE:  $10 pre-registration fee made payable to CMS Band Boosters Due NLT November 8

• Late Fee - Students may choose to “late register” if they miss the deadline to sign-up through the band director.  Arrive to auditions between 8:00 am and 10:00 am and pay the $15 late fee, made payable to District IV Honor Band Association.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:  http://www.districtiv.org/middle-school.html

• Short etude
• F, C, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Chromatic Scales
• Short sight-reading piece – 30 seconds to look at a short piece of music then play it

 WHAT TO BRING TO THE AUDITION:

• Instrument (percussion should bring all required mallets and tubas and baritones are responsible for bringing their own instrument)
• Audition music (Scales & the Etude) – yes you can bring your book in the room and yes you can use your fingering chart if you’d like!
• Optional: Water bottle and a jacket or sweater in case the room is cold

 
WHAT TO WEAR:  Dress nice!  The judge will see you and you want to make a good impression.  There is no dress code, so use your best judgement. Make sure whatever you wear you feel comfortable playing in it.
 
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET THERE:

1. Check in at the pre-registration table to get your audition ticket
2. Go to the warm-up room.  Play through all of your audition music (slowly, take your time and remember to breathe!!!).
3. Approximately 5 minutes before your audition time, find your first room.  Many instruments audition in two rooms.  For example, they may play their scales in one room and their etude and sight-reading in another room.  These rooms should be next door to each other and clearly labeled.
4. When you walk in the room, politely say “Hello” to the judge and hand them your ticket.  No other talking is necessary!  No excuses!  No freak outs!  Show the best version of yourself!
5. When you are done, you may leave.  Results will be posted at www.districtiv.org

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Nervous?
The best way to not be nervous is to be prepared.  Spend this last week practicing everyday!  Some other tips:

• Focus the most on the parts you feel the least comfortable with
• Practice with a metronome (scales at 72) online
• Play your full audition for someone
• Listen to and play along with the recordings online at www.districtiv.org
• DON’T DRINK CAFFEINE and have lots of sugar the morning of the audition.  Some even say bananas help to calm nervous. 
• On the day of the auditions, avoid listening outside the door of the audition room and worrying about what you hear others play in the warm-up room! 

CMS Honor Band Krewe 2019-2020

ADDITIONAL AFTER SCHOOL HELP SESSIONS    
*Optional!  Pick up no later than 4:00 pm.

• Flute - Tuesday, November 5
• Clarinet - Wednesday, November 6
• Saxophones - Thursday, November 7
• Tuba & Percussion - November 4
• Trumpet - Monday, November 11
• Trombone & Baritone - Wednesday, November 13
• Any Instruments - Thursday, December 5, Wednesday, December 11, Thursday, December 12, Friday, December 13

IF SELECTED FOR THE BAND   
*Be sure you are available for the times & dates below before signing up to audition!

Honor Band Weekend takes place in Hammond, LA at Southeastern University. The Band Boosters organize hotel rooms, chaperones, and bus transportation.  The cost is typically $40-50 per student (this fluctuates depending on how many students make it and how much the Boosters are able to help cover that year).  Students must be present for 100% of all rehearsals and the concert in order to participate.

• Thursday, Jan 16 - Rehearsal - 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM at SLU
• Friday, Jan 17 - Rehearsals - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at SLU
• Saturday, Jan 18 - Rehearsal – 8:30 AM at Columbia Theatre in Downtown Hammond
• CONCERT – Saturday, Jan 18 – 10:00 AM at COLUMBIA THEATRE

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Download Pre-Registration Form
$10 Fee and Form Due NLT November 8