ALL-REGION JAZZ AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students for making the All-Region Jazz Band!

  • Anthony Barcio – Saxophone
  • Nathan Burris – Trumpet
  • Nicholas Monticello – Drums

These dedicated individuals worked over the summer to ace their audition music.  Auditions were held last week at Alvin Community College.  All three advance to the next round for a chance to be in the TMEA All-State Jazz Band.

TMEA ALL-STATE & REGION ETUDES AVAILABLE

The high school region band process is very similar to the junior high region band process; however, there are two main differences.  The first is that there is a freshman only region band audition which takes place before the high school audition  and is for the purpose of earning a region band patch, points toward your letter jacket, and most importantly practice for the high school region auditions.  There is no performance for those who make the Freshman Region Band.  Freshmen may audition for freshman region, high school region, or both. The second main difference between junior high and high school is that the highest placing students at Region band will advance to the Area band auditions and then the highest placing students at Area will become Texas All-State musicians, a very prestigious and challenging honor to attain.  They will then have the privilege of performing with one of the All-State ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in San Antonio in February.

Though participation in the region band auditions is not required it is strongly encouraged as the whole process is a very educationally beneficial one.  In addition, the region band auditions are a major factor in determining a student’s placement for the second semester.   All Symphonic Band students will be tested on the Freshman cuts and all Wind Ensemble students will be tested on the entire etudes starting in September. Placement at the region audition in December will be a factor in second semester placement.

TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) has posted the etude lists for the 2017-2018 All-State & Region Band auditions which can be viewed on TMEA’s website by clicking here.  For your convenience, we have also created packets with the etudes and performance guides available for download from CHARMS.  The

We highly recommend that everyone purchase the etude books as the same book is often used every year and these books are excellent practice tools after All-State auditions have ended and before next year’s etudes are announced.  The list of etude books can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here.

All-State & Region Practice Recommendations

Do NOT immediately sit down and start playing through the etudes.  You will learn bad habits from doing this that will be hard to fix later.  Instead, break the etudes into small easily manageable sections, work through the steps below until successful and then play through the sections of music. (A section can be a couple of measures, one line, or maybe 2 lines, but do not do more than 2 lines at a time.)

  1. Read the Performance Guide
    • This can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here or in the packets available for download from CHARMS
    • Read it again as you begin to learn and improve on the etudes
    • Pay special attention to anything written in red as this is official errata that should be marked/corrected in your music.  If your copy of the music reflects what is written in the errata, then you are most likely playing off of the current edition of the music.  Most errata are corrections from old editions of the books that private lesson teachers may have in their libraries.
  2. Practice small sections of the music at a time
    • Mark your phrases before you start practicing
    • Work on only one phrase at a time
    • Do not combine phrases until you can do each of the following
      • Play each phrase without stopping
      • Play each phrase with logical breaths
      • Play each phrase at the same tempo
  3. Attack the hard parts first!
    • These will be the sections that need the most time to work up
    • It is OK to go slower on these sections in the beginning
    • Is is NOT OK to play through the etude slowing down on the hard parts and speeding up on the easy ones.  Everything must be at the same tempo unless there is a ritardando or a tempo change that is marked
  4. Use a metronome
    • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing, and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome
    • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully
    • Don’t get frustrated and turn the metronome off.  Keep it on and make yourself stay with it
    • If you can’t play it with the metronome, then you definitely can’t play it without one
  5. Determine the key of each section and practice the scale, scale in thirds, and arpeggios for that key.
    • A lot of times the key is in the title
    • If it is in a minor key, practice the scale, thirds, and arpeggios three times more than you would if it were a major key
    • Memorize the scale, thirds, and arpeggios
    • Be sure to play the full range of the etude
    • Practice with a metronome turned on
    • Practice both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even
    • Make this a part of your daily routine every time you practice
    • If there are chromatic segments, practice the chromatic scale as well
  6. Count the rhythm with a metronome
    • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Instrument should be in playing position
    • Finger/position your part as you count
    • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
    • If there is a rhythm that you are not sure how to count, work on a different section until you have asked for help
    • Continue doing this two or three times a week until auditions are over
  7. Say note names with a metronome
    • Always do this under tempo since you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.  You may need to go as slow as 50, 60, or 70 beats per minute, but it will definitely pay off in the end
    • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe).  Practice until you get it right
    • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
    • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
    • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully and in time with the metronome
  8. Play the part
    • Record yourself with an app that can playback the recording slower than it was performed (Audacity and Goldwave are good ones)
    • Listen to the recording at different speeds and analyze your performance
    • Did you stay with the metronome?
    • Did you play the correct rhythm?
    • Did you play the correct pitches?
    • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
    • If you hate the way you sound, practice to sound better.
  9. Move on to next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo
clear springs charger band solo and ensemble

