JH Band Audition Requirements
At the December 2024 board meeting, it was voted upon by directors to update/change the audition excerpts for JH Honor Band Auditions.
The excerpts for both cycles will be from the Essential Elements 2000 series, book 3.
We are indeed working on the updated excerpts, however, for the 2025-26 audition cycle we will be using Cycle 1 from the existing excerpts.
The new material will be in place by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
Notice to Directors
- Due to copyright laws, the photocopied audition excerpts are no longer posted on the website. The cycle list is posted below the chromatic ranges for each instrument.
- The audition material for wind instruments is excerpted from the INTERMEDIATE RUBANK METHOD book.
- The audition material for mallet instruments and timpani are excerpted from the AUDITION ETUDES book by Garwood Whaley.
- All audition material for Snare Drum is excerpted from the Basic Drumming book by Joel Rothman.
- Percussionists are encouraged to audition on all three instruments. Students must audition on Snare Drum and Timpani. Mallets may be auditioned separately or in addition to SD and Timpani.
- Mallets: Play the excerpt plus chromatic scale (Roll Up/Single Tap Down)
- For the Drum Audition, record the timpani, then record the snare drum audition.
- Cycle #1 Excerpts @ Marked Tempo
- Chromatic Scale @ 90 bpm (Slur Up/Tongue Down). Play required range or extended range. Trombone uses legato tonguing.
- Percussionists: Students must audition on Snare Drum and Timpani. Mallets may be auditioned separately or in addition to SD and Timpani. Mallets: Play the excerpt plus chromatic scale (Roll Up/Single Tap Down)
Cycle 1 - Odd Years - 2023, 2025, etc
Cycle 2 - Even Years - 2022, 2024, etc
Chromatic Ranges
Audition Cycles
| Instrument | Cycle #1 | Cycle #2 |
| Flute | Pg. 9 . 1st part of duet . pick up to m. 17 to end . mm=88 | Pg. 6 . Etude #2 . All 4 lines . mm=100 |
| Oboe | Pg. 13 . Etude #3 . All 3 lines . mm=88 | Pg. 20 . Etude #5 . All 3 lines . mm=60 |
| Bassoon | Pg. 13 . Etude #1 . All . mm=72. Take 2nd ending, end on 'C' before the D.S. | Pg. 18 . Etude #5 . All . mm q. =60 |
| Clarinet | Pg. 19 . Pick up to letter D to the fermata m. 35 | Pg. 50 . Andante Cantabile. Top part of duet from the beginning to the fermata high A |
| Bass Clarinet (from Clarinet book) |
Pg. 13 . Etude #2 . First 12 measures . mm=108 | Pg. 28 . Etude #3 . Play 2nd part of duet . No repeats . mm=120 |
| Saxophone Alto, Tenor & Bari |
Pg. 13 . Etude #5 . All 4 lines . mm=88 | Pg. 18 . Etude #5 . All 4 lines . mm=108 |
| Trumpet | Pg. 32 . Gavotte . 1st part of duet . No repeats . mm=120 | Pg. 44 . Austrian . 1st part of duet . All 4 lines . mm=88 |
| Horn | Pg. 11 . Etude #2 . All 4 lines . No repeats . mm 120 | Pg. 34 . Legato Etude . 1st part of duet . All 3 lines . mm 108 |
| Trombone/Baritone BC | Pg. 13 . Etude #2 . All 4 lines . mm 120 | Pg. 9 . Etude #3 . Beg to 3rd line meas 5 . mm=92 |
| Baritone TC (from Trumpet book) |
Pg. 12 . Etude #2 . All 4 lines . mm 120 (m.29 B is natural) | Pg. 8 . Etude #3 . Beg to 3rd line meas 5 . mm=92 |
| Tuba | Pg. 14 . Etude #4 . All 4 lines . mm=104 | Pg. 38 . Etude #2 . All 4 lines . mm=76 |
| Mallets Bells, Xylophone or Marimba |
Pg. 19 . Etude #1 . Last 3 lines . mm=120 | Pg. 19 . Etude #2 . 1st 16 measures . mm=60 |
| Snare Original Book (Revised Edition in parentheses) |
Pg. 49 (p.61) . lines 1-4 . no repeats . mm=100 | Pg. 49 (p.61) . lines 7-10 . no repeats . mm=100 |
| Timpani | Pg. 12 . Etude #1 . 3rd line to end . mm=120 | Pg. 12 . Etude #2 . 3rd line, 2nd measure to end . mm=112 |