Sinfonia Ensembles
Sinfonia strings and brass/woodwind ensembles - AUDITION REQUIRED
Audition Criteria for entry:
- String students ready for Sinfonia should be able to demonstrate a strong command of proper setup (bow grip, scroll position/posture, left wrist and finger shape).
- All instruments should demonstrate the ability to play staccato as well as a legato; strings should demonstrate the ability to play a full bow with a big sound.
- Solid intonation in first position (strings) and within a one octave range (all instruments) is required.
I - Scales: Please choose a 1 octave major scale in one of the following keys: G, D, or A (violin) C, G, or D (cello/viola), E, A, or G (bass).
Concert C, B-flat or F (winds/brass).
Strings players should prepare your scale with a metronome at quarter note = 60 in the following three ways:
-
Legato (smooth) quarter notes with a full straight bow. 1 note per bow.
-
Staccato 8th notes (short and stopped) about 4 inches of bow in the middle of the bow
-
Slurred legato 8th with notes two per bow.
Click the link below for a video of audition tips for string players demonstrating the Sinfonia scale bowings:
https://youtube.com/shorts/DCMo3FBoQNk?feature=share
Woodwind and Brass players should prepare their scale with a metronome at quarter note = 60 in the following three ways:
- Tongued quarter notes
- Staccato 8th notes, two 8th notes per note
- One 8th note per note, slur 2, tongue 2 (trombone: legato tongue 2, staccato 2)
II - Solo Piece: perform a solo work from the second half of Suzuki Volume 1 or the beginning of Suzuki book 2 (for strings) or from the second half of Essential Elements volume 1.
III - Sight Reading: Sight-reading will be chosen from Grade .5 and Grade 1 wind ensemble and orchestral literature.