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rowuk · 03-25-2008, 08:11 AM

Picking a piece that fits you like a glove is tough because we do not know ANYTHING about you. If you have been playing state competitions (like NYSSMA in NY) the level 5 and 6 solos would be very suitable for auditions. The following comes immediately to mind:

Haydn Trumpet Concerto
Hummel Trumpet Concerto
Arutjunian Trompet Concerto
Goedicke Concert Etude
Otto Ketting Intrade
Fitzgerald Scherzo und Finale in Ab minor
Langlais 9 Pieces

I would avoid the conservatory showcases like the Bozza Caprice or Arban Carnival of Venice unless you can really pull them off under stress. Playing those pieces is part of what studying trumpet is about! Whatever you end up playing, research the composer, listen to other pieces by them (non trumpet) to get a feel for what they were about. Being intellectually confident in style makes your performance sound simply better informed!

Something also important was just adressed on another thread: By the time that you have decided to go forward with trumpet, you should have the basics of breathing and the mechanics of playing together. That means a solid DAILY routine (at least one hour of playing) with long tones, slurs, repertory and chop and technique builders. You need at least the Arban and Clarke books as well as a Hymnbook to get started! Those things insure that your performances and auditions become REPEATABLE! Learn to practice hard but not beat your face up. Before an audition you need to take good care of yourself. You need to know how much you need to play to be confident and how to not keep playing if you are nervous. I have heard too many players that trash themselves by "warming up" for several hours or trying to show off before the audition. On tht day, the only notes that count are the ones played for the jury. Save the best ones for them not your competition!

Critical is the ability to play melodies musically. If you can do that, most solos fall into place with a bit of technique touch up! This is where a Hymnbook can be VERY useful. The melodies and words are well known aiding performance and articulation.

A clean double and triple tongue will not hurt.
Your range/sound should be clean and full from low F# to high C above the staff. You get no bonus points for squeezing out a double C, maybe some minus points for being obnoxious........ Your rhythm MUST be perfect. There is no excuse to walk into ANY audition without great rhythm. Practice with a metronome first and check yourself out at regular intervals!

Useful but not critical would also be the ability to transpose C trumpet parts (again, the Hymnbook is great for this!).

No mouthpiece or trumpet switching before the audition. If you bring a clean, musical, rhythmic approach, nobody will send you home because you do not have the biggest, darkest sound on the planet.

03-25-2008, 08:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
rowuk Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4,153	Re: Music for College Audition Picking a piece that fits you like a glove is tough because we do not know ANYTHING about you. If you have been playing state competitions (like NYSSMA in NY) the level 5 and 6 solos would be very suitable for auditions. The following comes immediately to mind: Haydn Trumpet Concerto Hummel Trumpet Concerto Arutjunian Trompet Concerto Goedicke Concert Etude Otto Ketting Intrade Fitzgerald Scherzo und Finale in Ab minor Langlais 9 Pieces I would avoid the conservatory showcases like the Bozza Caprice or Arban Carnival of Venice unless you can really pull them off under stress. Playing those pieces is part of what studying trumpet is about! Whatever you end up playing, research the composer, listen to other pieces by them (non trumpet) to get a feel for what they were about. Being intellectually confident in style makes your performance sound simply better informed! Something also important was just adressed on another thread: By the time that you have decided to go forward with trumpet, you should have the basics of breathing and the mechanics of playing together. That means a solid DAILY routine (at least one hour of playing) with long tones, slurs, repertory and chop and technique builders. You need at least the Arban and Clarke books as well as a Hymnbook to get started! Those things insure that your performances and auditions become REPEATABLE! Learn to practice hard but not beat your face up. Before an audition you need to take good care of yourself. You need to know how much you need to play to be confident and how to not keep playing if you are nervous. I have heard too many players that trash themselves by "warming up" for several hours or trying to show off before the audition. On tht day, the only notes that count are the ones played for the jury. Save the best ones for them not your competition! Critical is the ability to play melodies musically. If you can do that, most solos fall into place with a bit of technique touch up! This is where a Hymnbook can be VERY useful. The melodies and words are well known aiding performance and articulation. A clean double and triple tongue will not hurt. Your range/sound should be clean and full from low F# to high C above the staff. You get no bonus points for squeezing out a double C, maybe some minus points for being obnoxious........ Your rhythm MUST be perfect. There is no excuse to walk into ANY audition without great rhythm. Practice with a metronome first and check yourself out at regular intervals! Useful but not critical would also be the ability to transpose C trumpet parts (again, the Hymnbook is great for this!). No mouthpiece or trumpet switching before the audition. If you bring a clean, musical, rhythmic approach, nobody will send you home because you do not have the biggest, darkest sound on the planet. __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.