THE AUDITION PROCESS

Dear Students and Parents, As the end of this great school year approaches, the directors and myself are already hard at work on next falls exciting halftime show. It is time to prepare for another edition of the Brandon Drumline. This letter contains important information regarding auditions for the battery portion of the drumline, which includes a packet of technique exercises to be used as audition material. After an extremely successful 3rd year I am ready to build on those successes and reach new levels of excellence this year. Remember that being a member of the drumline requires a strong dedication to work, and trustworthiness to be personally accountable for your responsibilities. With this being said, the audition process for the 2016-2017 Brandon High School Drumline will be as follows: THE AUDITION PROCESS: ! All interested percussionists grades 8-11 will receive an audition packet consisting of

6 to 8 technique exercises (warm-ups) approximately 1 month prior to the audition audition clinic dates.

! Each student will be expected to learn the exercises to the best of their ability on the instrument or instruments in the battery portion of the drumline that he or she wishes to audition for. Students have the option of auditioning for more than one instrument.

! Audition dates for this year are: Monday, May 2 3:45 to 6:00 Tuesday, May 3 3:45 to 6:00 Thursday, May 5 3:45 to 6:00 (Final Auditions/Placement)

You must attend the audition clinics to be considered for battery placement. Audition clinics will be held at the high school band hall. Final results and placements will be posted on the drumline page of the band website www.brandonbands.com on Thursday, May 5 after the auditions are complete.

! On the audition dates the students will audition as part of the group wishing to

audition on that particular instrument. For example, if a student wishes to audition for snare, he or she would audition at once with the group of students wishing to play snare. I will ask the students to play independently as well as with the group. I will rotate the students trying out for instruments so that each person gets time on the instrument of choice. Occasionally I may place the students in a spot that I feel they may be successful to let them try. In Most cases, students will make personal choices themselves about which instrument(s) they feel most comfortable on.

During the audition clinics, each student will be evaluated by myself as well as a guest adjuditator and the following factors will be considered during the final placement process.

" The students ability/willingness to prepare, work, and learn the audition material

independently. (prior to the audition) " The students ability to perform audition material independently as well as with the

group. " The students ability to manipulate the instrument demonstrating the proper

technique and fundamentals. " The students progress, and work ethic during the audition clincs, as well as their

overall standing with the band. " The students dedication and willingness to attend the audition clincs will be

STRONGLY considered during the final selection process.

! Any percussion student who wishes to try out for placement in the battery portion of

the drumline must participate in the audition process. ALL students must re-audition for battery placement each year.

! Students wishing to participate only in the front ensemble portion of the drumline are not required to participate in the audition process.

! Any student who does not make the battery will continue participation in the

drumline as part of the front ensemble.

! ATTENDANCE AT BAND CAMP IS REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE IN ORDER

TO MAINTAIN THE SPOT THAT YOU EARN IN THE GROUP.

Please consider that this is an audition and the reality is that not everyone will get to play exactly what he/she wants. It is important to keep in perspective that ALL of the instruments in the percussion ensemble play an equally important role in whether or not we are successful. We will be judged this fall as one unit. We must have strong dedicated players in both the battery and front ensemble if we are going to compete at a high level. I believe that this is a first class group and the opportunity to be a part of it is truly something you don‘t want to miss. The audition process is very important to our success this fall. Getting everyone in the correct place will be very critical. The material we use in the audition will be some of the material we use in the fall. Please mark the band camp dates listed below on your calendar. Your attendance at camp is mandatory and your spot in the line will depend on your participation. Finally, I am so excited about the year to come. I am looking forward to another great season with everyone. If you, or your parents have any questions please contact me. Thanks in advance for your hard work! Good luck and happy drumming! Sincerely, Mr. Austin

WHAT%DO%I%NEED%FOR%THE%

AUDITION%CLINICS?%

%1. A%positive%attitude.%Everyone%may%not%make%his%or%her%instrument%of%choice.%Please%

understand%this!!%

2. A%3%ring%binder%with%sheet%protectors%for%your%exercises.%NonO%glare%sheet%protectors%

work%best.%

3. Sticks%that%are%in%good%condition.%I%have%some%for%sale.%

4. Please%wear%close%toe%athletic%shoes.%No%flip%flops%or%sandles!%

5. We%will%be%working%outside.%Please%bring%water.%You%may%also%want%to%wear%a%cap%and%

sunglasses.%

6. Hearing%protection%

IMPORTANT SUMMER DATES BAND CAMP

July 18-22 (7 a.m. – 5 p.m.) July 25- July 29 (7 a.m. – 12 noon)

Friday, July 29 is also a REQUIRED parent performance. This will be in the late afternoon.

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2016 BATTERY AUDITION GUIDLINES Parents and students please sign below stating that you have read, and understand

the audition guidelines. Both parent and student signature is required for participation in the audition clinics.

Student Name: ______________________________ Student Signature:___________________________ Date:__________________ Parent Signature:_____________________________Date:__________________

! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

3090!HWY!18!Brandon,!MS!39042!www.brandonbands.com!

Tim!Cagle!Michelle!Green!

!

Leigh!Ann!Ross!Chad!Austin!!

!!!!

!Parents,!!

All!batterie!percussion!members!will!be!responsible!for!the!purchase!of!his!or!her!own!sticks/mallets!throughout!the!2016!season.!Below!you!will!find!the!requirements!for!each!instrument.!Each!student!must!have!the!correct!sticks!for!his/her!instrument!BEFORE!this!first!day!of!band!camp.!You!may!find!any!of!these!items!locally!at!Mississippi!Music!or!you!may!order!them!online.!If!you!purchase!online!then!I!recommend!Lone!Star!Percussion.!Copy!and!paste!the!link!below!to!go!directly!to!the!BHS!page!on!their!site...!!

http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/Schools/BrandonVHS/!

Again,!you!must!have!these!before!the!first!day!of!band!camp.!Please!do!not!wait!until!the!last!minute.!!

SNARE!REQUIREMENTS:!At!least!2!pairs!of!Innovative!Percussion!FSV2!Marching!Snare!Sticks!

TENOR!REQUIREMENTS:!At!least!2!pairs!of!Innovative!Percussion!TSV1!Marching!Tenor!Sticks!

BASS!REQUIREMENTS:!!

Unless!you!have!an!old!pair!then!I!recommend!going!ahead!and!getting!2!pairs!of!these.!That!should!last!you!the!entire!season.!!

Bass!1!FBV1!Bass!Mallets!!





Please!let!me!know!if!you!have!any!questions!!!

VMr.!Austin!

!

Leigh!Ann!Ross!Chad!Austin!

Documents

THE AUDITION PROCESS