PSHP AUDITION INFORMATION for RETURNING STUDENTS
PSHP Auditions for August 18, 2023
11:00-12:30 Mandatory Meeting of All Returning Families and/or New Families in the Asbury Sanctuary
At least one parent from each family and all students that are 12 years or older should attend.
CLICK HERE for COMPLETE AUDITION SCHEDULE AND INSTRUCTIONS
- All students that want to be promoted to the next class will need to complete an audition on Friday, August 18. Please read over the Class Information and Prerequisites and the Friday schedule to help in your planning and expectations. Each student will also have sight-reading as part of their audition.
- All auditions will take place at Asbury on Friday, August 18. If you can’t attend the August 18 auditions, please notify me as your audition will need to be completed before Registration on Friday, August 25. KALcello@cs.com
- The class listed below is the class they were in from last year of May of 2023.
- Each student needs only to come for the listed time. They are free to leave after they are done auditioning.
- If a student does not audition, they will remain in the same class as 2022-2023.
- Each audition will consist of a scale, excerpt from their music book from 2022-23 and sight-reading, a song they have not seen before. If you don’t have the book or music that is listed, prepare 1 scale and 1 song for your audition that show your playing ability. Do not purchase any music for your audition. Only memorize scales if it is specifically mentioned.
- If you are new to PSHP and already play an instrument, please attend the auditions at 12:30. Do not buy any music but prepare an excerpt of music that is 24-32 measures long and a scale.
Beethoven Orchestra is also open to any woodwind, brass, and percussion players who pass an audition. Please prepare a song and 2 scales to play for your audition. - Any student that will be beginning an instrument this fall does not need to audition, unless they have had previous instruction. Audition at 12:30 if you already play an instrument. Prepare 24-32 measures and a scale.
- Choir students do not need to audition for any choir classes, except for Bel Canto Chamber Choir. Sign up for choirs are by age: Singers Choir is ages 8-10, Mezzo Choir is ages 11-13, Concert Choir is ages 14 and older.
- Last year’s recorder students don’t need to audition for a class. Sign up for any beginner class on August 25.
- Last year’s Younger Beginner Guitar students do not need to audition, but please sign up for Older Beginner Guitar Class on August 25.
- Last year’s Beginner Bell students do not need to audition, but please sign up for Beginner Band percussion class on August 25.
STRING ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS
STRING ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS
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11:00-12:30
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MANDATORY MEETING for at least 1 parent and allstudents 12 years & older in the Sanctuary |
12:45-1:15 |
Music/Choir Room and Unpack |
Last year’s Bach Orchestra Strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, harp)Auditioning for Beethoven |
Prepare these 4 scales (not memorized) High Tech Bookp. 8 #2, GMp. 24 #2, CMp, 30 #2 DMp. 34 #2 EM |
High Tech,p. 31, #22Gavotte by Gossec |
Vibrato, proper shifting and shifting readiness.Be at least 14 years old. |
1:15-2:00 |
Music/Choir Room and Unpack |
Last year’s Beethoven Orchestra Strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, harp) |
Memorize any2 scales ofyour choosingthat are 3octaves inlength |
String Player’s Guide, p. 31- Scale #7and p. 32-excerpt 9 |
Polished technique,solid vibrato andshifting. Musicalplaying.Be at least 15 years old. |
GUITAR, CHOIR & HARP AUDITIONS
Time |
Location |
Last Year’s Class |
Scale |
Excerpt |
Expectations |
9:00-10:00 |
Guitar Room 120 |
Last Year’s Older Beginner Guitar-Auditioning for Intermediate Guitar |
Hal Leonard Guitar Method-Play C Major scale on p. 96, #2 |
Hal Leonard Guitar Method, p. 38, #86 |
Know notes and have good playing position. Be at least 10 years old. |
10:00-10:30 |
Guitar Room 120 |
Last year’s Intermediate Guitar auditioning for Advance GuitarClass |
Hal Leonard Guitar MethodChromatic Scale p. 104, #18 |
Hal Leonard Guitar Method p. 105 |
Be at least 12 years old. |
10:30-11:00 |
Guitar Room 120 |
Students wanting to be in Classical Guitar |
Play a two octave C scale. |
Prepare a song of your choice. |
Be at least 14 years old or younger with director’s permission.All students in this ensemble will also need to be in Advance Guitar Class.Students should be comfortable with alternating finger picking with the left hand, be comfortable with reading music in first position, be able to work on music in higher positions. |
Time |
Location |
Last Year’s Class |
Scale |
Excerpt |
Expectations |
9:45-10:45 |
Room 102-103 |
Bel Canto Chamber Choir.Open to any Concert Choir student andOpen to Any new vocal students that are 15 and older. |
Tonal memory exercises, and Sight Reading |
Check out the PSHP families Facebook or go to www.drheathernelson.com/pshppage or and prepare the following hymn on your correct voice part. |
Be at least 15 years old or younger with director’s permission. |
9:00-9:30 |
Room 102-103 |
Beginner Orchestra Harps |
C scale |
My First Harp Book, p. 11 Pussy Cat |
Be at least 9 years old. |
9:00-9:30 |
Room 102-103 |
Intermediate Harps |
C and G scale |
My First Harp Book, p. 9, Scales Snippets |
Be at least 10 years old. |
9:00-9:30 |
Room 102-103 |
Advance Intermediate Harps |
C, G, and D scales |
My First Harp Book p. 23, First 9 ms. Of The Keel Row |
Be at least 12 years old. |
9:30-10:00 |
Room 102-103 |
Audition to go into Harp Ensemble |
Be prepared to play chords |
Either p. 18 Kol Slaven or p. 19 northern Princess out of Fun for the Harp, Level 1 |
Open to harp students that have completed 1 year of harp & also enrolled in an orchestra. |
Choir Auditions ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The PSHP choirs are by age only and do not require and audition, unless you are at least 15 years old and want to audition for Bel Canto. See below for audition requirements.