TMEA All-State & Region Etudes Available

 

The high school region band process is very similar to the junior high region band process, However, there are two main differences.  The first is that there is a freshman only region band audition which takes place before the high school audition  and which is a non-performing band. The Freshman Region audition is for the purpose of earning a region band patch, points toward your letter jacket, and most importantly practice for the high school region auditions.  Freshman may audition for freshman region, high school region, or both. The second main difference between junior high and high school is that the highest placing students at Region band will advance to the Area band auditions and then the highest placing students at Area will become Texas All-State musicians, a prestigious honor.  They will then have the privilege of performing with one of the All-State ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February.

Though participation in the region band auditions is not required it is strongly encouraged as the whole process is a very educationally beneficial one.  Also, students who wish to attempt to move up a band for second semester must participate in region auditions and students who do not want to be passed up by another student, and possibly moved down a band, should participate as well. All Symphonic Band students will be tested on the Freshman cuts and all Wind Ensemble students will be tested on the entire etudes starting in September. Placement at the region audition in December will be a factor in second semester placement.

TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) has posted the etude lists for the 2016-2017 All-State & Region Band auditions which can be viewed on TMEA’s website by clicking here.  For your convenience, we have also created packets with the etudes and performance guides available for download from CHARMS. The Freshman cuts can be downloaded by clicking here or by visiting CHARMS.

We highly recommend that everyone purchase the etude books as the same book is often used every year and these books are excellent practice tools after All-State auditions have ended and before next year’s etudes are announced.  The list of etude books can be found by on TMEA’s website by clicking here.

All-State & Region Practice Recommendations

Do NOT immediately sit down and start playing through the etudes.  You will learn bad habits from doing this that will be hard to fix later.  Instead, break the etudes into small easily manageable sections, work through the steps below until successful and then play through the sections of music. (A section can be a couple of measures, one line, or maybe 2 lines, but do not do more than 2 lines at a time.)

  1. Read the Performance Guide
    • This can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here or in the packets available for download from CHARMS.
    • Read it again as you begin to learn and improve on the etudes.
  2. Practice small sections of the music at a time
    • Mark your phrases before you start practicing
    • Work on only one phrase at a time
    • Do not combine phrases until you can do each of the following
      • Play each phrase without stopping
      • Play each phrase with logical breaths
      • Play each phrase at the same tempo
  3. Attack the hard parts first!
    • These will be the sections that need the most time to work up
    • It is OK to go slower on these sections in the beginning
    • Is is NOT OK to play through the etude slowing down on the hard parts and speeding up on the easy ones.  Everything must be at the same tempo unless there is a ritard or a tempo change that is marked.
  4. Use a metronome
    • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing, and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome.
    • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully.
    • Don’t get frustrated and turn the metronome off.  Keep it on and make yourself stay with it.
    • If you can’t play it with the metronome, then you definitely can’t play it without one.
  5. Determine the key of each section and practice the scale, scale in thirds, and arpeggios for that key.
    • A lot of times the key is in the title
    • If it is in a minor key, practice the scale, thirds, and arpeggios three times more than you would if it were a major key.
    • Memorize the scale, thirds, and arpeggios
    • Be sure to play the full range of the etude
    • Practice with a metronome turned on
    • Practice both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even.
    • Make this a part of your daily routine every time you practice.
    • If there are chromatic segments, practice the chromatic scale as well.
  6. Count the rhythm with a metronome
    • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Instrument should be in playing position
    • Finger/position your part as you count
    • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
    • If there is a rhythm that you are not sure how to count, work on a different section until you have asked for help.
    • Continue doing this two or three times a week until auditions are over.
  7. Say note names with a metronome
    • Always do this under tempo, you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.  You may need to go as slow as 50, 60, or 70 beats per minute, but it will definitely pay off in the end.
    • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe).  Practice until you get it right.
    • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
    • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
    • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully and in time with the metronome
  8. Play the part
    • Record yourself with an app that can playback the recording slower than it was performed (Audacity and Goldwave are good ones)
    • Listen to the recording at different speeds and analyze your performance
    • Did you stay with the metronome?
    • Did you play the correct rhythm?
    • Did you play the correct pitches?
    • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
    • If you hate the way you sound, practice to sound better.
  9. Move on to next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo

