THE MUSIC ACADEMY AT CCTS Audition Requirements For Vocalists applying for acceptance into The Music Academy at Camden County Technical Schools

Transcription

1 THE MUSIC ACADEMY AT CCTS Audition Requirements For Vocalists applying for acceptance into The Music Academy at Camden County Technical Schools

2 MUSIC ACADEMY AUDITION DATE AND TIME The Music Academy is located in Building 2. Please park in Lot 2 and enter through the door with the black awning for Black Box Theater. Gloucester Township Campus 343 Berlin Cross Keys Road Sicklerville, NJ To schedule an audition or ask questions, please call the Admissions Office at (856) x 5415 or admissions@ccts.net.

3 Dear Music Academy Candidate, Thank you for your interest in the Music Academy at Camden County Technical Schools. As a performing musician, you will be asked to prepare an audition to demonstrate specific musical skills on voice or on a standard concert band or orchestral string instrument. Audition requirements for each instrument are described in detail in this booklet, so use this material as your guide as you prepare for your audition. You may audition for the Music Academy at CCTS either on voice, on an instrument, or on both. If, however, you are accepted into both programs, you will be required to choose one as your major for the purpose of class scheduling. You have made an important and thoughtful decision to audition for the Music Academy at CCTS. Acceptance into this program is highly competitive, and we extend to you our best wishes as you prepare for your audition! Douglas Schmidt, Instrumental Music Academy Jessica Thomas, Vocal Music Academy Music Academy Overview and Philosophy The program of study within the Music Academy at CCTS is designed to nurture the creative talents and aspirations of its students within an academic college preparatory program. The Music Academy presents comprehensive and sequential curricula in both vocal and instrumental music in conjunction with a rigorous pre-college academic program at our Gloucester Township Campus. Our graduates demonstrate mastery of advanced skills that enable them to become productive, competitive, and self-directed lifelong learners who recognize, appreciate, and respect excellence in the arts, superior academic achievement, and persons of exceptional character. Music Academy students engage in an extensive study of instrumental or vocal performance, elementary and advanced harmony (written music theory), sight-singing and ear training (aural theory), music history, piano, keyboard harmony, and the technique of orchestration. During the senior year of study, students are prepared to audition for, and gain acceptance into, the most highly competitive college and university schools of music throughout the United States.

4 VOCAL AUDITION TIPS AUDITION PERFORMANCE GOALS A successful audition demonstrates accomplishment of technical skills and musical artistry that far exceeds the musical expressions printed on the page. There are three simple steps to achieving this goal. Practice Slowly Work on difficult passages using a metronome. Increase speed only when you have comfortably mastered all musical elements at slower tempos. Practice Often There is no substitute for practicing. Perform for others before your audition. Record your performances, critique yourself honestly, and then invite others to listen and critique you. Perform with Confidence Your audition selections should be performed with emotion and confidence. Put yourself into the music, and practice communicating with your audience as you master the technical aspects of your music. ONE YEAR BEFORE YOUR AUDITION 1. Keep your grades up! Before you can schedule an audition date, you must first qualify for admission to Camden County Technical Schools. Your academic performance (your grades), behavior, attendance, and standardized test scores are all taken into consideration by the CCTS Admission Team. 2. Schedule weekly private lessons if your budget allows. Call (856) x 4215 for a list of local with standing, yet reasonably priced private teachers. 3. Schedule time to work with the music teacher at your school! THREE MONTHS BEFORE YOUR AUDITION 4. Decide on which instrument(s) or voice part you plan to audition, and then begin to prepare. 5. Develop a practice schedule. Remember to include time for other activities, such as homework, co-curricular school activities, sports, volunteer work, etc. 6. Schedule an audition date. The Music Academy at CCTS has finite enrollment, and openings fill quickly! Call Ms. Suzanne Golt, Admissions Officer, at (856) x 5415 or admissions@ccts.net. 7. Do your homework about the music s stylistic period, musical terms, tempos, phrases and form, and text. 8. Continue taking private lessons and working with your school music teacher!

5 VOCAL AUDITION TIPS CONTINUED ONE MONTH BEFORE YOUR AUDITION 11. You should now be comfortable performing all pitches, rhythms, dynamics, musical expressions, and text. 12. Be musical! Exaggerate, and do more than what is printed on the page. 13. Record your performance, and critique yourself. Invite others to provide comments and critique. Do not become defensive when others are critical; remember, you will have invited their comments, and they are trying to help you succeed. 14. Perform for others as much as possible! ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR AUDITION 15. Perform for others several times daily! 16. Take good care of yourself, eat healthy, and get plenty of rest and drink a lot of water. 17. Write the introduction you will announce at your performance. Include your name, your grade in school, the name of your school, and a single interesting aspect of the piece to listen for (style, rhythm, form, technique, melody, etc.). 18. Arrange a dress rehearsal with friends so you can practice the sequence of tuning, reciting your introduction and executing your performance. THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR AUDITION 19. Review your schedule for the next day, and be sure your sheet music is ready. 20. Write thank you cards to everyone who helped you prepare for your audition. 21. Decide what you ll wear to the audition. This is a special day, and you should plan to dress up. Do not wear jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, hats, etc. 22. Drink plenty of fluids that do not contain caffeine. THE MORNING OF YOUR AUDITION 23. Double-check your sheet music. 24. Vocalists should especially avoid dairy and carbonated products on audition day. 25. Plan to arrive at your audition minutes early. You should anticipate heavy traffic, road construction, and unfamiliar directions. It reflects poorly on both the student and the family to arrive late. AT THE AUDITION SITE 26. Arrive in plenty of time to locate the music room. 27. Carefully warm-up and stretch. 28. While some nervousness is normal, the best way to reduce nervousness is to be as prepared as possible.

6 VOCAL AUDITION TIPS CONTINUED RIGHT BEFORE YOU PERFORM 29. Smile and announce your name, your grade in school, the name of your school, the name of each scale, and one interesting aspect of the piece to listen for (style, rhythm, form, technique, melody, etc.). Articulate well, and speak maturely. 30. Position yourself so the judge can easily see what you re doing. 31. Prepare yourself, mentally. 32. Now is your opportunity to show everyone what you can do. Let mistakes go by, and enjoy making music! WHEN YOU RE FINISHED 33. Listen carefully to any constructive comments the judges may give you. 34. Thank the judges for evaluating your performance. 35. Be proud of what you ve accomplished because you have given your best to your audition performance!

7 AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOICE Matching Pitch Students who audition for the Music Academy at CCTS on voice must be able to match pitch. Students unable to match pitch will be ineligible for the program. Solo A solo is required for your voice audition. You are to choose and prepare a short, unaccompanied solo that best showcases your vocal abilities. Performance time of your solo must not exceed two(2) minutes. Prepared Song ( The Ash Grove ) The song excerpt printed below is required for your voice audition. You may sing the song in any key that is comfortable for you. Low and High Diatonic Scales You will be asked to sing, on the vowel ah as in father, the two(2) scales listed next to your voice part below. Take a breath between the ascending and descending scales. Starting pitches will be given from the piano. Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Low (C) / High (G) Low (A) / High (E) Low (D) / High (F) Low (G) / High (D) Tonal Memory You will be asked to sing back to the instructor a series of melodies first played by the instructor on the piano.

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