Auditions

Concert Bands, Marching Band

Any student with the ability to read music and play an instrument is welcome to participate in the Northern Bands.

Auditions are held for the following purposes:

To improve instruction by fitting the student to an ensemble where the challenges appropriately meet a student's needs
To balance instrumentation within an ensemble and improve the likelihood of a higher-quality experience
To accommodate openings or limitiations in the availability of instruments

All freshman sign up for Freshman Concert (Cadet) Band. The first year establishes a consistent baseline skill level for all students, allows for the enculturation of our new members, and also allows the upperclassmen ensembles to run much more efficiently because the members of those ensembles will have had a consistent, introductory experience.

Winter Drum Line, Winter Guard, Marching Band and Jazz Band are auxillary units of the class bands. Primary instruction occurs during the class hours. These ensembles succeed as extensions of the main concert bands.

Jazz Band

Because of limitations in the jazz band instrumentation, it is occasionally necessary to audition prospective members for placement within the bands. If interest is high enough, a second jazz ensemble will be formed and almost all requests to participate will be accommodated on the traditional jazz/stage band instruments: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drum set. Vocalists are utilized only as the opportunity or necessity dictates. Vocalists are drawn from those that already play an instrument in one of the jazz bands. Students in Jazz Blue may choose to also play in Jazz Gold on a primary or secondary instrument.

Winter Guard 2017-18
results - members will be expected to sign a behavioral contract

Winter Drum Line 2017-18
results - members will be expected to sign a behavioral contract

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Color Guard, Winter Guard

Color Guard, as a sub-unit of the marching band, has no fixed team size. If a student's audition shows preparation and potential, they will likely be invited into color guard. If the student is not yet ready for the color guard, they are welcome to participate in the marching band on an instrument.

Winter Guard placements are separate from fall Marching Band color guard placements and are, once again based on meeting a baseline preparation. Dance experiences plays a larger—though not primary— role in Winter Guard auditions. Because of the size of the performance areas, winter guard is usually a much smaller team.

Auditions and Clinics

Both color guard and drum line run audition clinics in the weeks leading up to the auditions (Spring and Winter). While attendance at all clinics is not mandatory, it not only improves the likelihood of being well-prepared, but it gives those running the clinics and auditions more information about the candidates concerning work ethic, attitude, speed of improvement, etc.

When making decisions on best placement, prior performance, rehearsal habits, and attendance may be considered as part of the placement.

Drum Line

Drum line and its auditions, operating as a sub-unit of the marching band, does not intend to "cut" any performers. Auditions are for placement within the section to improve the liklihood of a good fit for skills and performance expectations.

Priority for placement goes more-or-less in this order:

Those students that are native percussionists
Students that play a non-MB instrument (Oboe, bassoon)
Students that were on the same-season line before
Students that were on the alternate-season line
All others

Prior history, including prior performance, rehearsal habits, and attendance may be considered as part of the placement.