Tahoma High School Bands
Matthew Cole  Band Director  school: (425) 413-6228  mcole@tahomasd.us  http://swift.tahoma.wednet.edu/ths/mcole/index.php 
Wind Symphony Audition Packet
Dear Potential Future Wind Ensemble Member,
Congratulations to you already! If you have picked up this packet, then you are already
working above and beyond the standard. You are challenging yourself and preparing to
audition into the advanced concert ensemble for the Tahoma Senior High School Band
program. This ensemble represents the highest quality within the band program and often
represents our entire school!
Each year I strive to balance out the Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Winds in order
to maintain a high-quality balanced ensemble in both groups. The great news is that both
ensembles will be fantastic next year! It will be difficult to decipher which is which due
to the amazing talent that we have with our students next year!
Your audition for Wind Symphony is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability, skill,
technique and musicianship as a young instrumentalist. This is your chance to share your
performance level!! The audition will include aspects that are meant to challenge
everyone. Some parts of the audition will play to your strong points as a musician, while
others will challenge you!
Every musician auditioning for Wind Symphony will have the same opportunity to
receive one of the limited quantity of positions available. This means that if you have
participated in Wind Symphony in previous years, or you are simply an upperclassman,
you too will need to demonstrate that you are continuing to advance and improve. If you
are hoping to ride your past status, please reconsider because there are some very, very
good incoming students auditioning this year.
The students who have participated in Wind Symphony before, know that Mr. Cole will
take into consideration your past performance in the ensemble over the recent year. I will
be evaluating the following aspects…
1. Improvement as a musician over the course of the school year
2. Attitude and behavior in class
3. Attendance and punctuality
4. Amount of practice put in with quality-of-playing
5. Your ability to be a leader, by example, on a daily basis
The Audition
The auditions will take place during the last couple of weeks of May as outlined at the
end of this letter. Auditions will be held during school/rehearsals for current senior high
members and after school on gold days (3:00-4:00 p.m.). For incoming junior high
members, Mr. Cole will come to 2 classroom rehearsals and audition on a pull-out basis.
If you miss during that time, you may come to the high school and audition during one of
the after school openings. There is no need to sign up, simply show up!
There will be multiple parts to the audition:
1.
Play the 3 exercises on the attached page-specified for your
instrument. You may audition on more than one instrument! Use the following
link! There is a recording next to the pdf of the music as well!
2.
The final aspect of the audition will include the questionnaire that will
allow you to reflect on your progress and performance as a student and as a
musician. It will also allow Mr. Cole to better plan for the 2015-16 school year
in assisting you for your musical/leadership goals! This needs to be completed
and handed to Mr. Cole during your audition.
Good Luck! You will do a great job! Keep practicing, and we will see you
soon!
Remember: We are looking to create 2 fantastic ensembles. Your
placement will make either group even better than previous years!
Tahoma Senior Bands Questionnaire
Name:
Date:
Instruments:
Concert:
Jazz:
Marching:
Pep:
Answer the following questions:
a. Current G.P.A. ________
b. Current Year in school __________
c. How often do you practice your concert instrument?______________________
1. If not much, why not?
____________________________________________________________
2. What would encourage you to practice more?
____________________________________________________________
d. Why do you want to be in Wind Symphony?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
e. Do you currently take private lessons? If yes, who is your teacher?
_____________________________________________________________
f. If you do not currently take lessons, do you plan to do so next year?
_____________________________________________________________
g. What motivates you to improve when it is needed, but not convenient?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
h. How has your attitude/behavior in class reflected on you as a student
positively? Or negatively?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
i. Do you have any questions/concerns/conflict potential about the participation
expectations or requirements of the band program for next year?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
j. Which is your final goal? a) Making it into Wind Symphony b) Performing
really challenging music in performance with Wind Symphony or c) Winning
the regional large group band competition scoring a “Superior” rating as a
member of Wind Symphony? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
k. Do you participate in any sports or activities? List the sport and the season.
Sport/Activity: ____________________________
THS
Club
Sport/Activity: ____________________________
THS
Club
Sport/Activity: ____________________________
THS
Club
l. What is one personal music goal you want to achieve next year?
1. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
m. Why did you start playing an instrument? & Why do you continue playing?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
n. Any last information you think Mr. Cole should know leading to ensemble
consideration?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
Office Use Only
Student Name _________________________________ Date ________________ Grade
Course:
Wind Symphony
Symphonic Winds
School Year:
2015-2016
Teacher
Mr. Cole___
Status: Symphonic
Re-Audition
Accepted
Teacher Signature
Date