Audition Materials
Table of Contents
(Click an ensemble name below to jump to that portion of the page.)
District 6 Honor Ensembles 2024-25
District Honor Band Audition Materials 2024-25
Senior High Honor Concert Band (Set II)
The District VI Senior High Honor Band will hold separate auditions this year, using the LMEA Set II (two) materials. (This is the same material used for 2025-26 All State auditions.)
SCALES, RUDIMENTS
All-State Scale Sheets (Winds) – Students will perform SIX of the required twelve scales, to be chosen by the adjudicator on the day of the audition. Students will also perform the Chromatic scale as indicated with the articulation found on the scale sheet. Be aware of the minimum required tempo.
All-State Scale Sheet (Melodic Percussion) – Students will perform F, Db, A. Students will also perform the Chromatic scale as indicated with the articulation found on the scale sheet. Be aware of the minimum required tempo.
4-Mallet Exercise Sheet (Percussion) – Only Set 2. Each set includes a four-mallet chordal exercise based on the I, IV, V chords of one of the current year’s major scales.
Set 2 Percussion Rudiments = Concert Roll, Rudimental Roll, Flam Accents, Triple Ratamacue
Set 2 Percussion Scales = Scales: F, Db, A
Set 2 4-Mallet Exercise = Key of F
PREPARED SELECTIONS (Winds and Percussion) – Percussion auditions include requirements on melodics, snare, and tympani.
Set II – 2025-26 (Click here to access the audition music. -- We will follow the District IV cuts as marked on each etude.)
SIGHT-READING – All students will sight-read a short selection.
Junior High Honor Concert Band (Set I)
The District VI Junior High Honor Band will hold separate auditions this year, using the LMEA Set I (one) materials. (This is the same material used for the All State MS Band 2024 auditions.)
Students must prepare all of the materials, however the prepared selections have cuts. You do not have to perform anything outside of the brackets notated on the page.
SCALE and RUDIMENT REQUIREMENTS - 30% of score
Winds: Six major scales and the chromatic scale must be played in the order, ranges listed, and with the articulation found on the scale sheets. Be aware of the minimum required tempo.
Percussion: Three scales for mallets (C, Bb, Ab) and 4 rudiments for snare (closed roll, open double stroke roll, flam tap, single drag tap) must be played according to the chart under Set 1.
PREPARED SELECTIONS – 50% of score (25% for each etude)
Set I Descriptions/Cuts – 2024-25 (Click here to access all of the audition music)
Percussionists are required to perform on all of the following: melodic percussion, snare, and timpani.
SIGHT-READING - 20% of score
Objective – Sight-reading will separate the top few players from those who play only scales and etudes at a high level of proficiency.
Percussion auditions will include sight reading on both snare and mallets.
Elementary Concert Band (Set 1)
The audition includes scales, prepared material, and sight-reading. All materials are available below:
Special thanks to Kim Kessler for creating these materials!
All State 2024-25
All State High School Audition Materials 2024-25
SCALES, RUDIMENTS
The District VI Senior High Honor Band will be formed by students chosen from the first round of auditions.
All-State Scale Sheets (Winds) – all twelve major scales and the chromatic scale must be played in the order and with the articulation found on the scale sheets. Be aware of the minimum required tempo. All twelve (12) major scales are required at both first and second round.
All-State Scale Sheet (Melodic Percussion) – Each set is part of a rotation of the major scales and includes three (3) of the twelve major scales. These scales must be played in the order listed on the current year’s set sheet. See the appropriate set sheet for the current year’s scale requirements.
4-Mallet Exercise Sheet (Percussion) – contains all four exercise sets. Each set includes a four-mallet chordal exercise based on the I, IV, V chords of one of the current year’s major scales. Choose set according to the following rotation.
Set I – 2024-25
Percussion Rudiments – The required rudiments for each year are listed as part of that year’s Set Sheet, linked below.
PREPARED SELECTIONS – There is a 4-year rotation consisting of one slow and one fast selection. Choose the appropriate set according to the following rotation. Percussion auditions include requirements on melodics, snare, and tympani.
