Auditions
Auditions are held annually for all NEW members wishing to join the Cosmopolitan Music Society. The audition process is designed to assess the new members musical ability, and to assist in placing the musician within the correct performing ensemble and to also assist their placement within the ensemble. It is important that members be placed with other players of similar skill. Placements are subject to vacancies within the ensemble.
Existing members, who wish to move from one ensemble to another, must also follow the audition process listed below. If you are not sure about your audition piece, please ask the music director for assistance.
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A mixed chorus for adults who sing at various levels of skill and ability. Focus is on skill development, through a variety of styles of repertoire.
Level of Music: Beginner to Intermediate.
Technical Requirements: An understanding of written music is helpful, although concepts will be taught during theory lessons and rehearsals. At placement audition, please sing O Canada.
Rhythmic Proficiency: None; will be taught throughout the year.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: None; will be taught throughout the year. -
Wind band for adults who play at an advanced level.
Level of Music: Grade 4.5 - 6Technical Requirements: All of the major scales, and a chromatic scale, played over the full range of the instrument in a variety of articulation and rhythm patterns. Tone quality consistent with performing music at this level is essential. *Performance of solo music in the form of solo repertoire, etudes or studies is encouraged.
Rhythmic Proficiency: Count and play both simple (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4) and compound (1/8, 3/8, 6/8, 9/8, etc.) rhythms. Count and play both regular and compound rhythms associated with the Grade 4 - 5 level of band literature.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: Grade 4 - 4.5 music.
Percussion Audition: All 26 rudimentary roles on the snare drum. Read music for timpani and all mallet instruments. Playing knowledge of all concert style percussion accessories. Various swing and rock styles on the drum set.
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Wind band for adults who play at an intermediate level.
Level of Music: Grade 3 - 4
Technical Requirements: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, G, D, and a chromatic scale, in a variety of patterns. An understanding of a variety of articulations and the ability to perform them. Tone quality should reflect the development of a sound, fundamental approach to playing.
*Perform a short piece (16-32 bars) that demonstrates skill in rhythm, phrase, and articulation.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: Grade 2.5 - 3
Percussion Audition: The 7 essential rudiments which include Single Stroke Roll, Multiple Bounce Roll, Double Stroke Open Roll, Five Stroke Roll, Single Paradiddle, Flam, and Drag. Intermediate technique for timpani and mallet instruments and all percussion accessories.
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Wind band for adults who play at a novice level.
Level of Music: Grade 2 - 3
Technical Requirements: Bb, Eb, Ab, and possibly F major scales plus a Bb chromatic scale played in a variety of patterns. An understanding of slurred, legato and marcato articulation styles and the ability to perform them. Demonstration of characteristic tone quality for your instrument.
*Perform a short piece (16-32 bars) that demonstrates skill in rhythm, phrase, and articulation.
Rhythmic Proficiency: An understanding of simple meters and compound meters. All players should be able to read clap and play, whole, dotted-half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth, dotted eighth, and sixteenth notes.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: Grade 1.5 - 2Percussion Audition: Rudimentary technique for the snare drum, concert bass drum, suspended cymbal, crash cymbal, triangle, woodblock, and note reading for mallet instruments, and basic tuning of the timpani.
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Lessons and tutelage in wind band instruments for adults who have never played before or who wish to play a new instrument.
Level of Music: Absolute Beginner.
Technical Requirements: An understanding of written music is helpful, although concepts will be taught during theory lessons and rehearsals.
Rhythmic Proficiency: None — will be taught throughout the year.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: None — will be taught throughout the year.
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Jazz Band for adults who play at an intermedate level.
Audition pieces can be found at this link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Im9P2vuZmDapwxk7q-8IpsVg-T49FWB6?
Find the appropriate key and clef for your instrument. You may adjust the ranges as necessary. E prepared to play all requirements, including blues improvisation. Basic sight-reading will be completed during the audition
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Jazz orchestra for adults who play at an advanced level.
Technical Requirements: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, C, G, D and chromatic scale played in a variety of patterns and articulations. Tone quality should reflect the development of a sound, fundamental approach to playing the instrument. Prepare and play one piece of music that demonstrates your current skill level.
*Performance of an excerpt from a Big Band Arrangement or of a piece from a Jazz etude or study book
Sample audition pieces can be found at this link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IyqX_pbQQGyibLKxrwtVC40qITQrQ093?usp=sharing
Rhythmic Proficiency: An understanding of simple meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4/, 5/4) and compound meters (6/8, 9/8), cut time and common time, etc. A basic understanding of Swing and Latin styles, etc.
Sight-Reading Proficiency: Grade 2.5 - 3
Improvising Proficiency: Not required, but definitely an asset. You may improvise over Bb blues progression to demonstrate your ability, and a backing track will be provided.
Piano Proficiency: The ability to read and ‘comp’ with basic voicings for common jazz chords, such as Major 7, Dominant 7, Minor 7, Diminished 7, and so forth.
Bass Proficiency: The ability to “walk” and play basic bass patterns over standards and blues and common chord changes, in swing and latin grooves.
Drum Proficiency: The ability to play patterns and groove for swing on sticks and brushes. bossa nova, samba, Funk, rock, and Afro Cuban (6/8 or 12/8).