2015 Region Band Results

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their success this audition season. 18 Charger band students made Area, Region, District, and/or 9th Grade Region.  This year we had the highest number of students to advance to Area Auditions in the history of Clear Springs High School, tripling the number of students who advanced in previous years.  Megan Chu, Felix Fang, Alexander Falks, Richard Zhou, Lucas Raleigh, and Gilberto Torres now advance to the Area audition in January for the chance to join the top 1% of musicians in Texas in one of the All-State Bands or Orchestras.  Also, special congratulations to Megan Chu and Alexander Falks for making 1st chair on their respective instruments at the Region 17 auditions on December 12.

We are extremely proud of all our students and very happy to see them recognized for their dedication and hard work on such a competitively difficult endeavor.  TMEA Region 17 has earned a reputation across the state as having some of the most talented musicians in Texas.  These 18 students represent the top 15-20% of those who auditioned in their respective sections in the region.

Those students who earned Area and Region honors will perform a concert on Saturday, January 16, at Angleton High School (more details on the band calendar).  Students with District or 9th Grade Region honors do not perform a concert.  District and 9th Grade patches have already been distributed to students.  Region patches will be handed out at the January concert and Area patches will be handed out at the audition in January.

Area/Region/District honors:
  • Megan Chu – Eb Clarinet (1st chair in the region)
  • Felix Fang – Bb Clarinet
  • Alexander Falks – Bassoon (1st Chair in the region)
  • Richard Zhou – Alto Saxophone
  • Lucas Raleigh – Baritone Saxophone
  • Gilberto Torres – Trumpet
 Region/District honors:
  • Deanna Ingram – Bb Clarinet
  • Zach Graves – Bb Clarinet
  • Stella Wood – Bb Clarinet
  • Ben Hazel – Bass Clarinet
  • Nathan Burris – Trumpet
  • Daniel Del Nero – Trombone
  • Jordan Avila – Percussion
District honors:
  • Mackenzie Gaona – Flute
  • Nicolas Monticello – Percussion
9th Grade Region honors:
  • Colt Schultz – Bb Clarinet
  • Alexander Falks – Bassoon
  • Richard Zhou – Alto Saxophone
  • Ian Ebert – Trumpet
  • Seth Martin – Trombone
  • Nicolas Monticello – Percussion

We appreciate the work of all students who auditioned.  If your child did not audition, they will have the opportunity to do so again next fall.

Region Band/Orchestra Entries Due

We are just over a month away from Region Orchestra and 9th Grade Region Band Auditions.  Please see the Region Band Entry Form on CHARMS for details.

It is an expectation that students in Wind Ensemble audition for Freshman Region (9th grade only) and High School Region (all grades).  Region Orchestra is optional.  Students who do not audition run the risk of losing their position in Wind Ensemble to someone from another band who does audition.  All Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band students regardless of audition status will be tested on the music during the 2nd 9 Weeks.  This will determine second semester placement and chair order.  While the Region audition results do not determine the placement or chair order, the results are taken into consideration along with the tests taken during the 2nd 9 Weeks.

Students in Concert Band should not audition unless they are taking private lessons and a director has approved them to audition.

Symphonic Band students should only audition if they are taking private lessons and want to be considered for placement in Wind Ensemble for the spring semester.

Region Entry form Due Dates:

Region Orchestra & 9th Grade Region – Due Monday, October 19th
High School Region – Due Monday, November 2nd

Entry fee:  $15 per audition

Please include your entry fee payment at the above times.  Signed forms (with both parent and student signatures) and payment are required before students can be entered in the audition.  Forms turned in after the due dates will have a late fee of $15 per audition added (as required by TMEA Region 17).

Students who enter but do not audition for whatever reason are still responsible for paying the entry fee.  No refunds are given for withdrawing from the contest.