Set I – 2024-25 (Click here to access the audition music)
Set II – 2025-26
Set III – 2026-27
Set IV – 2027-28
SIGHT-READING – All students will sight-read a short selection. Districts are encouraged to follow the procedure set up for 2nd Round.
AUDITION CUTS FOR 2024 (ETUDES AND PREPARED SELECTIONS) – These are to be used in all 2nd Round auditions and may also be used in 1st Round auditions. The cut sheet includes percussion requirements. If you have any questions, check with your District Director.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS (Scales, Prepared Materials, Practice Tracks)
The audition includes scales, prepared material, and sight-reading. All audition materials, including rehearsal and audition tracks, have been written/recorded for LMEA and are available for download from this site.
Scales – Required scales include selected blues, major, chromatic, and “other” scales. There is a 2-year rotation of scales that corresponds to the 4-year rotation of audition materials. A copy of the scale sheet for each instrument can be downloaded from the LMEA website’s All-State Jazz Ensemble page (found in the current year’s “set” materials).
Prepared Material – There is a 4-year rotation cycle of prepared materials that have been written for the LMEA All-State auditions. All audition materials, including rehearsal tracks, can be found on the LMEA website. They have been written/recorded for LMEA and are available for download from this site.
4-year Rotation of Scales, Prepared Materials, and Practice Tracks:
Set I – 2024-25
Set II – 2025-26
Set III – 2026-27
Set IV – 2027-28
Sight-Reading – Students will sight-read a short selection as part of their All-State Jazz Ensemble audition.
AUDITION CYCLE:
There is a 4-year rotation cycle of audition materials for strings, harp, and piano, consisting of selected major scales and prepared selections.
Note: The Orchestra Division Chair can also elect to require orchestral excerpts from the upcoming All-State repertoire. If this occurs, the information will be posted to the LMEA website by the last Saturday in August.
Scales (30% of score) – Scales will be chosen from the following major scales: C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, and Eb. These will rotate on a yearly basis as listed in the current year’s set (see below). Scales must be played as described, including the order, articulation, and minimum tempo. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo. The students may use music to perform their scales.
Prepared selections (70% of score) – There is a 4-year rotation of prepared selections consisting of one slow and one fast selection. Music must be performed in the order listed. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note and rhythmic accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo.
Set I – 2024-25
Set II – 2025-26
Set III – 2026-27
Set IV – 2027-28
Wind players and percussionists will be selected from the All-State Band auditions. Click link to see the All-State Band requirements and follow that process.
CHAIR PLACEMENT AUDITIONS – Excerpts for all strings will be taken from the All-State program. These will be posted at a later date.
SCALES – 1st Round
Scales will be included in both the 1st and the 2nd Round auditions.
The process and scale chart found here should be followed for both rounds.
Each student must sing all scales using the starting pitch indicated for their voice part below. Scales must be sung a cappella using solfege, numbers, or a neutral syllable. Recommended tempo for scales is quarter note = 66-80. Each singer must sing two scales, each one ascending and descending.
Soprano 1: E above middle C; G above middle C
Soprano 2: E above middle C; A below middle C
Alto 1: D above middle C; G below middle C
Alto 2: D above middle C; F below middle C
Tenor 1: F below middle C; A below middle C
Tenor 2: G Below Middle C; C below middle C
Bass 1: E below middle C; A below C3 (the C below middle C)
Bass 2: D below middle C; F below C3 (the C below middle C)
PREPARED SELECTION – 1st and 2nd Round
(Omitting in Rotation) – “Richte Mich, Gott” by Mendelssohn, SSAATTBB, Warner Bros., LG70179.
Learning Tracks
Audition Tracks
2024 – “Shenandoah” arr. by Steven Sametz, SSAATTBB, Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-386633-1 (English)
Learning Tracks
Audition Tracks
2025 – “Crucifixus” by Lotti, SSAATTBB (Latin), arr. Mason, Walton Music Corp., W6006
Note: The CPDL version previously used is no longer available. For consistency, all students must audition using the Walton version of “Crucifixus.”
