Audition Requirements
2024-25 Season Audition Dates:
Live Auditions are scheduled for May 1st & 8th. We will also have auditions in early to mid-August.
Audition Requirements and Expectations
AUDITION DATES:
Live Auditions are scheduled for May 1st and May 8th. We will also have auditions in early to mid-August.
Students interested in scheduling an audition should send an email to executivedirector@youthmusicmonterey.org OR call 831-375-1992.
The YMM Office is located at :
546 Hartnell St., Suite B, Monterey
YMM Rehearsals are at:
Hidden Valley Music Seminars
104 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley
Audition Requirements for Woodwinds & Brass
Junior Youth Orchestra
- Be prepared to play one-octave major scales in the concert keys of G, D, F, & Bb major in quarter notes at 80 mm per quarter note
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates your current level of study. This can be school sheet music, an etude, or a solo.
- Demonstrate basic skills through a brief sight-reading passage
Honors Orchestra
- Be prepared to play one-octave major scales in the concert keys of C, G, D, F, Bb, & Eb, in slow eighth notes (quarter note at 80mm), two octaves wherever possible
- Play the chromatic scale that shows your current range on the instrument in quarter notes at 80 mm per quarter or faster
- Demonstrate knowledge of dynamics, phrasing, rhythm, accuracy, and good pitch through the playing of two prepared selections, 1-2 minutes each and of contrasting styles
- Demonstrate good sight-reading skills in a passage of orchestral literature
Audition Requirements for Percussion
Junior Youth Orchestra
-Demonstrate ability to play quarter, 8th, & 16th notes in time, by yourself and with a metronome,on the snare drum between 80-100 mm per quarter.
-Demonstrate basic rudiments such as flams, drags, & double stroke open-roll rudiments
-Demonstrate ability to play a mallet instrument (treble clef) or timpani (bass clef) using school sheet music or a solo/etude piece one minute in length
-Demonstrate sight reading ability and rudiments on the snare and either on mallets or timpani on orchestral passages
Honors Orchestra
-Demonstrate ability to play quarter, 8th, & 16th notes in time, by yourself and with a metronome, on the snare drum, between 80-100 mm per quarter. Demonstrate basic rudiments such as flams, drags, & double stroke open roll rudiments.
-Demonstrate ability to play a mallet instrument (treble clef) or timpani (bass clef) using school sheet music or a solo/etude piece one minute in length.
-Demonstrate sight reading ability and rudiments on the snare drum and either on mallets or timpani on orchestral passages
-All percussion equipment will be provided but you should bring your own drumsticks. Bell & timpani mallets will be provided
Audition Requirements for Strings
Junior Youth Orchestra
JYO First Violin
- Play 2-octave scales in G, D, A, C, & Bb major
Ability to play in 3rd position & playing at the level of Suzuki books 4-5 or equivalent
- Demonstrate a variety of bowing skills on the string as well as a “brush bounce stroke”
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Have an understanding and some experience playing vibrato
- Demonstrate sight-reading ability which may include the above-mentioned skills
JYO Second Violin
- Play 2-octave scales in G, A, C, & Bb major
- Able to play in 1st position keys of G, D, C, & F major
- 1 to 1-1/2 years of experience and at the Suzuki level 2-3 or equivalent
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate sight-reading skills with a variety of simple rhythms in 1st position
JYO Viola
- Play 1-octave scales in C, D, & G major (2 octaves in C major preferred)
- 1 to 1-1/2 years of experience and at the Suzuki level 2-4 or equivalent
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection
JYO Cello
- Play scales in 1 or 2 octaves in the key of C, D, G, & A
- Demonstrate ability to play in 1st & 4th position
- Playing for at least 2 years
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection
JYO Bass
- 1-octave scales in G, D, C, & F major
- Solo selection which demonstrates intermediate level performance
- Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection
Audition Requirements for Strings
Honors Orchestra
Honors First Violin
- 3-octave scales & arpeggios in C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, & Eb major
Fluent in position work & at the level of Suzuki Book 7 or above or equivalent
- Demonstrate mature vibrato
- Play well in tune in a variety of keys and bowing styles, demonstrating high level of musicianship, intonation, phrasing,& dynamic contrasts
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate the ability to sight read standard orchestra repertoire
Honors Second Violin
- 3-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, & Bb major
- Fluent in 1st, 3rd, & 5th positions
- Have a developed vibrato
- Demonstrate controlled spiccato and ability to play with a variety of bowing styles
- Play well in tune and demonstrate knowledge of dynamics and varied rhythms
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra
Honors Viola
- 3-octave C major scale, 2 octave scales in D, G, A, f, & Bb major
Demonstrate sight reading skills
- Playing at level of Suzuki book 5 or higher or equivalent
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
Honors Cello
- 2-octave scales in C, D, G, A, F & Bb major
- Demonstrate advanced playing ability, musicianship, intonation, dynamics & phrasing
- Able to play octave harmonic thumb position (8th)
- Demonstrate skill in performing a variety of bowing styles, both on & off the string
- Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study
- Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra
Honors Bass
- 2-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, & Bb major
- Perform 2 short selections of different styles at high school level or higher
- Demonstrate a variety of position work, tempi, dynamic contrasts
- Demonstrate a variety of bowing styles, both on & off the string
- Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra