"Any time you audition and get it, you earned it." - Michael Ealy
In the first hours of camp. students will be asked to audition on their instruments to help determine sectional seating for the week. Beyond the pragmatic necessity of hearing the kids and getting the band established, we feel that auditions are an important component of musical education. They will be asked to audition in many musical settings as they challenge themselves as musicians and the more they do it, the more confident they will grow. Music camp is a friendly way to get some practice on this.
I think most students would agree that they are a bit nervous about this process and this will probably seem like the scariest part of camp. But it is the PROCESS that we are helping our blossoming musicians to gain confidence with through repeat experience and preparation. It is common to see returning campers get better and more comfortable with the auditions each year as their experience grows. This is just a really cool part of their development. We have to learn to work through our nerves in a lot of settings in our lives. While there is no magic cure for the ‘nerve factor’ in these kinds of settings, the best remedy I can offer for keeping them under check is to BE PREPARED. See more specific information on the Audition Procedure Page.
Junior High Grades 5th-8th. Students entering the 6th grade need to have at least one full year of experience on a band instrument. They need to have acquired some notational music reading skills and be able to play at least one full octave on a Concert Bb major scale and Concert Bb chromatic scale. Band students entering the 9th grade will generally sign up for week one, but may also consider attending the High School Camp if the musical challenge seems more appropriate. 9th graders should consider both their musical level and their social comfort when deciding which group will be most rewarding for their summer band camp experience. They will either be among the oldest campers or the youngest, depending on the camp they choose. (*See the Audition list for more detailed information).
JAZZ BAND AUDITIONS
PLEASE NOTE: A Jazz Band traditionally consists of 2 altos saxes, 2 tenor saxes, and a baritone sax; 4-5 trombones, 4-5 trumpets and a rhythm section (piano, bass, guitar, drums). Sometimes other non-traditional instruments are brought into the ensemble, such as flute, clarinet, tuba, vibes, etc., but these are not a standard part of most jazz literature played at camp. As such, students hoping to play in the jazz band at DMMC should be competent on one or more of the traditional jazz instruments. Whether or not non-traditional instruments will be included is at the Jazz Director’s discretion to meet the needs of their selected literature. Students playing non-traditional instruments who hope to be in the jazz band should come prepared to audition with the understanding that auditions for jazz will likely only take place if the instrument will be part of the band. Jazz instrumentation needed will be announced at camp. No matter what your instrument, students who select jazz band as their first musical elective choice must have a second choice in mind (choir or ensembles) since Jazz is an auditioned group.
After your camper auditions on their primary instrument for concert band, one of the following will happen:
1. If your camper wishes to play the same instrument in the Jazz Band (i.e. Tenor Saxophone for concert band and for Jazz Band), the camper will let the person conducting their concert band audition know they wish to audition for the Jazz Band. They will then complete their Jazz Band audition with the same proctor after their concert band audition is completed.
2. If your camper wishes to play a different (secondary) instrument in the Jazz band (i.e. Flute for concert band and Alto Saxophone for Jazz Band), then the camper will let the person conducting their concert band audition know at the end of their audition. They will then be directed to the location where the secondary instrument (for this example the alto saxophones) are being auditioned. The camper will let the new proctor know that they only wish to audition for the Jazz Band and their concert band audition is complete. They will complete their Jazz band audition with the new counselor or staff member.
3. If you camper is a percussionist or plays guitar, piano or string bass, they will complete their concert band audition first, then head over to our Jazz Pavilion (we have maps to show them where to go). They will complete their Jazz Band audition with the Jazz Conductor.
Please remind your camper to audition on their primary instrument for Concert Band FIRST then complete their Jazz Band Audition.
IMPORTANT
When you check in, look for a sign near where you get assigned your counselor that tells you where your audition will take place. After you have been assigned a counselor and a bunk, he/she will direct you to the audition site for your instrument.
It is your responsibility to arrive at camp in time to register (which may take 25-30 minutes) and audition before the camp picture is taken at 5:15 pm. Unexpected late arrivals will be assigned chairs at the end of the section. PLEASE AVOID ARRIVING LATE.
