Fall 2020 Instrumental Ensemble Auditions
Fall 2020 Instrumental Ensemble Results
Jazz Audition Information Fall 2020
AUDITIONS: MSU Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, Blue and Gold Jazz Combos
Fall 2020 COVID-19 Safety Plan
Dr. Todd E. Hill - Professor of Music, Murray State University
In my 34 years of teaching young people, this is something I could have never imagined. However, my approach to the whole situation comes from a desire to find NEW and DIFFERENT ways to structure learning, and to make the most of our given situation. I am going to outline my plans for the Fall 2020 Semester in the following paragraphs and in a few days music for Jazz Auditions will be posted. Not much of anything will look like it did in the Spring of 2020, but my hope is that this semester will result in some new and challenging experiences from which we will ALL grow musically, and in our own sense of self-discipline and responsibility. The things asked of you will challenge your practice habits, studying of a score, listening to recordings, and working in small combinations to achieve larger goals.
AUDITIONS will be by video recording. Yep. Take as many times as you desire! You're just showing us how much you want the chair by the strength of your submission. You will be able to submit your recording (with metronome at the prescribed tempo) to me at thill@murraystate.edu anytime between August 5, when the materials will be posted until 4:30 on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Make sure to keep the recording short at the beginning and end – and to use a metronome! LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Recording yourself, practicing for professional auditions (many are done this way now), self-evaluation, self-discipline in preparation.
Link to music HERE
CLASS ACTIVITIES/SCHEDULE will be different than in the past. Because of the pandemic, we will not meet as a full unit unless the situation changes dramatically. We will ALL be doing recording projects, and we plan to issue our fall efforts as a completed studio package. This will be a professional studio level experience for everyone in the jazz orchestra, jazz band, blue and gold combos. We will be recorded by Mr. Patton and his crew, utilizing section tracking (i.e. rhythm sections lay down parts with click track; add saxophones, trombones, trumpets by layers; soloists record parts last). The results will be issued on iTunes, etc. (and possibly a physical "Ep") and will serve as our performance for the semester, but also as great recruiting tool for our department. Some of the tracks will be mixed and mastered by a Grammy-winning team! To accomplish this, we will work within your regularly scheduled times, but not necessarily each day of the week. For example: Rhythm section may meet in the jazz suite, saxophones on Lovett stage, trumpets or trombones outside, but no more than two sections at a time on any given day, essentially one group with me in the meeting to tweak and instruct, one group meeting on their own to update parts, match articulations, etc. Your music will not come in the form of a folder, but rather a PDF of the entire arrangement: Full score, your part, and everyone else's so you gain an understanding of how it all fits together. In this way, we may socially and safely "distance" our aerosol-generating instruments while being able to rehearse in small groups. Because of the nature of the combos, we will be limiting sizes to smaller groups than we have had in the past due to the pandemic. This may also allow us to meet at other times than 7:30am, although for safety issues, that may be our best possible option. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Chamber-sized section rehearsals, independent practice, score study, recording studio procedures utilizing click track, headphones/earbuds, recording by sections and individuals for evaluation, permanent recording documenting accomplishments.
Creating a safe learning environment is our absolute top priority. Watch for the audition music to be posted at murraystatebands.com by this Wednesday, August 5. STAY SMART and STAY SAFE!
Fall 2020 COVID-19 Safety Plan
Dr. Todd E. Hill - Professor of Music, Murray State University
In my 34 years of teaching young people, this is something I could have never imagined. However, my approach to the whole situation comes from a desire to find NEW and DIFFERENT ways to structure learning, and to make the most of our given situation. I am going to outline my plans for the Fall 2020 Semester in the following paragraphs and in a few days music for Jazz Auditions will be posted. Not much of anything will look like it did in the Spring of 2020, but my hope is that this semester will result in some new and challenging experiences from which we will ALL grow musically, and in our own sense of self-discipline and responsibility. The things asked of you will challenge your practice habits, studying of a score, listening to recordings, and working in small combinations to achieve larger goals.
AUDITIONS will be by video recording. Yep. Take as many times as you desire! You're just showing us how much you want the chair by the strength of your submission. You will be able to submit your recording (with metronome at the prescribed tempo) to me at thill@murraystate.edu anytime between August 5, when the materials will be posted until 4:30 on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Make sure to keep the recording short at the beginning and end – and to use a metronome! LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Recording yourself, practicing for professional auditions (many are done this way now), self-evaluation, self-discipline in preparation.
Link to music HERE
CLASS ACTIVITIES/SCHEDULE will be different than in the past. Because of the pandemic, we will not meet as a full unit unless the situation changes dramatically. We will ALL be doing recording projects, and we plan to issue our fall efforts as a completed studio package. This will be a professional studio level experience for everyone in the jazz orchestra, jazz band, blue and gold combos. We will be recorded by Mr. Patton and his crew, utilizing section tracking (i.e. rhythm sections lay down parts with click track; add saxophones, trombones, trumpets by layers; soloists record parts last). The results will be issued on iTunes, etc. (and possibly a physical "Ep") and will serve as our performance for the semester, but also as great recruiting tool for our department. Some of the tracks will be mixed and mastered by a Grammy-winning team! To accomplish this, we will work within your regularly scheduled times, but not necessarily each day of the week. For example: Rhythm section may meet in the jazz suite, saxophones on Lovett stage, trumpets or trombones outside, but no more than two sections at a time on any given day, essentially one group with me in the meeting to tweak and instruct, one group meeting on their own to update parts, match articulations, etc. Your music will not come in the form of a folder, but rather a PDF of the entire arrangement: Full score, your part, and everyone else's so you gain an understanding of how it all fits together. In this way, we may socially and safely "distance" our aerosol-generating instruments while being able to rehearse in small groups. Because of the nature of the combos, we will be limiting sizes to smaller groups than we have had in the past due to the pandemic. This may also allow us to meet at other times than 7:30am, although for safety issues, that may be our best possible option. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Chamber-sized section rehearsals, independent practice, score study, recording studio procedures utilizing click track, headphones/earbuds, recording by sections and individuals for evaluation, permanent recording documenting accomplishments.
Creating a safe learning environment is our absolute top priority. Watch for the audition music to be posted at murraystatebands.com by this Wednesday, August 5. STAY SMART and STAY SAFE!