professional scales & music competitions

cc · Post by cc » Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:28 pm

HI Im working on my scales for
an audition and the notes sound kind of choppy even though slurred because of
something my throat creates. Does anyone know where i could find something to
download of a professional flutist''s slurred scales?i think listening to that
would help alot. also does anyone know of any music competitions in
america(their website)?Thanks.[:halo:]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:42 pm

Don't know of any scales you
could download someone playing so you could listen. As far as competitions in
America. I don't know about a National competition for the whole country but
most(?) states have their own and you can find some online. Florida Bandmasters
Assoc has both music lists by levels and technical requirements Flute;
Chromatic: 2 octaves from Eb Lyrical Exercise: pg. 35; #15; top, all; quarter
note = 72 Technical Exercise: pg. 53; #22; all; quarter note = 160 **** Middle
School Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion: When the student enters the room, he/she
will be asked to perform: a) The specific prepared exercises for their
instrument(s) as listed in the All-State Middle School Audition Requirements.
Note the recommended tempos given. b) A chromatic scale covering the range for
their instrument (as given in the All-State Middle School Audition
Requirements.) The scale will be performed in even eighth notes at a minimum
tempo of MM quarter note = 144. The scale will be tongued ascending and slurred
descending where applicable. Scale is to be memorized. c) Seven major scales,
(in 2 minutes or less) from memory, complete with arpeggios, at a minimum tempo
of MM quarter note = 120. Scales are to be performed a minimum of 2 octaves
where possible. Students who wish to play a 3rd octave may do so. All scales
must be performed within the allotted time frame. Scales must be performed in
complete octaves. The scale pattern is . The arpeggio pattern is . The scales
are to be tongued ascending and slurred descending where applicable. The student
will be asked to perform scales in their transposed form. Scales will be
performed in the following order, starting with the concert key of: G, C, F, Bb,
Eb, Ab, & Db. d) A short sight-reading exercise(s) to demonstrate the student’s
reading ability. The student will have thirty seconds to study the piece before
playing it. I believe I read somewhere about Texas, another of the big states'
requirements online. California and NY the other of the big 4 states probably
have something available as well but I have not looked. **** DOES ANYONE OTHER
THAN ME THINK THAT IS KIND OF FAST???[:knockout:]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 10:01 pm

9th and 10th grade All-State
Concert Band Audition Requirements for Woodwinds: When the student enters the
room, he/she will be asked to perform: a) The specific prepared exercises for
their instrument(s) as listed in the All-State Concert Band Audition
Requirements. Note the recommended tempos. b) A chromatic scale covering the
range for their instrument (as given in the All-State Concert Band Audition
Requirements.) The scale will be performed in even sixteenth notes at a minimum
tempo of MM quarter note = 100. The scale will be tongued ascending and slurred
descending where applicable. Scale is to be memorized. c) Twelve major scales,
(in 2 minutes or less) from memory, complete with arpeggios, at a minimum tempo
of MM quarter note = 120. Scales are to be performed a minimum of 2 octaves
where possible. Students who wish to play a 3rd octave may do so. All scales
must be performed within the allotted time frame. Scales must be performed in
complete octaves. The scale pattern is . The arpeggio pattern is . The scales
will be tongued ascending and slurred descending where applicable. Scales will
be performed chromatically, starting with the concert key of: G, Ab, A, Bb, B,
C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb. d) A short sight-reading exercise(s) to demonstrate the
student’s reading ability. The student will have thirty seconds to study the
piece before playing it. Flute; Chromatic: 3 octaves from C Lyrical Exercise:
pg. 71; #26; all; quarter note = 60 Technical Exercise: pg. 34; #13; top, all,
no repeats, no DC; dotted quarter = 108 Rubank Advanced Method Volume II Sure
sounds difficult enough to me

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 10:05 pm

11th and 12th Flute;
Chromatic: 3 octaves from C Lyrical Exercise:: pg. 6; #6; meas. 1-40 Technical
Exercise: pg. 29; #11; meas.1 – 35 + one note Melodious & Progressive Studies
for Flute, Book 1 Hope that gives you some idea of what our competition in
America, specifically in Florida encompass. What are yours like.

cc · Post by cc » Sat Aug 09, 2003 11:09 am

Thankyou for all the
information. In my state we usually have to prepare a short piece, sightread
some, and then know all 12 major scales but will be asked to play a few.[;)] and
we can play the scales to our ability.[:)]

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:07 pm

You're probably doing this
"goat throat" thing that many flutists do. It's related to tension in the upper
throat which just slightly cuts your air on and off when you are blowing.
Usually it sounds like g-g-g-g-g-g-g when you are trying to use vibrato or even
when just blowing a straight tone. The best idea that I've found to combat
"goat throat" is to raise the chin and, therefore, let the tongue lie down
smoother and lower in the throat and the back of the mouth, lengthening the
throat and opening up the airway. Do MANY, MANY long tone exercises this way
until you can get the g-g-g-g-g sound to go away. A few things that I tell my
private students to help them visualize the open throat concept is to breathe
like they've just eaten a cough drop and you are trying to feel the cool minty
breath that you have after that. Another thing you can think of (but PLEASE
don't try this at home![;)]) is a sword swallower. It sounds crazy, but it
works. I had terrible problems with this that persisted on into my early college
years. Most of my problems in later years were from just plain tension and being
freaked out about trying too hard. Relax and ENJOY playing and concentrate on
these things and it will go away. Everyone deals with "goat throat" at some
point so at least you are not alone.

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:09 pm

It's not that bad because
some of these say you only have to do them in eighth notes. It could be
sixteenths. I did two hours a week, twice a week of technique class at IU
Bloomington for flute. Their scales were this fast and I was stuck in the
remedial group! Get these requirements to your private teacher asap and work out
a schedule with metronome marking goals and practice smart so you don't injure
your body. It's actually kind of cool when you start developing some muscle
memory and the scales just flow. krisgmusic

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:49 pm

It's not that bad because
some of these say you only have to do them in eighth notes. It could be
sixteenths. I did two hours a week, twice a week of technique class at IU
Bloomington for flute. Their scales were this fast and I was stuck in the
remedial group! Not sure what you are referring back to but playing all major
scales with arpeggios, tonguing on the way up and slurring on the way down in
under 2 minutes is moving pretty good. Try it. How fast was the non remedial
group playing them?

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:39 pm

RIDICULOUSLY FAST AND WITH
ARTICULATIONS was how fast the non-remedial (graduate students/doctoral
students) were playing them. It really freaked me out to see them going 130+ bpm
w/sixteenths but I stuck it out in the remedial class and made good progress
once I caught on. Scary, though...