2023 Audition Information
Beginning Band & Orchestra Students Must Attend an Instrument Fitting
Beginning students do not need to audition but must attend an Instrument Fitting.
To sign up for a fitting click on the button below.
To sign up for a fitting click on the button below.
New Student Auditions (non-beginners)
All new instrumental students to WMHFA who are NOT enrolling in Beginning Band or Beginning Orchestra must audition. To request an audition click the button to the right.
New Band Student Auditions
The prepared music is in Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. In addition be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
Percussion: Prepared music for bells is Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. Prepared music for snare is in Essential Elements, Book 1, exercise #122, “Jumpin’ for Joy”. In addition, be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
(New students who would like to audition for Advanced or Concert Band should also prepare the Returning Band Student Audition music below.)
New Band Student Auditions
The prepared music is in Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. In addition be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
Percussion: Prepared music for bells is Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. Prepared music for snare is in Essential Elements, Book 1, exercise #122, “Jumpin’ for Joy”. In addition, be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
(New students who would like to audition for Advanced or Concert Band should also prepare the Returning Band Student Audition music below.)
New Orchestra Student Auditions
The audition will consist of two scales of your choice, a musical piece of your choice, and sight-reading provided at the audition. (Students should prepare scales and a piece that demonstrates the level at which they are currently playing.)
The audition will consist of two scales of your choice, a musical piece of your choice, and sight-reading provided at the audition. (Students should prepare scales and a piece that demonstrates the level at which they are currently playing.)
Intermediate Band & Orchestra Do Not Require an AuditionLast year's Beginners automatically move up to the Intermediate groups in the fall. No audition is required
Only NEW STUDENTS need to audition to get into the Intermediate classes. (See section above) |
Returning Band Student Auditions - 2023
Returning students must have completed a year of Intermediate, Advanced, or Concert Band to audition for Advanced or Concert Bands. Last year's beginners must enroll in Intermediate Band.
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Brass/Woodwinds/Mallet Percussion:
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Percussion:
ALL PERCUSSION STUDENTS MUST PREPARE AUDITIONS FOR BOTH MALLET PERCUSSION AND SNARE.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the audition date you prefer is full, check the schedule for another date.
Returning students who do not have their audition completed by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Brass/Woodwinds/Mallet Percussion:
- Essential Technique Book 3 #99 (Time Zones) and #100 (Pavanne).
- The Tonguing Exercise
- A Sight-Reading
- Memorized Scales: will be chosen from Proficiency 1 scales
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Percussion:
- Essential Technique Book 3 #99 (Time Zones) and #100 (Pavanne).
- The Tonguing Exercise for Percussion
- A Sight-Reading
- Memorized Scales: will be chosen from Proficiency 1 scales
- Rhythmic Compositions - Advanced - Levels 9 and 10 - Level 9 Etude 7 (found on Smartmusic)
ALL PERCUSSION STUDENTS MUST PREPARE AUDITIONS FOR BOTH MALLET PERCUSSION AND SNARE.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the audition date you prefer is full, check the schedule for another date.
Returning students who do not have their audition completed by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Returning Orchestra Student Auditions
ALL students enrolling in Advanced, Philharmonia, Chamber Strings or Symphony Orchestra must audition
Advanced Orchestra (Grand Rapids) audition:
The Advanced Orchestra is open to students who have played at least two years on the Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass (No Beginning Orchestra students). ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN THE GRAND RAPIDS ADVANCED ORCHESTRA.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Philharmonia Orchestra (Kalamazoo) audition:
All students in Philharmonia Orchestra last year must audition again.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Chamber Strings (Kalamazoo) & Symphony Orchestra (Grand Rapids) auditions:
This Orchestra is open to all experienced string students and advanced level wind and percussion instruments. ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN CHAMBER STRINGS OR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
String players:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
2) Prepared classical solo that demonstrates shifting and vibrato skills, for example something from Suzuki Book 4 or above.
3) Sight-reading.
Winds and Percussion:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales
2) Band audition piece---OR------prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the desired audition date is full, schedule an earlier date.