Eligibility:

Students must be academically eligible at the time of the audition. The entry fee will not be refunded if you are ineligible to participate in the audition.  Please note that there is only one opportunity to regain eligibility before the Region Orchestra, 9th Grade Region, and Phase I Auditions.  Students who are declared ineligible due to a 1st 9 Weeks grade, must be passing all classes at the close of school on November 6 to participate in Region Orchestra, 9th Grade Region, and/or Phase I Auditions.  Students who audition on specialty instruments (oboe, bassoon, piccolo, color clarinets, tenor sax, bari sax, bass trombone) that do not audition until Phase 2 must be passing on December 4 in order to regain eligibility on December 11 and audition on December 12.  To avoid these confusing scenarios, all students are encouraged to work hard and pass all their classes.

clear springs charger band solo and ensemble

TMEA All-State & Region Etudes Available

The high school region band process is very similar to the junior high region band process, However, there are two main differences.  The first is that there is a freshman only region band audition which takes place before the high school audition  and which is a non-performing band. The Freshman Region audition is for the purpose of earning a region band patch, points toward your letter jacket, and most importantly practice for the high school region auditions.  Freshman may audition for freshman region, high school region, or both. The second main difference between junior high and high school is that the highest placing students at Region band will advance to the Area band auditions and then the highest placing students at Area will become Texas All-State musicians, a prestigious honor.  They will then have the privilege of performing with one of the All-State ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February.

Though participation in the region band auditions is not required it is strongly encouraged as the whole process is a very educationally beneficial one.  Also, students who wish to attempt to move up a band for second semester must participate in region auditions and students who do not want to be passed up by another student, and possibly moved down a band, should participate as well. All Symphonic Band students will be tested on the Freshman cuts and all Wind Ensemble students will be tested on the entire etudes starting in September. Placement at the region audition in December will be a factor in second semester placement.

TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) has posted the etude lists for the 2015-2016 All-State & Region Band auditions which can be viewed on TMEA’s website by clicking here.  For your convenience, we have also created packets with the etudes and performance guides available for download from CHARMS.  The Freshman cuts can be downloaded by clicking here or by visiting CHARMS.

We highly recommend that everyone purchase the etude books as the same book is often used every year and these books are excellent practice tools after All-State auditions have ended and before next year’s etudes are announced.  The list of etude books can be found by on TMEA’s website by clicking here.

All-State & Region Practice Recommendations

Do NOT immediately sit down and start playing through the etudes.  You will learn bad habits from doing this that will be hard to fix later.  Instead, break the etudes into small easily manageable sections, work through the steps below until successful and then play through the sections of music. (A section can be a couple of measures, one line, or maybe 2 lines, but do not do more than 2 lines at a time.)

  1. Read the Performance Guide
    • This can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here or in the packets available for download from CHARMS.
    • Read it again as you begin to learn and improve on the etudes.
  2. Practice small sections of the music at a time
    • Mark your phrases before you start practicing
    • Work on only one phrase at a time
    • Do not combine phrases until you can do each of the following
      • Play each phrase without stopping
      • Play each phrase with logical breaths
      • Play each phrase at the same tempo
  3. Attack the hard parts first!
    • These will be the sections that need the most time to work up
    • It is OK to go slower on these sections in the beginning
    • Is is NOT OK to play through the etude slowing down on the hard parts and speeding up on the easy ones.  Everything must be at the same tempo unless there is a ritard or a tempo change that is marked.
  4. Use a metronome
    • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing, and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome.
    • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully.
    • Don’t get frustrated and turn the metronome off.  Keep it on and make yourself stay with it.
    • If you can’t play it with the metronome, then you definitely can’t play it without one.
  5. Determine the key of each section and practice the scale, scale in thirds, and arpeggios for that key.
    • A lot of times the key is in the title
    • If it is in a minor key, practice the scale, thirds, and arpeggios three times more than you would if it were a major key.
    • Memorize the scale, thirds, and arpeggios
    • Be sure to play the full range of the etude
    • Practice with a metronome turned on
    • Practice both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even.
    • Make this a part of your daily routine every time you practice.
    • If there are chromatic segments, practice the chromatic scale as well.
  6. Count the rhythm with a metronome
    • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Instrument should be in playing position
    • Finger/position your part as you count
    • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
    • If there is a rhythm that you are not sure how to count, work on a different section until you have asked for help.
    • Continue doing this two or three times a week until auditions are over.
  7. Say note names with a metronome
    • Always do this under tempo, you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.  You may need to go as slow as 50, 60, or 70 beats per minute, but it will definitely pay off in the end.
    • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe).  Practice until you get it right.
    • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
    • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
    • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully and in time with the metronome
  8. Play the part
    • Record yourself with an app that can playback the recording slower than it was performed (Audacity and Goldwave are good ones)
    • Listen to the recording at different speeds and analyze your performance
    • Did you stay with the metronome?
    • Did you play the correct rhythm?
    • Did you play the correct pitches?
    • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
    • If you hate the way you sound, practice to sound better.
  9. Move on to next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo
clear-springs-on-the-field-at-friendswood-game-2014

