Our Audition Process

For most instrumental music and related ensembles at Millikan High School an "audition" or "Try-Out" is required for placement. While we do not turn away any music students from our program we do have several experience levels for our ensembles and strive to make sure each student participating in our music department is placed at the appropriate level for their abilities. These auditions also allow us to know who you are in time to make sure you are placed where you need to be and receive summer contact. Below is a list of our ensembles and the audition process for that ensemble.

Google Classroom and Deadline

First you must sign up for the google classroom.
  1. Sign into your google account and go to the classroom page
  2. Choose the appropriate button below for your email address.
    1. Click here if you are using a NON-LBUSD email address
    2. Click here if you ARE using you LBUSD email address
  3. In the google classroom you will find the audition material and submission pages listed as assignments.

Auditions are due by Wednesday, May 4th!

Marching Band, Drumline, and related percussion

For Drumline and Percussion
  • Required participation in marching percussion clinics hosted in May/June. Even those instruments that do not physically march (I.E. marimba, xylophone, accessory percussion, and synthesizer.)
  • Auditions and placement will be conducted at the end of the workshop series
  • Google sign up form
    • ​​
  • For questions refer to the Marching Band page and/or email the directors.
For Woodwinds and Brass
  • Sign up for the google classroom​
  • Fill out this google form accurately
  • Learn and record the audition music linked below, then upload that as a video to the google classroom
  • This audition is important so that we can have contact with you and assign you music before band camp starts
  • Sign up for Summer School Marching Band 
  • Attend the new member camp in June
  • Attend Band Camp in August
  • Failure to attend band camp will result in being dropped from marching band

Colorguard

  • Fill out this google form accurately
  • Attend colorguard auditions in May.​
  • Sign up for Summer School Marching Band 
  • Attend the new member camp in June
  • Attend Band Camp in August
  • Failure to attend band camp will result in being dropped from marching band

Concert Band and Symphonic Winds

Brass and Woodwind students
  • Prepare TWO scales:  Choose two scales and how many octaves you would like to play.  Feel free to change the articulation (all slurred, all tongued/bowed, etc.) 
  • Prepare a short excerpt from a piece of music: This can from a piece you performed with your ensemble this past year or something else that best represents your musicianship.  This only needs to be about one minute long.  Feel free to skip around your music and play the best sections.  If you need help selecting excerpts, please e-mail either one of us a picture of it and we can give you some suggestions.
Percussion
  • Snare – Perform a rudimentary excerpt or an excerpt from a piece you performed this past year. (examples can be found in the class drive folder of the google classroom)
  • Mallets - Two scales AND a solo or piece excerpt from something you performed this past year.

Jazz Bands

Brass, Woodwind, Bass, Vibraphone, and Piano students
  • Prepare TWO scales:  Choose two scales and how many octaves you would like to play.  Feel free to change the articulation (all slurred, all tongued/bowed, etc.) 
  • Prepare a short excerpt from a piece of music: This can from a piece you performed with your ensemble this past year or something else that best represents your musicianship.  This only needs to be about one minute long.  Feel free to skip around your music and play the best sections.  If you need help selecting excerpts, please e-mail either one of us a picture of it and we can give you some suggestions.
  • Soloing: If you have experience with jazz and soloing prepare a short improvised solo from a piece of music you've played and soloed in before. Please play along with a backing track if you have access to one.
  • Drum Set - If you are interested in auditioning for jazz band, please include a video of yourself playing a swing style groove and another style that shows your current ability level. (examples can be found in the class drive folder of the google classroom)

Orchestras

  • Fill out this google form​
    • ​Instrumental Music Audition Form
    • We have audition materials for two different orchestras - Chamber and Intermediate Orchestra
    • Chamber orchestra scales are on the audition pages
    • ​All Orchestra Audition Music
      • ​​Scale Requirements for Intermediate Orchestra
        • Violin: 2 Octave G Major and A Major scales
        • Viola: 2 Octave C Major and D Major scales
        • Cello: 2 Octave C Major and D Major scales
        • Bass: 1 octave C Major and G Major scales

Guitar

No audition required

AP Music Theory