Returning students who do not have their audition completed by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
ALL students enrolling in Advanced, Philharmonia, Chamber Strings or Symphony Orchestra must audition
Advanced Orchestra (Grand Rapids) audition:
The Advanced Orchestra is open to students who have played at least two years on the Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass (No Beginning Orchestra students). ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN THE GRAND RAPIDS ADVANCED ORCHESTRA.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Philharmonia Orchestra (Kalamazoo) audition:
All students in Philharmonia Orchestra last year must audition again.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Chamber Strings (Kalamazoo) & Symphony Orchestra (Grand Rapids) auditions:
This Orchestra is open to all experienced string students and advanced level wind and percussion instruments. ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN CHAMBER STRINGS OR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
String players:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
2) Prepared classical solo that demonstrates shifting and vibrato skills, for example something from Suzuki Book 4 or above.
3) Sight-reading.
Winds and Percussion:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales
2) Band audition piece---OR------prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the desired audition date is full, schedule an earlier date.
Returning students who do not have their audition completed by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Northern Lights Chorale
This talented group of 20 young men and ladies is available by audition only. Several performance opportunities in addition to the Christmas and Spring concerts take place each year along with participation in the District and State MSVMA festivals. Students must be at least 14 years old to audition.
Audition Requirements for Northern Lights Chorale Members: The Chorale audition music is "America the Beautiful" (memorized). Sight-reading is required and a tonal memory test.
Auditions are by appointment only. Appointments will be scheduled only in June or July. If you cannot make the scheduled audition dates, please contact us for an alternate time.
This talented group of 20 young men and ladies is available by audition only. Several performance opportunities in addition to the Christmas and Spring concerts take place each year along with participation in the District and State MSVMA festivals. Students must be at least 14 years old to audition.
Audition Requirements for Northern Lights Chorale Members: The Chorale audition music is "America the Beautiful" (memorized). Sight-reading is required and a tonal memory test.
Auditions are by appointment only. Appointments will be scheduled only in June or July. If you cannot make the scheduled audition dates, please contact us for an alternate time.
Fiddles, Pops, & More Class Auditions
New students for Fiddles, Pops, & More must audition. Returning students need not audition.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Big Band Auditions
Big Band auditions will be held the second week of class for Big Band 1 and 2. The first week of class will combine Big Bands 1 and 2 to prepare for the auditions.
Auditions will include playing #81 and #82 from the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, "Riffin' Around". Students will need to be prepared to play the demonstration solo (#82) as well as create their own solo using the Bb blues scale. Scales can be found in the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble # 70 and #71.
Drummers must demonstrate swing, rock and a Latin rhythm such as salsa found in exercise 119, Salsa Caliente. Work on steady time and interesting fills.
Guitar players should be able to demonstrate “Freddy Green “ rhythms (a chord on each beat) in "Riffin' Around" #81 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in B flat.
Pianists must demonstrate chords and ability to comp as demonstrated in "Riffin' Around" #81 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in b flat.
Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble can be found on SmartMusic under Method Books. If you need help, check out our SmartMusic page.
*Big Band 3 is for students with at least one year of experience on an instrument. These students do not need an audition; however, working on the above assignments for the auditions will be helpful in preparing for the class.
**All Big Band students must also be enrolled in a WMHFA band or orchestra.
Big Band auditions will be held the second week of class for Big Band 1 and 2. The first week of class will combine Big Bands 1 and 2 to prepare for the auditions.
Auditions will include playing #81 and #82 from the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, "Riffin' Around". Students will need to be prepared to play the demonstration solo (#82) as well as create their own solo using the Bb blues scale. Scales can be found in the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble # 70 and #71.
Drummers must demonstrate swing, rock and a Latin rhythm such as salsa found in exercise 119, Salsa Caliente. Work on steady time and interesting fills.
Guitar players should be able to demonstrate “Freddy Green “ rhythms (a chord on each beat) in "Riffin' Around" #81 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in B flat.
Pianists must demonstrate chords and ability to comp as demonstrated in "Riffin' Around" #81 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in b flat.
Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble can be found on SmartMusic under Method Books. If you need help, check out our SmartMusic page.
*Big Band 3 is for students with at least one year of experience on an instrument. These students do not need an audition; however, working on the above assignments for the auditions will be helpful in preparing for the class.
**All Big Band students must also be enrolled in a WMHFA band or orchestra.