Winds Auditions
Our auditions are flexible to meet your level of playing and your access to repertoire. We recommend the following:
Chromatic scale that best demonstrates your range and performance ability
Approximately 1-2 minutes of prepared music – solo(s) or etude(s) that include contrasting styles. Excerpts from your current school marching band or concert band repertoire are also acceptable and appropriate.
We recommend that you prepare marching band, classical or jazz selection(s) (something that you might play at solo & ensemble festivals) or excerpts from your current school band/orchestra repertoire, but you are welcome to choose whatever you believe will best demonstrate your musicality and technical proficiency.
The directors will evaluate your performance based on:
musicianship and artistry
sound production and resonance
tempo maintenance and rhythmic accuracy
We encourage you to play your audition on whichever instrument you feel most comfortable with, marching or concert. Accompaniment should not be used.
To schedule an in-person audition on Tulane's campus, please reach out to Asst. Director of Bands Dylan Koester dkoester@tulane.edu.
Percussion Auditions
Snare Drum/Quads/Bass Drums:
Exercise Packet: 8-8-16, fortissimo dynamic, 132 bpm
Exercise Packet: Double Beat, fortissimo dynamic, 120 bpm
Exercise Packet: 16th Timing, Fortissimo Dynamic, 112 bpm
Exercise Packet: Triplet Rolls, written dynamics, 136 bpm
Loose, written dynamics, 104 bpm
Optional: An etude or performance video of your choice.
Cymbals
Cymbals
Demonstrate the following sounds in Vertical and Gumption/Horizontal Positions. If marching cymbals are not available, you may omit this part.
Crash
Crash Choke
Hinge Choke/Hi-Hat
Slide Choke
Exercise Packet: 16th Timing, Snare Drum Part, forte dynamic, 120bpm
Exercise Packet: 16th 4-2-1 Grid, Snare Drum Part, forte dynamic, 112 bpm
Please submit your placement audition video(s) here. You can refer to the audition materials listed at tulaneband.org/percauditions for each instrument. You may submit as many videos as you like, but please only submit one form.
As a reminder, please reach out to Andrew (aszypula@tulane.edu) if you have difficulty with access to an instrument, drum pad, sticks, or mallets. We will work with you!
All video submissions must include an audible metronome, marking time, and a view of the performers entire body. The feet must be visible to ensure precision while marking time. Additionally, the submissions should be performed on real instruments. If this is impossible, performers auditioning for the snare line, tenor line, and/ or bass line may use a practice pad. If auditioning for tenors without an actual instrument, please use a tenor pad. If auditioning for cymbals without actual instruments, clapping the rhythm while marking time is acceptable.