Learning Tracks
Audition Tracks
2026 – “Heilig” (Holy) by Mendelssohn, SSAATTBB double choir, Walton Music Corp., W2163 (Sing German)
Learning Tracks
Audition Tracks
2027 – “O Vos Omnes” by Pablo Casals, SSAATTBB, Tetra Music, TC128 (Sing Latin)
Learning Tracks
Audition Tracks (Prepared Selection Only)
SIGHT-SINGING – 1st Round
Students will sight-read a short selection at 1st round using solfege, numbers, or neutral syllables. Ties are broken by the sight-reading score.
The sight-reading material will be emailed to the district director prior to the district’s audition date. It is the District Director’s responsibility to get the audition date to the Vocal Chairman or Audition Coordinator.
The sight-reading material will follow the following criteria:
There will only be skips within the Tonic (I) chord. All other movements will be step-wise.
It will be in common time (4/4).
The range will be no greater than the Sol (V) below the tonic (I) chord to the La (VI) above the tonic chord.
The rhythmic difficulty will consist of whole, half, quarter, dotted quarter followed by an eighth note. There will only be quarter note rests.
The example will be eight measures long.
It will begin on Do (I) and end on Do (I)
There will not be a pickup measure to begin with and will include no accidentals.
If you are using Sight Reading Factory, Level 3 is close to this level of difficulty.
Recorded instructions and keys for sight-reading auditions
The audition includes scales and prepared selections. There will be a 4-year rotation cycle of materials.
Scales – Required scales have been written out in the current year’s “set” materials.
Prepared Selections – There is a 4-year rotation cycle of prepared materials, each set containing two selections carefully chosen to highlight different styles and tempos.
4-Year Audition Sets Rotation (Scales, Prepared Selections)
Set 1 – 2024-25
Set 2 – 2025-26
Set 3 – 2026-27 (links to free downloads are provided)
Set 4 – 2027-28 (links to free downloads are provided)
All State Middle School Audition Materials 2024-25
The District VI Junior High Honor Band will be formed by students chosen from the first round of auditions.
The following wind and percussion audition materials will be used at both district level (1st round) and state level (2nd round) auditions.
Students must prepare all of the materials, however selected excerpts (cuts) in the prepared music may be provided by the Band Division Chair and must be performed in their entirety. Do not make additional cuts.
Tryout chairpersons will give scales a weight of 30%, prepared material – 50% (25% for each etude), and sight-reading – 20%. These three areas will determine the total tryout score.
SCALE and RUDIMENT REQUIREMENTS
Winds: Six major scales and the chromatic scale must be played in the order, ranges listed, and with the articulation found on the scale sheets. Be aware of the minimum required tempo. All six (6) major scales are required at both first and second round.
Percussion: There is a 2-year rotation of scales and rudiments. Each set consists of 3 scales for mallets and 4 rudiments for snare.
PREPARED SELECTIONS – There is a 2-year rotation consisting of one slow and one fast selection. Choose the set according to the following rotation.
Set 2 – 2025-26
SIGHT-READING
Objective – Sight-reading examples should be challenging enough to separate the top few players from those who play only scales and etudes at a high level of proficiency.
The audition includes scales, prepared material, and sight-reading. All audition materials, including rehearsal and audition tracks, have been written/recorded for LMEA and are available for download from this site.
Scales – Selected major scales will be required for the audition. A copy of the scale sheet for each instrument can be downloaded from the LMEA website’s All-State Middle School Jazz Ensemble page (found in the current year’s “set” materials).
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Trumpet
Trombone
Guitar
String Bass
PianoPrepared Material – There is a 3-year rotation cycle of prepared materials that have been written for the LMEA Middle School All-State Jazz Ensemble auditions. All audition materials, including rehearsal tracks, can be found on the LMEA website. They have been written/recorded for LMEA and are available for download from this site.
3-year Rotation of Scales, Prepared Materials, and Practice Tracks:
Set I – 2024-25
Etude 1 (Swing) – Music and Practice Tracks
Etude 2 (Straight Eighths) – Music and Practice Tracks
Set II – 2025-26
Etude 1 (Swing) – Music and Practice Tracks
Etude 2 (Straight Eighths) – Music and Practice Tracks
Set III – 2026-27
Etude 1 (Swing) – Music and Practice Tracks
Etude 2 (Straight Eighths) – Music and Practice TracksSight-Reading – Students will sight-read a short selection as part of their All-State Middle School Jazz Ensemble audition.
