The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rozmp
Date: 2010-09-06 11:53
Does anyone know who the President's Own and the USAFB chose in their recent auditions? Second question, is it ok for someone who auditioned for the positions, to contact them to see if they can get constructive feedback on their own audition?
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2010-09-06 13:28
offers were made to Jon Troy & Andrew Dees for the Marine Band, and Kristin King and Brian Wahrlich won the positions in the USAFB.
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Author: Rozmp
Date: 2010-09-06 18:39
Thanks Gretchen. I'm sure those folks are on cloud nine with their accomplishments so congrats to them!
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Author: SamKaestner
Date: 2010-09-06 21:45
I would not hesitate to contact the bands and ask nicely for feedback. The worst that will happen is they say they don't give feedback.
Sam Kaestner
West Point Band Clarinetist
www.samkaestner.com
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-09-13 06:59
Rozmp, the auditions are very hard. Sort of like auditioning for an orchestra. When I was with the Air Force DC band there were a lot of people taking a crack at getting in. Perhaps 100 or more. Somehow I made it, probably because I knew all of the sight reading music. There was 1 guy I thought nailed it and a few others that could have made it, but for whatever reason they took me. I did not have a clean audition. I missed a few notes.
Before auditioning did they send you the audition music requirements? If not you may want to go to a concert and after the concert ask one of the musicians what pieces they played and what was on the sight reading. I had 2 people come up to me during my tour and I freely told them.
You may wish to get a hold of the 4 people that recently won and find out more about what they played, including the sight reading.
If they didn't give you a feedback you surely can ask for one. I auditioned for West Point in 1979 and after a few weeks I called them and asked what was up. They said I was in the top few, but thats all they said. Never heard from them after the phone call. I then auditioned with the Air Force Band. Had a blast to say the least playing some of the great musicians and conductors.
I would suggest auditioning for other top military sevices and see if you get accepted there. If not then take a look at the Army. They have the most field bands around, the auditions are much easier. Once you get in one of their field bands you get paid, have a lot of fun, and work your way up the ladder, including taking auditions for the DC big shots.
Can you arrange music? For example can you listen to a rock group and arrange it for a band? If so, that can be a really great military job. The competition is far less and it's fun to do. With computers it has become a lot easier, because you don't have to hand write the music for every instrument and worry about what note would the French horn play if the piece was in Bb or something. The newer computer music programs switch the notes with a click of a button.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2010-09-13 07:14)
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Author: Rozmp
Date: 2010-09-13 13:16
Thanks Bob for your thoughts, very helpful. Actually it is my son who is in the process of trying to find a performance job. His personality is very suited for the military but the military wouldn't know that until after they get to know him, so I hope a military band works out for him someday. Both auditions sent the excerpts for the initial audition. Good idea if one can get ahold of the site reading music that they use but he doesn't live in DC. to ask a member for that music. It would be encouraging if one knew that they were in the top 10 even if they didn't make the cut to move on to the site reading, etc. Thanks again, Roz
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