Region Band Results

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their success this audition season.  Every section of the band is represented with the exception of two.  It is also the highest number of students to make the District and Region bands in the history of Clear Springs High School.

We are extremely proud of these students and very happy to see them recognized for their dedication and hard work on such a competitively difficult endeavor.  TMEA Region 17 has earned a reputation across the state as having some of the most talented musicians in Texas.  These 26 students represent the top 15-20% of those who auditioned in their respective sections in the region.  Kunqian Li now advances to the Area audition in January for the chance to join the top 1% of musicians in the Texas All-State Band.

Those students who earned Area and Region honors will perform a concert on Saturday, January 17, at Manvel High School (more details on the band calendar).  Students with District or 9th Grade Region honors do not perform a concert.  District patches may be picked up in the band office from Mr. Brown.  Region patches will be handed out at the January concert and Area patches will be handed out at the audition in January.

Area/Region/District honors:
  • Kunqian Li – Bass Clarinet
 Region/District honors:
  • Mackenzie Gaona – Flute
  • Caitlin Alexander – Oboe
  • Felix Fang – Bb Clarinet
  • Deanna Ingram – Bb Clarinet
  • Megan Chu – Bb Clarinet
  • Amber King – Bb Clarinet
  • Zachary Graves – Bb Clarinet
  • Benjamin Hazel – Bb Clarinet
  • Brittany Roller – Bb Clarinet
  • Joshua Kantara – Bass Clarinet
  • Faith Lamb – Tenor Saxophone
  • Gilberto Torres, Jr. – Trumpet
  • Steven Carlisle – F Horn
  • Cameron Navy – Bass Trombone
  • Aaron Lassmann – Euphonium
  • Ashton Franssen – Tuba
District honors:
  • La Shawna Townsel – Flute
  • Allyson Clark – Eb Clarinet
  • Stella Wood – Bb Clarinet
  • Pierce Valdes – Bass Clarinet
  • Daniel Del Nero – Tenor Trombone
  • Julian Knight – Tuba
9th Grade Region honors:
  • Megan Chu – Bb Clarinet
  • Zachary Graves – Bb Clarinet
  • Stella Wood – Bb Clarinet
  • Nathan Cao – Bb Clarinet
  • Nathan Burris – Trumpet
  • Driian Hawley – Tuba

We appreciate the work of all students who auditioned.  If your child did not audition, they will have the opportunity to do so again next fall.

clear springs drum major friendswood contest warmup 2014

Region Band Audition Entries

Region auditions are just around the corner.  Please see the Region Band Entry Form on CHARMS for details.

It is an expectation that students in Wind Ensemble audition for Freshman Region (9th grade only) and High School Region (all grades).  Region Orchestra is optional.  Students who do not audition run the risk of losing their position in Wind Ensemble to someone from another band who does audition.  All Wind Ensemble students regardless of audition status will be tested on the music during the 2nd 9 Weeks.  This will determine second semester placement and chair order.  While the Region audition results do not determine the placement or chair order, the results are taken into consideration with the tests taken during the 2nd 9 Weeks.

Students in Concert Band should not audition unless they are taking private lessons and a director has approved them to audition.

Symphonic Band students should only audition if they are taking private lessons and want to be considered for placement in Wind Ensemble for the spring semester.

The Region Band Entry Form is due this Friday, October 31!  Please include your entry fee payment at that time.  If forms are turned in without payment, the charge will be added to the student’s Charms account and to the campus fine and fee list.  Signed forms (with both parent and student signatures) are required before students can be entered in the audition.  Forms turned in after October 31 will have a late fee of $15 per audition added (as required by TMEA Region 17).

Clear Springs Tubas 2014

TMEA All-State/Region Clinic

The University of Houston Moores School of Music will be hosting a free clinic to help prepare students for the TMEA All-State/Region Audition.  Many of the clinicians are members of local professional ensembles including the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and Houston Ballet Orchestra.

