Strings
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Audition requirements are listed below for each PYO ensemble: Sinfonia Musica, Debut Strings, Orchestra Nova, Concordia Strings, Peninsula Young Artists, and the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.
All applicants must submit a recorded audition that includes scales, an etude or solo piece, and orchestra excerpts. Musicians will be evaluated on posture, tone, intonation, rhythmic control, technique, articulation, dynamics, expression, and preparation. All musicians must be able to read musical notation. Please review the ensemble requirements to determine which audition you should prepare.
Participating in your school's music program is an important part of being a PYO member. PYO strongly supports music education in schools, which offers students regular ensemble experience that complements their involvement in PYO. Together with private lessons, participation in both school music and PYO forms a well-rounded foundation for musical growth. We encourage and expect all musicians to be part of this important 'triangle' of learning and development. Musicians may be asked to provide proof of school music participation during the season.
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SCALE REQUIREMENTS
2 scales: one major and one minor, and one related arpeggio. See specific scale requirements below for your instrument.
Violin
2 octave A major scale and 1 octave D melodic minor scale
One scale should be in detaché bowing and the other in slurs of 2, 3, or 4 notes per bow (your choice)
2 octave A major arpeggio in separate bows, or slur 3 notes
Viola & Cello
2 octave D major scale and 1 octave D melodic minor scale
One scale should be in detaché bowing and the other in slurs of 2, 3, or 4 notes per bow (your choice)
2 octave D major arpeggio in separate bows or slur 3 notes
Double Bass
1 octave major scale of your choice
1 octave melodic minor scale of your choice
One scale should be in detaché bowing and the other scale in slurs of 2, 3, or 4 notes (your choice)
1 octave major arpeggio in separate bows or slur 3 notes
SOLO OR ETUDE REQUIREMENT
Prepared solo or etude (1-2 minutes) that demonstrates student’s current ability.
ORCHESTRA EXCERPT REQUIREMENT
Prepared excerpt of Sinfonia/Debut-level piece. Please observe intended tempos, bowings, dynamics, and style to the best of your ability.
Violin: Magic Flute Overture Violin 1 m. 5-24, upper or lower divisi; ♩ = 100-110
Viola: Midsummer Night’s Dream m. 1-18 with repeat; ♩= 70-76
Cello: Star Wars m. 34-end; ♩= 90-100
Bass: Magic Flute Overture m. 12-24; ♩= 100-110
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SCALE REQUIREMENTS
2 scales: one major and one minor, ascending and descending, and 1 arpeggio. See specific scale requirements below for your instrument.
Violin
2 or 3 octave E major scale
2 octave D melodic minor scale
One scale should be in detaché bowing and the other in slurs of 4 or 8 notes (your choice)
2 or 3 octave E major arpeggio in separate bows or slur 3 notes
Viola & Cello
2 octave A major scale
2 octave A melodic minor scale
One scale should be in detaché bowing and the other in slurs of 4 or 8 notes
A major arpeggio in separate bows or slurred
Double Bass
2 octave major scale of your choice
2 octave melodic minor scale of your choice
Please play one scale in detaché bowing and the other scale slurred with 4 or 8 notes
1 octave major and minor arpeggios in chosen key in separate bows or slur 3 notes
SOLO OR ETUDE REQUIREMENT
Prepared solo or etude (1-3 minutes) that demonstrates student’s current ability.
ORCHESTRA EXCERPT REQUIREMENT
Prepared excerpt of Nova/Concordia-level piece. Please observe intended tempo, bowings, dynamics and style to the best of your ability.
Violin: Huapango del Oso Violin 1 m. 79-87, ♩= 100-110; Lo Speziale Violin 1 m. 110-end,♩= 112-126
Viola: Cumberland Cross m. 25-44, ♩= 100-110
Cello: Cumberland Cross m. 41-48, ♩= 100-110
Bass: Huapango del Oso m. 1-14, ♩= 100-110
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SCALE REQUIREMENTS
One major scale, ascending and descending. See specific scale requirements (and optional related arpeggio) below for your instrument.
Violin
3 octave C major scale
Please play in slurs of 8-12 and spiccato bowing in triplets (each note played 3 times)
3 octave C major and C minor arpeggios in slurs of 3 or 9 notes
Viola
3 octave E major scale in slurs of 8-12 and spiccato bowing in triplets (each note played 3 times)
3 octave E major and E minor arpeggios in slurs of 3 or 9 notes
Cello
3 octave E major scale in detaché bowing and slurs of 8
2 or 3 octave E major and E minor arpeggios in slurs of 3
Double Bass
2 octave Bb major scale in detaché bowing and slurs of 4 notes
2 octave arpeggios in Bb major and Bb minor in slurs of 3
SOLO OR ETUDE REQUIREMENT
Prepared solo or etude (no more than 3 minutes) that demonstrates student’s current ability.
ORCHESTRA EXCERPT REQUIREMENT
Required excerpt of PYA-level piece. Please observe intended tempo, bowings, dynamics, and style to the best of your ability when presenting these excerpts.
Violin: American in Paris Violin 1 m. 28-47; and pickup to m. 171-181 ♩= 110-120 for both excerpts
Viola: American in Paris m. 145-156 ♩ = 55-60
Cello: American in Paris m. 77-87, ♩= 100-110; and m. 149-155, ♩= 55-60
Bass: American in Paris m. 134-144, ♩ = 60-70; and pickup to 169-170, ♩= 90-100
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SCALE REQUIREMENTS
One major scale and one harmonic minor scale
3 or 4 octaves (String Bass 2 okay, 3 preferred)
Please play one scale in a sharp key and the other in a flat key
Prepared etude (maximum 2 minutes) that demonstrates student’s current ability.
SOLO REQUIREMENT
Prepared solo (maximum 3 minutes) that demonstrates student’s current ability.
DETAILS
Etude and solo must demonstrate:
Position work
A variety of bow techniques
Violins must demonstrate comfort and fluency in upper positions (5th-8th position)
ORCHESTRA EXCERPT REQUIREMENT
Brahms Symphony 1, Mvt. 1
Each link below includes sheet music for your specific excerpt. All excerpts are bracketed in red and tempo markings are included.