Please refrain from warming up directly on the site of auditions in progress.
*** The Conductors reserve the right, during rehearsals, to reassign chairs as they see fit.***
I think most students would agree that they are a bit nervous about this process and this will probably seem like the scariest part of camp. But it is the PROCESS that we are helping our blossoming musicians to gain confidence with through repeat experience and preparation. It is common to see returning campers get better and more comfortable with the auditions each year as their experience grows. This is just a really cool part of their development. We have to learn to work through our nerves in a lot of settings in our lives. While there is no magic cure for the ‘nerve factor’ in these kinds of settings, the best remedy I can offer for keeping them under check is to BE PREPARED. See more specific information on the Audition Procedure Page.
Junior High Grades 5th-8th. Students entering the 6th grade need to have at least one full year of experience on a band instrument. They need to have acquired some notational music reading skills and be able to play at least one full octave on a Concert Bb major scale and Concert Bb chromatic scale. Band students entering the 9th grade will generally sign up for week one, but may also consider attending the High School Camp if the musical challenge seems more appropriate. 9th graders should consider both their musical level and their social comfort when deciding which group will be most rewarding for their summer band camp experience. They will either be among the oldest campers or the youngest, depending on the camp they choose. (*See the Audition list for more detailed information).
JAZZ BAND AUDITIONS
PLEASE NOTE: A Jazz Band traditionally consists of 2 altos saxes, 2 tenor saxes, and a baritone sax; 4-5 trombones, 4-5 trumpets and a rhythm section (piano, bass, guitar, drums). Sometimes other non-traditional instruments are brought into the ensemble, such as flute, clarinet, tuba, vibes, etc., but these are not a standard part of most jazz literature played at camp. As such, students hoping to play in the jazz band at DMMC should be competent on one or more of the traditional jazz instruments. Whether or not non-traditional instruments will be included is at the Jazz Director’s discretion to meet the needs of their selected literature. Students playing non-traditional instruments who hope to be in the jazz band should come prepared to audition with the understanding that auditions for jazz will likely only take place if the instrument will be part of the band. Jazz instrumentation needed will be announced at camp. No matter what your instrument, students who select jazz band as their first musical elective choice must have a second choice in mind (choir or ensembles) since Jazz is an auditioned group.
After your camper auditions on their primary instrument for concert band, one of the following will happen:
1. If your camper wishes to play the same instrument in the Jazz Band (i.e. Tenor Saxophone for concert band and for Jazz Band), the camper will let the person conducting their concert band audition know they wish to audition for the Jazz Band. They will then complete their Jazz Band audition with the same proctor after their concert band audition is completed.
2. If your camper wishes to play a different (secondary) instrument in the Jazz band (i.e. Flute for concert band and Alto Saxophone for Jazz Band), then the camper will let the person conducting their concert band audition know at the end of their audition. They will then be directed to the location where the secondary instrument (for this example the alto saxophones) are being auditioned. The camper will let the new proctor know that they only wish to audition for the Jazz Band and their concert band audition is complete. They will complete their Jazz band audition with the new counselor or staff member.
3. If you camper is a percussionist or plays guitar, piano or string bass, they will complete their concert band audition first, then head over to our Jazz Pavilion (we have maps to show them where to go). They will complete their Jazz Band audition with the Jazz Conductor.
Please remind your camper to audition on their primary instrument for Concert Band FIRST then complete their Jazz Band Audition.
IMPORTANT
When you check in, look for a sign near where you get assigned your counselor that tells you where your audition will take place. After you have been assigned a counselor and a bunk, he/she will direct you to the audition site for your instrument.
It is your responsibility to arrive at camp in time to register (which may take 25-30 minutes) and audition before the camp picture is taken at 5:15 pm. Unexpected late arrivals will be assigned chairs at the end of the section. PLEASE AVOID ARRIVING LATE.
Please refrain from warming up directly on the site of auditions in progress.
*** The Conductors reserve the right, during rehearsals, to reassign chairs as they see fit.***