Arizona Academy of the Performing Arts

For those individuals wishing to submit a preliminary audition video, the staff is asking that you upload your video to a common online area such as YouTube. Please submit videos no later than December 7, 2012 for consideration of the 2013 corps.

1.  Submit an online application.  Doing so will give you access to the audition materials and other information regarding the plans for the corps and membership selection as well as provide the administration accurate and complete contact information for you.

2.  Prepare the material for which you wish to submit to the staff for review.  Use the suggestions (below) as a guideline for your material.  Avoid making the video too long.  To give a pretty complete picture of you as a performer should not take more than 5-8 minutes at most.  In general, the shorter, the better.

3. Upload your video to YouTube. If you do not have a YouTube account, you can create one free of charge by clicking the following link: www.youtube.com/signup. For more information on creating an account or uploading your video, click on the YouTube logo to go directly to their Help page.

4. Send an email to us directly with the link to your video included in the message. Simply go to the YouTube web page that shows your video, copy the complete web page address as it appears in the browser Address Bar, and paste the link into an e-mail addressed to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Type "2013 Academy Audition Video" in the Subject line.)

Guard Video Guidelines
The video should contain: 
1. A short introduction of yourself that includes your past performance experience  (less than 1 minute)
2. Examples of your movement and dance ability (technique and choreography) (1-2 minutes)
3. Your flag skills (technique and choreography) (1-2 minutes)
4. Examples of your weapon skills (if you would be interested in a weapon position) (1-2 minutes)

Please try to demonstrate your strenghts and keep the total video to less than 8 minutes.  The idea is to give the staff an idea of your potential as a performer, not to demonstrate everything you know.

Brass Video Guidelines
Brass applicants should demonstrate both visual and musical skills in the video.  Here are some suggestions:

1. A short introduction of yourself that includes your past performance experience  (less than 1 minute)
Visual - (please perform all exercises along with an audible metronome or time keeper)
2.  Forward march, backward march, slides (front and back).  Perform these in an 8 count phrase block exercise to demonstrate direction changes, not across the floor.   Demonstrate a variety of speeds to show tempo control (80, 120, 160, 180 bpm,  for example)  (2-4 minutes)
3. Jazz run technique at a tempo above 160 BPM.  (30-60 seconds)
Musical
4.  Bb Major Scale (Slurred Ascending, Tongued Descending). Mezzo Forte Dynamic
5.  F Major Scale (Two Octaves if possible, same tongue pattern) Mezzo Forte Dynamic
6.  Short (30 seconds) of a technical etude or piece.  Region/All-State Etudes work well for this.
7.  Short (30 seconds) of a lyrical (slow) etude of piece.  Region/All-State Etudes work well, as do Bordogni, Rochut, or Charlier etudes.
8.   (If possible) Bb Major scale in whole notes while marching a "Box" pattern (8 forward, 8 slide, 8 back, 8 slide)  Forte Dynamic
9.   (If possible) 8's and 8's marching to a Bb Major scale in 8th/16th pattern (1 &-a  2-e-&-a) on each scale degree.  Forte Dynamic

Front Ensemble Video Guidelines

Front Ensemble applicants should submit a video demonstrating some of the recommendations below.  All technique excerpts should be played along with a metronome that can be heard on the video.

Mallet & keyboard players:
1.  A short introduction of yourself that includes your past performance experience (less than 1 minute)
2.  some two-mallet technique exercises  (1-3 minutes)
3.  some four-mallet technique exercises (1-3 minutes)
4.  an etude or solo of your choosing (1-3 minutes)

Timpani players:
1.  A short introduction of yourself that includes your past performance experience (less than 1 minute)
2.  A short timpani solo or excerpt prepared that demonstrates your ability level  (2-3 minutes)

Drumline Video Guidelines

Drumline applicants should submit a video demonstrating some of the recommendations below.  All excerpts should be played along with a metronome that can clearly be heard on the video.   It is preferred to see excerpts from Academy's technique program from our current 2012 packet, as it will be smewhat different from the previous years, which will be available upon submitting the application form.   However, other material can be performed that demonstrates some of the same skills and ability level that the staff is looking for.

1.  A short introduction of yourself that includes your past performance experience (less than 1 minute)
2.  a few technique exercises of varying difficulty (2-3 minutes)
3.  some music excerpts from a book recently performed (1-2 minutes)
4.  (optional) an excerpt of you performing on your instrument within another drumline (1-2 minutes)

Cymbal Video Guidelines

In addition to the above requirements for the drumline, please include some visual excerpts (to a metronome or some time keeper)  of you performing some marching exercises with your instrument such as:
1.  Forward march, backward march, slides (front and back).  Perform these in an 8 count phrase block exercise to demonstrate direction changes, not across the floor.   Demonstrate a variety of speeds to show tempo control (80, 120, 160, 180 bpm, for example)  (2-4 minutes)
2.  Jazz run technique at a tempo above 160 BPM.  (30-60 seconds)