No auditions are necessary for Singers Choir -open to students ages 8-10 years old; Mezzo Choir-open to students ages 11-13 years old; and Concert Choir-open to students ages 14 and older.
Bel Canto Auditions: Room 102-103 9:45-10:45
Hello, singers! All singers who are 15 years and older are eligible and encouraged to audition for Bel Canto, the premiere vocal ensemble at Play and Sing His Praises. Please find below what you will need to prepare, and what you can expect at your audition. I am so excited to hear you at audition day! If you have any questions, concerns, or funny jokes to share, please email Dr. Nelson .
Links to the audition hymn PDF and rehearsal videos are here: www.drheathernelson.com/pshp See you August 18!
During audition day we’ll all meet for a group warm up at 9:45 in Room 102-103. Then vocalists will be dismissed and come back one at a time. Each singer will sing the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” with accompaniment. Sheet music and an accompanist will be provided. Then each singer will do a few vocal exercises with the instructors. The individual portion will take less than ten minutes.
Results of the audition will be sent via email to all singers by Monday, August 21st.
PSHP Band Auditions Fall 2023
PSHP Band Auditions 2023 Information Link
Meet in Room 210-211 to unpack, then go to another room on the second floor for your audition.
Contact Dan Updegrave if you can’t attend your audition on August 18 at this email address. All auditions will need to be completed before you register on Friday, August 25. If you don’t audition you will remain in the same class that you were registered in 2022-2023.
If you can attend at the later time of 12:30 after the 11:00 Mandatory Meeting in the Sanctuary you do not need to contact him, but show up at 12:30.
Auditioning for Intermediate Band: 9:00 in Room 210-211
(former Beginner Band members, wanting to move into Intermediate Band, or student new to program)
Essential Elements Book 1 (yellow book) – #149 scale, 103, & #150 OR 157 – your choice. We’ll also ask you to sight read one other piece of our choosing from Book 1.
Percussion we will ask you to play both a snare part and a bell part from these. You may choose, but I want to hear bells on at least one of the songs.
If you were not a part of PSHP’s Beginning Band last year, you may also bring 2 short examples of your playing ability from other music. (Bring sheet music or book with you.) Approximately 10 measures each, plus a scale.
Auditions for Adoration (Advanced) Band: at 10:00 in Room 210-211
(former Intermediate Band members wanting to move into Adoration band, or new to program)
Essential Elements Book 2 – # 64, 77, & 78. We’ll also ask you to sight read one other piece of our choosing from Book 2 (red book).
Flutes – also high notes up to G, and your Eb major scale
If you were not a part of PSHP’s Beginning Band last year, you may also bring 2 short examples of your playing ability from other music. (Bring sheet music or book with you.) Approximately 10 measures each, plus a scale.
Auditions for Jazz Ensemble: at 12:30 in Room 210-211
Wind/Brass Instruments:
Option 1) If you do NOT have Essential Technique (book 3 teal color), you may play #138 “Joshua” from Essential Elements Book 2 (red book).
Option 2) If you DO have Essential Technique (book 3- teal color) – then #180 & 181 in Book 3. We will also have you sight read another piece.
Option 3) If you are new to PSHP please bring another short example of your playing in a jazz, pop, or rock, style with written sheet music.
Guitar/Bass Guitar/ Piano:
Play a prepared piece for us. Be prepared to also play a scale and demonstrate a few chords ( or on bass –a simple walk) if possible. We will also have you sight read another piece.*
Drum Set/ Percussion:
Demonstrate a rock beat and swing beat, both with a few simple fills. We will have you sight read a few simple rhythms from a drum set chart. *
*If you do not know these types of elements yet, please still speak with us. Depending on the # of available slot, we may be able to still work with you as you learn guitar chords, or walking bass lines, or swing style drum set patterns. Give us an the best example of your playing ability that most closely relates to jazz music with written music.
Auditions for Percussion Ensemble: at 10:00 in Rooms 210-211
Option 1 — Essential Elements Book 2 – #128 on snare drum. We may also ask you to play other percussion parts from #128 or another sight reading piece.
Auditions for Flute Ensemble: at 10:00 in Rooms 210-211
We may listen to Adoration band audition materials, plus # 92 from BOOK 3 of Essential Techniques. You also need to have completed one year in Adoration Band to audition.
Select Wind Ensemble: (very small chamber style ensemble) at 10:00 in Rooms 210-211.
We may listen to Adoration band audition materials, plus # 92 from BOOK 3 of Essential Techniques (Adoration band method book)
Handbook and Class Schedule are available now.
Click on this link to view them please: Handbook and Class Schedule 2023-2024