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Practice Sight Reading like you will sing it for the audition.
To be used with GMEA All-State sightreading examples here. Helpful Hints: 1) Look under the sub-heading "Past Sight Reading Examples" 2) Find your grade level 3) Find your voice part BE SURE TO CHECK THE YEAR ON EACH VIDEO SO THAT YOU KNOW WHICH EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE! For example: Soprano | 2001-02 | 9th-10th... You would need to find the examples for 2001-02 on your sightreading packet, or on the GMEA website here. These videos are set up similarly to the sightreading portion of the GMEA All-State audition. After hearing the blocked chord, arpeggio, and starting pitch for each example, you'll have 30 seconds to practice before you hear the blocked chord, arpeggio & starting pitch again, and then you'll have a chance to sing the example. Disclaimer: These videos were NOT made in collaboration with the Georgia Music Educators Association. |
Audition Info
FIRST AUDITION:
In order for students to be eligible to participate, three (2) components of the regional audition must be completed:
1) Scales/Solo
2) Sight-reading
Students should be prepared to audition first on EITHER the scales and solo components (Component 1) OR the sight-reading component (Component 2).
Component 1
I. Scales | Students will sing a Major, Natural Minor, and Chromatic scale (a cappella) using the appropriate starting pitch as listed on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. Judges adjudicating scales and solo will assess each scale for accuracy ascending, accuracy descending and overall intonation throughout the process. This component will comprise a potential 9 points of the overall audition. The rubric for assessing scales can be seen on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information.
II. Solos | Students will sing the appropriate required song from memory for their level in the key for which they have registered in Opus. See the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information to view and download the pdf copy of the appropriate level solo as well as the “Learning and Accompaniment” mp3 files. Solos must be sung in the appropriate key for the part they have registered. Students will not need to bring any materials to the audition. Accompaniment tracks will be provided at each solo adjudication panel. Failing to comply with the audition song requirements will result in disqualification. A select panel of adjudicators dedicated to judging solos will rate singers on intonation, rhythmic accuracy, pitch accuracy, vocal tone quality, diction and musicality. The rubric can be viewed on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition. )
Component 2
III. Sight-Reading | Students will sing three (3) different 4-measure sight-reading examples using the method with which they are accustomed. Before each example, students will hear the block chord in the appropriate tonality, the arpeggio of the block chord, and the starting pitch before being given a 30-second practice period during which students can sing out loud without being scored. At the end of each 30-second practice period, students will hear the block chord and starting pitch again before performing each example. Students will receive credit for each half measure sung with correct pitches and rhythms. They will receive bonus points for each example for maintaining intonation and a relatively steady tempo throughout the performance. The rubric used to score sight-reading may be seen on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition. If a student begins a sight-reading example on a pitch other than the one given by the judge, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the example, credit for the remaining half measures will not be affected. If a student changes tonality midway through a sight-reading example, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the rest of the example, credit for all subsequent measures beyond the half measure where the tonality change occurred will not be affected.
Compositional parameters for the construction of the sight-reading examples:
Grade 9-10 Sight-Reading Parameters
Example Key Meter Rhythm Intervals Start Pitch End Pitch Vocal Range
#1 Major Simple May add dotted quarter with 8th note & dotted half note May add 3rds Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#2 Natural Minor Simple Same May add 5ths Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#3 Major Simple Same May add 4ths and octaves Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
Grade 11-12 Sight-Reading Parameters
Example Key Meter Rhythm Intervals Start Pitch End Pitch Vocal Range
#1 Major Simple May add dotted quarter with 8th note & dotted half note May add 4ths and octaves Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#2 Natural Minor Simple Same May add 5ths Any note of the tonic triad Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#3 Major Compound May add 16th notes & dotted 8th with 16th notes May add 6ths Any note of the tonic triad Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
FIRST AUDITION:
In order for students to be eligible to participate, three (2) components of the regional audition must be completed:
1) Scales/Solo
2) Sight-reading
Students should be prepared to audition first on EITHER the scales and solo components (Component 1) OR the sight-reading component (Component 2).
Component 1
I. Scales | Students will sing a Major, Natural Minor, and Chromatic scale (a cappella) using the appropriate starting pitch as listed on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. Judges adjudicating scales and solo will assess each scale for accuracy ascending, accuracy descending and overall intonation throughout the process. This component will comprise a potential 9 points of the overall audition. The rubric for assessing scales can be seen on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information.