AUDITION CYCLE:
There is a 3-year rotation cycle of audition materials for strings consisting of selected major scales and prepared selections.
Note: The Orchestra Division Chair can also elect to require orchestral excerpts from the upcoming All-State repertoire. If this occurs, the information will be posted to the LMEA website.
Scales (30% of score) – Scales will consist of the following 2 octave major scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb. Scales must be played as described, including the order, articulation, and minimum tempo. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo. The students may use music to perform their scales.
Major Scales: minimum tempo is quarter note = 60 (scales will be played regardless of year or corresponding set for that particular year)
VIOLIN – Two octaves; play four slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.
G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2Oct.: Down GABC Up DEF#G Down ABCD Up EF#GF# Down GF#ED Up CBAG Down F#EDC Up BAG)
VIOLA – Two octaves; play four slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.
G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2Oct.: Down GABC Up DEF#G Down ABCD Up EF#GF# Down GF#ED Up CBAG Down F#EDC Up BAG)
CELLO – Two octaves; play two slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.
G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2Oct.: Down GABC Up DEF#G Down ABCD Up EF#GF# Down GF#ED Up CBAG Down F#EDC Up BAG)
BASS – One octave; play two slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.
G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 1Oct.: Down GA Up BC Down DE Up F#G Down GF# Up ED Down CB Up AG)
PIANO and HARP – Two octaves; play sixteenth notes, legato ascending and descending.
G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
Prepared selections (70% of score) – There is a 3-year rotation of prepared selections. Audition material will be organized into three sets of etudes derived from Suzuki books 3 and 4 for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass. Music must be performed in the order listed. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note and rhythmic accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo.
VIOLIN
SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Humoresque by A. Dvorak, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m25 to end).
Selection 2: Concerto for two violins by J.S. Bach, Suzuki BK#4 Revised Edition (beginning to end of m22).
VIOLA
SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Gavotte by Martini, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m16-32 downbeat before A).
Selection 2: Gavotte in G Minor by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (16 B to m40 down beat before A).
CELLO
SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Gavotte in C minor by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beg to m32).
Selection 2: Scherzo by Webster, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m33 to end).
BASS
SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Minuet 2 by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeats).
Selection 2: Scherzo by Webster, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to meno mosso).
HARP and PIANO
ALL YEARS
Prepare approximately 3 to 4 minutes of an etude or solo that demonstrates the full range of the student’s performance ability. The choice of music is left to the discretion of the student, but should include contrasting tempi and styles. The title and composer of the selection must be included with the audition recording.
The Ensemble will be Strings Orchestra.
Suggested instrumentation would be:
(18) 1st Violins (18) 2nd Violins
(12) Violas
(12) Celli
(8) Basses
The following audition materials will be used at both 1st and 2nd round auditions.
PREPARED SELECTION – There is a 3-year rotation of prepared selections. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note and rhythmic accuracy, intonation, and diction. (90% of score)
Click on the set to access the learning and audition tracks.
Set 1 (2024-25) – “She Sings” by Amy Bernon SATB.
SCALE (5% of score during round one/10% of score during round two)
Each student must sing the scale ascending and descending using the starting pitch indicated for their voice part below. Scales must be sung a cappella using solfege, numbers, or a neutral syllable. Recommended tempo for scales is quarter note = 66-80.
Sopranos: F (above middle C)
Altos: D (right beside middle C)
Tenors: F (below middle C)
Basses: C (below middle C)
SIGHT-READING (5% of score – 1st Round only)
Students will sight-read a short selection at 1st round using solfege, numbers, or neutral syllables. Ties are broken by the sight-reading score.
Sight reading will consist of grade level appropriate music and will consist of:
Quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes (and their corresponding rests)
Notes will move only in step-wise motion (no skips).
Selection will start and end on “do.”