Audition Requirements for all orchestras
TARGET AGE GROUPS FOR ORCHESTRAS
YSO: Advanced high school (approximately grades 10-12)
YP: Advanced middle school, and early high school (approximately grades 8-10)
ISO: Middle school and advanced/late middle school (approximately grades 6-7)
PSO: Late elementary school (approximately grades 4-6)
YSO: Advanced high school (approximately grades 10-12)
YP: Advanced middle school, and early high school (approximately grades 8-10)
ISO: Middle school and advanced/late middle school (approximately grades 6-7)
PSO: Late elementary school (approximately grades 4-6)
PSO
*Auditions are not required for placement in the Prelude String Orchestra (PSO). However a student must meet minimum technical and experience requirements, and provide a private teacher recommendation for enrollment in PSO. See details below.
*Auditions are not required for placement in the Prelude String Orchestra (PSO). However a student must meet minimum technical and experience requirements, and provide a private teacher recommendation for enrollment in PSO. See details below.
Questions? Please contact William Waag, Director of Orchestras: william@sfysa.org
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STRINGS (ISO, YP, and YSO)
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Click to download SFYSA Program Continuity Document
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VIOLIN Intermezzo String Orchestra (ISO) ・Scales: D major (2 octaves), melodic minor of your choice (2 octaves) ・1-2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, pieces from Suzuki Book 3 are an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Philharmonic (YP) ・Scales: G major (3 octaves), D melodic minor (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, “Humoresque” from Book 3 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) ・Scales: 1 major scale chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, and a melodic minor scale of your choice (each 3 octaves) ・1-2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 5 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading ・Violin Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context |
VIOLA Intermezzo String Orchestra (ISO) ・Scales: G major (2 octaves), melodic minor or your choice (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference,“Minuet in G” in Book 2 or higher is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Philharmonic (YP) ・Scales: C major (3 octaves), G melodic minor (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, “Humoresque” from Book 3 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) ・Scales: 1 major scale chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, and a melodic minor scale of your choice (each 3 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 5 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading ・Viola Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context |
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CELLO Intermezzo String Orchestra (ISO) ・Scales: G major (2 octaves), melodic minor of your choice (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, “Gavotte" by Gossec from Book 2 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Philharmonic (YP) ・Scales: C major (3 octaves), G minor (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, “Scherzo” from Book 3 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) ・Scales: 1 major scale chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, and a melodic minor scale of your choice (each 3 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 5 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading ・Cello Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context |
BASS Intermezzo String Orchestra (ISO) ・Scales: 1 major and 1 melodic minor scale of your choice (1 octave) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 2 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Philharmonic (YP) ・Scales: A major (1 octave), and E melodic minor (2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 3 is an appropriate level ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) ・Scales: 1 major scale chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, and a melodic minor scale of your choice (each 2 octaves) ・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition. For Suzuki reference, Book 5 is an appropriate level. ・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading ・Bass Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context |
WOODWINDS & BRASS (YP and YSO)
Youth Philharmonic (YP)
・Scales: Chromatic (from your lowest to highest comfortable pitches), and 1 major chosen at random from up to 2 sharps and 2 flats (as many octaves as comfortable)
・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition.
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)
・Scales: Chromatic (from your lowest to highest comfortable pitches), and 1 major chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats (as many octaves as comfortable)
・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition.
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
・Orchestral Excerpts (click instrument to download): Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Horn, Oboe, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba. Tips 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context.
・Scales: Chromatic (from your lowest to highest comfortable pitches), and 1 major chosen at random from up to 2 sharps and 2 flats (as many octaves as comfortable)
・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition.
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)
・Scales: Chromatic (from your lowest to highest comfortable pitches), and 1 major chosen at random from up to 3 sharps and 3 flats (as many octaves as comfortable)
・2 minutes of a prepared solo or etude that best demonstrates the musician’s ability. Bring two copies of your solo part to the audition.
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
・Orchestral Excerpts (click instrument to download): Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Horn, Oboe, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba. Tips 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context.
PERCUSSION (YP and YSO)
Youth Philharmonic (YP)
・Scales: 1 major chosen at random from up to 2 sharps and 2 flats
・Mallet exercise (click to download)
・Snare exercise (click to download)
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)
・Scales: 1 major chosen at random from up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
・Snare etude from Portrait in Rhythm, by Cirone (click to download) or comparable etude
・Mallet etude from Masterpieces for Marimba, by McMillan (click to download) or comparable etude
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
・Percussion Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context
・Scales: 1 major chosen at random from up to 2 sharps and 2 flats
・Mallet exercise (click to download)
・Snare exercise (click to download)
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)
・Scales: 1 major chosen at random from up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
・Snare etude from Portrait in Rhythm, by Cirone (click to download) or comparable etude
・Mallet etude from Masterpieces for Marimba, by McMillan (click to download) or comparable etude
・Melodic and Rhythmic sight-reading
・Percussion Orchestral Excerpts (click to download) Excerpt Tips: 1) Strive for the stated tempo, but remember: accuracy is more important than tempo. 2) Listen to recordings of these works in order to hear your part in the right context
Prelude String Orchestra (PSO)
Minimum Readiness Requirements
Target Age Group: Late elementary school (approximately grades 5-6)
Students who meet the following readiness requirements for PSO should have their private-lesson teacher submit a letter of recommendation to Haley Lovelace at haley@sfysa.org
Prelude String Orchestra provides an introduction to large ensemble playing and prepares students to advance to the Intermezzo String Orchestra.
VIOLIN / VIOLA
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in first-position on all four strings, including high and low second-finger
– Proficiency with note-names in first-position on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 2-octave G-Scale (violin) or a 2-octave C-Scale (viola)
– Completion of "Etude" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
CELLO
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in first-position on all four strings, including second- and third-finger
– Proficiency with note-names in first-position on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 2-octave C-Scale
– Completion of "Rigadoon" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
BASS
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in the first three positions on all four strings
– Proficiency with note-names in the first three positions on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 1-octave G-Scale
– Completion of "Perpetual Motion" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
Minimum Readiness Requirements
Target Age Group: Late elementary school (approximately grades 5-6)
Students who meet the following readiness requirements for PSO should have their private-lesson teacher submit a letter of recommendation to Haley Lovelace at haley@sfysa.org
Prelude String Orchestra provides an introduction to large ensemble playing and prepares students to advance to the Intermezzo String Orchestra.
- Students entering PSO for the first time should have a minimum of 2 years previous study on their instrument, and demonstrate note-reading readiness.
- No student audition is necessary, however a teacher recommendation is required to ensure that the student is appropriately placed.
- The recommended minimum age for PSO is 8 years old, or entering 3rd grade. The recommended maximum age is 11 years old, or entering 6th grade. Exceptions to these recommendations can be made by the PSO Conductor
VIOLIN / VIOLA
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in first-position on all four strings, including high and low second-finger
– Proficiency with note-names in first-position on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 2-octave G-Scale (violin) or a 2-octave C-Scale (viola)
– Completion of "Etude" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
CELLO
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in first-position on all four strings, including second- and third-finger
– Proficiency with note-names in first-position on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 2-octave C-Scale
– Completion of "Rigadoon" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
BASS
– Proficiency with fingerboard geography in the first three positions on all four strings
– Proficiency with note-names in the first three positions on all four strings
– Proficiency with a 1-octave G-Scale
– Completion of "Perpetual Motion" and all prior pieces from Book 1 of the Suzuki repertory, or equivalent level of proficiency
– Note-reading experience is not necessary, but students must be ready to begin note-reading