II. Solos | Students will sing the appropriate required song from memory for their level in the key for which they have registered in Opus. See the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information to view and download the pdf copy of the appropriate level solo as well as the “Learning and Accompaniment” mp3 files. Solos must be sung in the appropriate key for the part they have registered. Students will not need to bring any materials to the audition. Accompaniment tracks will be provided at each solo adjudication panel. Failing to comply with the audition song requirements will result in disqualification. A select panel of adjudicators dedicated to judging solos will rate singers on intonation, rhythmic accuracy, pitch accuracy, vocal tone quality, diction and musicality. The rubric can be viewed on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition. )
Component 2
III. Sight-Reading | Students will sing three (3) different 4-measure sight-reading examples using the method with which they are accustomed. Before each example, students will hear the block chord in the appropriate tonality, the arpeggio of the block chord, and the starting pitch before being given a 30-second practice period during which students can sing out loud without being scored. At the end of each 30-second practice period, students will hear the block chord and starting pitch again before performing each example. Students will receive credit for each half measure sung with correct pitches and rhythms. They will receive bonus points for each example for maintaining intonation and a relatively steady tempo throughout the performance. The rubric used to score sight-reading may be seen on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All State Chorus Information. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition. If a student begins a sight-reading example on a pitch other than the one given by the judge, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the example, credit for the remaining half measures will not be affected. If a student changes tonality midway through a sight-reading example, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the rest of the example, credit for all subsequent measures beyond the half measure where the tonality change occurred will not be affected.
Compositional parameters for the construction of the sight-reading examples:
Grade 9-10 Sight-Reading Parameters
Example Key Meter Rhythm Intervals Start Pitch End Pitch Vocal Range
#1 Major Simple May add dotted quarter with 8th note & dotted half note May add 3rds Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#2 Natural Minor Simple Same May add 5ths Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#3 Major Simple Same May add 4ths and octaves Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
Grade 11-12 Sight-Reading Parameters
Example Key Meter Rhythm Intervals Start Pitch End Pitch Vocal Range
#1 Major Simple May add dotted quarter with 8th note & dotted half note May add 4ths and octaves Tonic Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#2 Natural Minor Simple Same May add 5ths Any note of the tonic triad Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
#3 Major Compound May add 16th notes & dotted 8th with 16th notes May add 6ths Any note of the tonic triad Tonic Within age/ voice type limits
SECOND AUDITION:
The second all state chorus audition will be on the music for the choir to which the student has been assigned. The student will be scored on correct pitches and rhythms only, and NOT on language. The student may choose to sing the language of the piece or sing on a neutral syllable. The student will sing an excerpt from each piece on the program. Students are not allowed to bring their music into the audition room. Music marked with the excerpts will be provided for the audition. A student must attain a passing score of 70 on the second audition to attend the All State Chorus event. Students scoring 100 will receive a gold seal on their certificate. The scoring formula is based on the number of measures included in the audition and the number of correct measures the student sings. The student can miss all pitches and all rhythms in one measure and that will be counted as one measure missed or one mistake. The number of measures can vary between 75 and 120 per choir. Recorded music for the second audition excerpts will be taken from the rehearsal CDs made by SoundAround Audio Recordings. For this reason it is recommended that the teacher purchase the CDs for rehearsal prior to the audition. .
The second all state chorus audition will be on the music for the choir to which the student has been assigned. The student will be scored on correct pitches and rhythms only, and NOT on language. The student may choose to sing the language of the piece or sing on a neutral syllable. The student will sing an excerpt from each piece on the program. Students are not allowed to bring their music into the audition room. Music marked with the excerpts will be provided for the audition. A student must attain a passing score of 70 on the second audition to attend the All State Chorus event. Students scoring 100 will receive a gold seal on their certificate. The scoring formula is based on the number of measures included in the audition and the number of correct measures the student sings. The student can miss all pitches and all rhythms in one measure and that will be counted as one measure missed or one mistake. The number of measures can vary between 75 and 120 per choir. Recorded music for the second audition excerpts will be taken from the rehearsal CDs made by SoundAround Audio Recordings. For this reason it is recommended that the teacher purchase the CDs for rehearsal prior to the audition. .
