The Process

Our ‘audition’ is really a chance to meet you in person, hear you play, and guide your pathway here at Santa Su. ☺  It is meant to be a friendly introduction, we will make you feel welcome, and we are so glad you are considering our program at Santa Susana HS Instrumental Music!
3 part skills assessment (used for ensemble and chair placement only, all students are accepted into the program)-Scales, Musical etude, Sight Reading

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

SSHS Instrumental Music Auditions 2020-21

This video audition is for incoming students for Fall 2020.
  1. Please fill out google information form. SSHS IM incoming students 2020-21
  2. Example: State, “Hello, my name is ______ and I will be in ______grade. In this video I am auditioning for ______.”

How to submit your video - Instructions at the bottom of the page. 

If you have any trouble please reach out to john.theisen@simivalleyusd.org 

Core IM Class Offerings:
*Concert Band/*Wind Ensemble-woodwinds, brass, percussion (piano)
*String Orchestra - Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, (piano)

Additional IM Class Offerings:
ENTERTAINMENT ENSEMBLE - PE Credit!- CO-CURRICULAR enrollment is required in a *core Instrumental Music course (CB/WE/SO) Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, Rhythm Section (piano, bass, guitar, drums)
Jazz Band - Saxes, Trombones, Trumpets, Piano, Jazz Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano
Production Orchestra - Rhythm section (piano,bass,guitar, percussion), Brass, Woodwinds, Strings
-STUDENTS CHOSEN BASED ON INSTRUMENTATION NEEDS PER EACH SHOW. 
-This is our capstone course, and is reserved for our top student musicians 
-This course is recommended for students in 2 or more Instrumental Music Classes 

Video Requirements -
Please submit a video of yourself performing each of the following skill sets. (one video if possible, more if you need the space)

Concert Band/Wind Ensemble/String Orchestra- 
Woodwinds 
  • 3 Scales-Concert Eb, Concert C, & one octave minimum chromatic scale (Scales should be in 8th note form.  Quarter note =80 or faster)
  • :30 seconds of slower/lyrical music (please choose music that demonstrates your best abilities)
  • :30 seconds of medium to faster (more technical) music (of your choice)
Brass 
  • 3 Scales-Concert Eb, Concert C, & one octave minimum chromatic scale (Scales should be in 8th note form.  Quarter note =80 or faster)
  • :30 seconds of slower/lyrical music (please choose music that demonstrates your best abilities)
  • :30 seconds of medium to faster (more technical) music (of your choice)
Strings 
  • 2 Scales- D Major, C Major, (Scales should be in 8th note form.  Quarter note =80 or faster) (higher octaves for upper parts)
  • :30 seconds of slower/lyrical music (please choose music that demonstrates your best abilities)
  • :30 seconds of medium to faster (more technical) music (of your choice)
Percussion
  • If you have a mallet keyboard-please play 3 Scales-F, Eb, & Ab (Scales should be in 8th note form.  Quarter note =80 or faster)
  • If you DO NOT have a mallet keyboard (bells etc) at home, then please play on a snare, drum pad, or applicable surface- paradiddles, flams, buzz roll, and any rudiments that show your knowledge
  • Please choose snare or mallets-1 minute total of musical rhythmic patterns (or a song) to demonstrate technique, tempo, etc.  (piano could work also)

Jazz Band- 
3 Scales, swung, with I/III/IV/dom 7 arpeggios (scales of your choice)
1 real book (or ‘real easy’) chart-head, arpeggiated chords, solo over chord progression @ least once.  (consider using online rhythm accompaniment to play along with).
Drumset Audition- 32 bars Latin beat (100bpm=metronome) insert fills throughout (bossa &/or Samba beat patterns).  32 bars Funk Beat (116bpm=metronome) layer in fills every 4 bars or so.  16 bars SLOW brush type SWING- (72bpm=metronome).  32 bars uptempo Swing (152bpm=metronome) fills every 8 bars.  Take a solo during the uptempo swing for 'higher chair'. 

Production Orchestra- 

Strings/Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion
  • all 12 major scales & arpeggios
  • 1 minute of grade IV or higher material (college audition or honor group level audition material)

Entertainment Ensemble - no extra audition needed (main ensemble will be used for placement)

How to submit your video:

Go to https://flipgrid.com/sshsauditions2020 Password: SSHSAuditions2020

You may have to create a Flipgrid account if you do not already have one. This is very easy to do. We recommend you use your school email to sign up, even if it is an out of district email.

Next, click on the “Topic” of Instrumental auditions. You may record with your own device and upload a video, or you may use the Flipgrid Camera. ​
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​Video submissions are Due ASAP