Saturday, October 4th, 2014
10:00-11:30 AM (Students will be excused from band rehearsal that day with proof of attendance)

Clinic participants should bring their instrument, music, pencil, and portable music stand.  The clinic is free.  Reservations are required.  Please call or email Carol Risinger to RSVP by Friday, September 26, 2014.  Carol may be reached at crisinger@uh.edu or 713-743-3175

Clear Springs Clarinets

All-State & Region Band Etude List and Practice Recomendations

TMEA has posted the etude lists for the 2014-2015 All-State & Region Band auditions which can be view by clicking here.

If you have not purchased the etude book for your instrument we will be posting copies of the etudes on CHARMS.  This may take several weeks once we have time to scan everything and get it uploaded.  We will send out an email when they are available for download, please do not email asking when they will be available.  If you want the etudes faster, please purchase the etude book.  The list of etude books can be found by clicking here.

All-State & Region Practice Recommendations

Do NOT immediately sit down and start playing through the etudes.  You will learn bad habits from doing this that will be hard to fix later.  Instead, break the etudes into small easily manageable sections, work through the steps below until successful and then play through the sections of music. (A section can be a couple of measures, one line, or maybe 2 lines, but do not do more than 2 lines at a time.)

  1. Read the Performance Guide
  2. Use a metronome
    • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing, and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome.
    • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully.
  3. Determine the key of the section and practice the scale, scale in thirds, and arpeggios for that key.
    • Memorized
    • Full range
    • With a metronome
    • Both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even.
  4. Count the rhythm
    • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Instrument should be in playing position
    • Finger/position your part as you count
    • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
    • If there is a rhythm that you are not sure how to count, work on a different section until you have asked for help.
  5. Say note names
    • Always do this under tempo, you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.
    • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
    • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
    • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully
  6. Play the part
    • Record yourself with an app that can playback the recording slower than it was performed
    • Listen to the recording at different speeds and analyze
    • Did you stay with the metronome?
    • Did you play the correct rhythm?
    • Did you play the correct pitches?
    • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
  7. Move onto next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo

For more information about the All-State/Region Band process please read our previous All-State/Region article by Clicking here.

clear springs charger band solo and ensemble

All-State & Region Band Summer Preparation

The high school region band process is very similar to the junior high region band process, However, there are two main differences.  The first is that there is a freshman only region band audition which takes place before the high school audition  and which is a non-performing band. The Freshman Region audition is for the purpose of earning a region band patch, points toward your letter jacket, and most importantly practice for the high school region auditions.  Freshman may audition for freshman region, high school region, or both. The second main difference between junior high and high school is that the highest placing students at Region band will advance to the Area band auditions and then the highest placing students at Area will become Texas All-State musicians, a prestigious honor.  They will then have the privilege of performing with one of the All-State ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February.

Though participation in the region band auditions is not required it is strongly encouraged as the whole process is a very educationally beneficial one.  Also, students who wish to attempt to move up a band for second semester must participate in region auditions and students who do not want to be passed up by another student, and possibly moved down a band, should participate as well. All Wind Ensemble students will be tested on the music starting in September. Placement at the region audition in December will be a factor in second semester placement.

Some of you may be wondering why we are discussing this so early when region auditions are not until December and the etudes have not even been posted.  We are discussing this because your preparation needs to begin now if you wish to do well.

All-State & Region Band practice recommendations
  1. Practice all 12 major scales
    • Memorized
    • Full range
    • With a metronome
    • Both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even.
  2. Practice all 12 major scales in thirds
    • Memorized
    • Full range
    • With a metronome
    • Both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even.

If you are able to play your scales well, meaning that you sound the same on every note regardless of articulation, especially at the extreme ranges of your instrument and with even fingers, meaning that you are not rushing or slowing down at all between any notes, then you will be well on your way to being successful in the All-State/Region process.

Audition material
  1. Click here to see a list of the etude books.
    • The etudes will be chosen from these book.
    • We encourage everyone to purchase the etude books so that when the etudes are posted the last week in July, they can begin practicing the etudes immediately, as it will take us several weeks to get copies of all the etudes made.
  2. Click here on or after July 25th at noon to see the specific etudes.

Clear Springs High School Charger Band -- League City, Texas -- Director, Lester Williams