Milwaukee
Festival Brass
High School
Apprentice Program – Preliminary Information.
The Milwaukee Festival Brass is currently developing a
youth brass program. The
band is offering a High School Apprentice Program (HSAP) to talented
musicians who are interested in playing in a brass band.
Brass bands do not use trumpets or Horn in F.
Instead, they use cornets and tenor horns.
Trumpet and horn players would be asked to switch to these
instruments. Those
auditioning, horn players in particular, should check with their band
directors and private teachers regarding switching back and forth.
It requires a different mouthpiece and a slightly different
embouchure as well.
It is necessary to play these instruments to maintain
the unique tone quality of the brass band created by all conical bore
instruments. All of the
brass musicians read treble clef with the exception of the bass
trombone. Students will be
coached in new fingerings and/or clef transposition.
Brass banding has a long and storied tradition in Europe. It
began in Great
Britain
and continues with great vigor to this day.
Bands compete and their progress is followed via Internet and
band magazines where winning box scores are followed with same the
enthusiasm of American League Baseball.
The Milwaukee Festival Brass competes in the US Open Brass Band
Championship in Arlington, IL.
HSAP performers will not compete with MFB for this event, but are
strongly encouraged to attend.
How do I set up
an audition?
Any brass or percussion player may audition.
Dates will be sent to those who are interested, will be posted on
the web site and announced to Greater Milwaukee area band directors via
e-mail. Students may contact
the band manager to set up a time.
Audition
Requirements:
Brass
Brass players should be able to play all of their
major scales and a chromatic scale at quarter note equals 132 or faster
and should be clean & rhythmically precise.
Brass band playing requires great facility of the fingers.
Each player should demonstrate significant double and
triple tongue skill. Quarter
note equals at least 144.
Students should demonstrate as much multiple tonguing as possible i.e.
linear, horizontal and arpeggiated. The director is looking for speed
and clarity.
A short etude or portion of a solo of at least WSMA
Class A level should be prepared.
Solos by Herbert L. Clarke, Arthur Pryor, Herman Bellstedt and
Arban are appreciated.
No accompaniment is necessary. Varying levels of
sight-reading will also be included.
Percussion
Percussionists should be prepared to play all of their
rudiments on snare drum at a fast and controlled tempo.
At least quarter note equals 132.
They will also be asked to play timpani and change pitch/tune the
drums. A short etude or
portion of a solo of at least WSMA Class A level should be prepared for
snare drum. No accompaniment is necessary.
Although mallet percussion is not required, preference
will be given to those who are able to play keyboard percussion and
snare. To audition on
keyboard percussion prepare all of your major scales to at least 2
octaves and more octaves will be better.
A mallet solo should be prepared as well.
If you can show off it will be to your advantage.
Drum set is not required but preference will be given
to those who are able to play set and snare.
They should be able to demonstrate a rock beat, a fast jazz swing
beat and a polka or two-step beat.
Varying levels of sight-reading will be included and
may include any percussion instrument that the student can play.
How do I
know if I make it in?
The Milwaukee Festival Brass will offer up to 5 HSAP
positions for each concert.
Selection is entirely up to the conductor based upon skill level and
appropriate balance for the band.
Students will be given the opportunity to select the concerts in
the season series for which they are available.
MFB hopes this will encourage and support those students who are
involved in their school marching programs and school musicals.
The Milwaukee Festival Brass is not intended to take the place of
a school band program. It is
intended to enhance each student’s enjoyment of playing at an
extraordinarily high level.
Home school students of sufficient skill will be welcomed into the
program.
HSAP Participants will
be notified by letter and/or by e-mail.
MFB reserves the right to create a waiting list for this program.
Cost:
The cost of the program is $50.00 for each rehearsal
schedule/concert in the series.
Two concerts would be $100.00, three $150.00 etc. This fee is
paid at the beginning of the season by check made out to the Milwaukee
Festival Brass. HSAP
participants may miss only 1 rehearsal for each concert.
The program fee is non-refundable. This does not disqualify them
from future concerts.
Concert Dress:
The Milwaukee Festival Brass performs in concert
black. This means tuxes for
men and all black for women.
