TubeNet

Audition Thoughts

A quick perusal of the TubeNet archives shows several posts about No-Hire auditions (viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30785&p=269101#p269101" target="_blank" target="_blank). The referenced post is very much on target for a no-hire audition this past
March.

Fundamentals were the big discriminator behind the curtain. Having internally consistent time is an absolute necessity, as is solid pitch and even sound through all registers. A recording device brings these sometimes nuanced flaws to light.

The list for the July military band audition will certainly be different (shorter). It would also be safe to say that sight-reading will appear on every round. The new list should be together before May, hopefully sooner.

Brian

It has been brought to my attention that my post was in poor taste. My sincere apologies for offending a segment of the community.

goodgigs wrote:bsands,
Look in the board index.
There is a whole section for this discussion on a page called "auditions".
Many of us literally couldn't care less. (Unless you are auditioning new hardware).

Judging by bsands other posts, I think he is on the audition committee for the Airforce Band....

Granted that wasn't clear by his post, but I don't think there's any need to be dismissive, somebody might find this advice useful.

Google is a great tool, searching Brian Sands tuba yields this:

http://www.usafband.af.mil/ensembles/Ba ... dBioID=631" target="_blank

FWIW, Bsands, a little more presentation and and background information on the audition would certainly help people get what you are saying. It seems as though you took it for granted that everyone knows what you are talking about, which clearly isn't the case....

A thought comes to mind from reading the older thread...

Auditions are basically a sight-reading exercise.

I remember a particular, very very very big audition of about 23 years ago. Cattle call, no prelim tapes or resumes or anything.

I was coaching a friend. I really thought he had a legitimate shot at it, based on what I was hearing, his prior experience overseas, and the comments of knowledgable people who also heard him playing. In the long run, we all know my friend didn't get the gig.

The relevant part of the story, a guy (colej studint) we met at the hall had never SEEN the "Fountains" excerpt. He asked if he could borrow the copy for a few minutes to look at it. Admittedly, having a cattle call encourages this kind of thing, but why waste your time, and everyone else's? And, since the guy's teacher was a major orchestra player...wazzupwitdat?

David Zerkel wrote:That particular list was unreasonably difficult and almost ensured a no hire.

+1000

In a certain way, I think it all boils down to supply and demand. The amount of jobs (i.e. full-time jobs) for tubists are becoming rare and the amount of good solid tubists is becoming higher. Using that logic, it just makes sense that it is harder to get a job now than it was 20 years ago.

I, too, would be curious to see the list for the last audition....

Jobs have been rare for a lot longer than 20 years. Jobs have been hard to get for tuba players for a long time. One job per orchestra, and some players play (literally) for 40 or 50 years in those positions. Thirty years is not all uncommon. Three or four tubas per band, where 20 years is common. A lot of great players make their living doing something else. Thus it is for tubists, has always been, and probably always will be.