Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra

Candidates should be comfortable in all registers of their instrument(s) and have advanced control of intonation and tone quality. Familiarity with all major scales is required. Candidates should demonstrate a strong sense of the inner pulse (internal metronome) in their playing.

All candidates are required to have a prepared solo for audition. This should be representative of the student's overall musical and technical ability and approximately one minute in length. Bring one copy of your solo music to the audition.

Prepare all major scales (at least 2 octaves). Students will be asked to play a minimum of 2 scales. Brass and woodwind players may be asked to play a chromatic scale.

All students will be asked to sight-read 1 to 3 selections. These will be provided at the audition.

Percussion Requirements

Percussionists may be asked to audition at a time different from their confirmed audition date and time in order to ensure that needed instruments at MTSU are available. In addition to a prepared solo, you must also be able to:

Snare Drum: Buss, Roll, Flam, Flam Tap, Flam Accent, Ruff, 5 Stroke Roll

Timpani: Tuning P4, P5. Tuning of prepared music plus long roll pp

Mallets: 1 octave scales, quarter note = mm 160 per note

The Murfreesboro Youth Jazz Orchestra audition will consist of 3 parts.

I. Prepared music: Candidates should plan on performing a jazz standard of their choice. (Play the head, improvise, then play the head out) Improvisation is encouraged, but is not required.
Here's a small list of appropriate standards for the audition. However, candidates are NOT required to play a standard on this list: Footprints, Satin Doll, Doxy, Autumn Leaves, Impressions or So What, Summertime, Song For My Father, Maiden Voyage, Cantaloupe Island, Sugar, Watermelon Man, Four, All Blues, Groovin High, Yardbird Suite, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, On Green Dolphin Street, Misty, Just Friends, Killer Joe.

II. Scales: Candidates playing sax, trumpet and trombone will be asked to play 2 major scales. (Any of the 12 major scales could be asked).

III. Sight-reading: Candidates will be asked to sight-read 1 to 3 selections. These will be provided at the audition.

Drum set Requirements
Demonstrate ability to play various styles such as: Swing (fast/slow), Funk/ Rock, Latin (Samba/Bossa Nova), and Afro Cuban 6/8.
Improvise on a Blues
Sight-read a big band chart
Bass Requirements
Play a prepared music
Walk a bassline on a Blues in F
Sight-read
Piano Requirements
Play prepared music
Comp on a Blues in F and Rhythm Changes in Bb
Sight-read

All students are required to have a solo prepared for the audition. This should be representative of the student's overall musical and technical ability and approximately one minute in length. Minimum suggested level of difficulty: pieces which are similar to those found in the Middle to the end of Suzuki Book 2. Students should keep a steady beat while playing. Bring an extra copy of your solo music to the audition.

Prepare the following scales for your specific instrument. Minimum speed: quarter note = 90.

Violin: G, A, Bb and C (each 2 octaves)

Viola: C, D, Eb (2 octaves each); and F (1 octave)

Cello: C, D, Eb (2 octaves); and F (1 octave)

Bass: G, A, Bb, C (1 octave).

All students will be asked to sight-read 1 to 3 short selections. These will be provided at the audition. Students should have experience reading a variety of rhythms including whole, half, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes.

Please click this link to download an Audition Application.

STRING, WOODWIND, BRASS AND PERCUSSION PLAYERS

Seating audition information will be posted soon.

Please be aware of the following general information and requirements:

Tuition

The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra has approximately 60 members and is made up of string, woodwind, brass and percussion players. Tuition is $300 per year for MYO members, and $200 per year for PSO members. Click here to see Tuition Payment Options.

Rehearsal Schedule

The MYO rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM August to November, and 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM November to May in 173(IRH) of the Wright Music Building on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. PSO rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM August to May in Room 117 of the Sanders Fine Arts Building. MYJO rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM August to May in Room 101 of the Sanders Fine Arts Building. Wright Music Building and Sanders Fine Arts Building are joined in one complex. Click this link for a Click this link for a campus map. Changes to rehearsal time and place will be announced in advance as needed.

Parking

Each student driver or family MUST have a valid Visitor's Parking Permit hanging from the rear view mirror of their vehicle. (NOTE: MTSU students, faculty and staff members having children in either orchestra who already possess a valid parking permit do not need to apply for a temporary permit). Click this link to print the Parking Permit Application. Complete this form online and email to MYO. A permit will be secured for you by the first rehearsal date if you submit required information.

Please note: The Middle Tennessee State University School of Music is located at 1439 Faulkinberry Drive, in Murfreesboro, just across the street from the football stadium. The School of Music occupies two adjoining buildings: the Wright Music Building and the Sanders Fine Arts Building. Room numbers beginning with WMB are in the Wright Music Building portion of the complex; room numbers beginning with SFA are in the Sanders Fine Arts Building portion of the complex. Please click here for a map to the MTSU School of Music.

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For viewing and printing the Audition Application or maps, Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download from Adobe.