hey guys, i know there's some rocking clarinetists out there so i could use some advice. I'm probably getting the requirements for all state auditions (they aren't until december) today and I was wondering if there's any tips so I can kick butt this year!!! (I got in last year but i was sorta....last chair? lol) thanx much!

Well, this year I had my first audition for something like all state (ever heard of Semsba?). I haven't been to many auditions like that, but I'll tell you some of the things that went horribly wrong in my audition that made me get almost last chair (very embarressing, when your friend has first chair of the second part, and you have fourth chair of the third part!)

DON'T
-Mess up your scales (if you have to play them). Remember the HUGE difference between Bb concert and Bb for clarinet! And don'y let one mistake mess up the whole scale. If you can correct yourself while playing the scale, then that's better than just messing up during the scale and not even noticing your mistake.
-Show them(or him/her) a bad embochure! Technique is all fine and good, but can be ruined by a horrible tone. Make sure you have your mouth and chin in the right position.
-Play mono-dynamicly. Even if the music says to stay one dynamic, make the phrases slightly go up and down in voume, not like you're a computer playing a song, but like a living person telling a story.
-Sleep. Yes, I said don't sleep. Practice the song fifty billion times. The more you play it, the more you know it.

DO
-Look great. Although most auditions say "We judge on the players ability, not appearance", they most certainly lie. Dress up nice even if they don't ask you to.
-Nothing stupid. Shaking hands with judges or telling them they look great won't earn you any extra point.

(Just kidding on the last tip, )
I am sorry if you've heard all these tips before, but it's the best I could give you. Hope they help!

What state do you live in, and how does your audition process work?

Generally, learn all the notes and fingerings (w/ correct alternate fingerings) as quickly as you can, maybe 1 or 2 weeks. PLay with no rhythm if the note are challenging for you. Once you're comfortable with the notes, play the music with the metronome so slowly it hurts your soul, with dynamics and some style. You want to plan on having all of you music up to your final tempo AT LEAST 2 weeks before the audition, earlier if you're serious. You want to be in a position where you're polishing, not relearning technique.

You'll know if you've gone too fast later on if you start feeling like the music is getting worse. This is common, so just slow a tough section back down and working it for a few minutes. Map out a plan of attack... find smaller parts of the music and work it in sections, with met. Play the scales & arpeggios, major and/or minor, that are used in the pieces everyday.

Some of my students find it helpful/painful to play a "cold run-through" This means get your fingers warmed up for like 3 minutes, then play straight through an étude with absolutely NO stopping for anything. It'll show you where your weakest spots are and generally how comfortable you are with performing the piece.

Record yourself a lot if you really want to make it. Even using the Windows Sound Recorder on your PC is better than nothing. I always have students who swear they want to win auditions, but they're too scared to record themselves. Too bad, it's a great tool.

Lastly, Have fun, because hopefully in the end, you'll be making music! Good luck.

I'm just wondering, what state do you live in? Down here in FL, we had ours at the beginning of summer! Also, what book/pieces do you play?

I don't play the clarinet, but I participate in honors bands, too.

Here are some tips that will help:

-dress nicely; it will show you're serious and it will make the judges pay attention more closely (they wouldn't pay attention to a slob)...

-buy a bunch of reeds and test them out; choose the best one for the audition, but bring the next best one incase you drop your mouthpiece and chiip your reed.

-stay calm; eveything will be fine as long as you did your best.

-try memorizing your piece; it could give you some extra points if you happen to mess up (this depends on the judge, though; they might dock you points because it wasn't memorized perfectly...that happened to my friend).

And, of course, go with everything everyone else said!!

Good luck!!!

I really screwed up my All-State audition last yea, and I still got 8th out of 24. I played the etudes perfectly, but did absolutely awful on the scales and sightreading.

So I would suggest, if nothing else get your etudes perfect.

If you have to send in a tape, I would master the scales because those are what the judges listen to first.

Good luck!!

Sounds like you've got the all-state blues. I would suggest ignoring the list that they send out and make your own.

Judges are impressed by innovation and that would be innovative! Throw a little jazz in the mix and you will have the total package.

If I were the judge I would probably give you an F for not following the list but we artists weren't put on this planet to "follow the list".

Follow your heart and the list will follow.

I'm sorry, but I'm totally against that idea!! The judges wouldn't even bother to listen to the whole tape once they hear something different!! Trust me, one little thing could mark you down!! I was at an all-state solo ensemble preforming infront of two judges; I played my piece pretty well (accepting the fact it was memorized) and they almost marked me down because I played the trills in a way one would hear in a piece by Mozart, but the piece I played was written my Hayden. Basically, don't play whatever you want when auditioning for the band. Obviously, if they wanted you to play whatever, it would have been stated; the list is there for a reason...

Good luck!!

Look here lady, lists were made to be broken. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

You don't even play the clarinet, how would you know what I'm talking about?

Go get a clarinet and a clue and then maybe you can post your egotistical ideas here.

Some people...

YOU HYPOCRITE!! How dare you call me "egotistical" when you yourself claim you play better than a machine??!!

It is true that I don't play the clarinet; did I ever say I did??!! I'm here (like most other people) to give advice to others based on personal experiences.

I would agree with you if the list did say "Feel free to play whatever your little heart wishes!!", but it doesn't.

There's no need to condescend.

Playing better than a machine doesn't make a person a hypocrite(never has) and I resent that remark. If machines were better than me I'd be astonished and so would my admirers.

Can YOU play the clarinet better than a machine? I didn't think so. Your advice is valuable, especially for someone who values pretty much anything thrown at them.

I offer to the young fledgling musician my teachniques and innovative advice. I'm sorry if you disagree(except for the fact that you are just plain wrong).

This forum isn't the best place for knee-jerk reactions to good ideas. Toy with them for a while and get acquainted. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Let's be friends(but you're still wrong).

-Phil

Though I disagree with just about everything you said (especially the part about me being wrong), I will agree to friendship as long as the negative comments between us cease.

I've never seen a machine that play the clarinet, so maybe the statement "I play better than a machine" isn't saying much at all...hmmmmm....

Get with a teacher who's hooked up with the All-State thing like my brother was 35 years ago. He's a Captain in the Navy and I'm a pr-clarinettist.