Auditions

Audition Scheduling:

Auditions for band, choir, orchestra, and private lessons are open to the entire student body and are held during Jumpstart registration of each fall semester.  Audition forms and sign ups are handled through the Music department office.

Attendance Requirement for Groups:

Attendance at ALL scheduled rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Students must arrange their work and class schedules accordingly.  Failure to abide by the attendance requirements will result in a grade reduction.

Touring Groups:

The Band, Chamber Singers and Madrigal Handbell Choir tour one week during the school year and alternate in the fall and spring.  These groups also perform on campus during the year: Fall Festival, Messiah, home concerts, Baccalaureate and Commencement, and Missions Conference.

Non-Touring Groups:

The Chorale, a mixed choir of 40-to-50 students, will sing for campus events and in local churches and will present a recital.

Music Group Outfits:

• Those who are selected for a music group will be asked to purchase a performance outfit.
• Performance apparel ranges from $50-$95 for ladies and $87-$110 for men.
• The Symphonic Band, Chamber Singers, and Madrigal also require students to purchase a polo shirt for tour.  The price for polo shirts (with MARANATHA logo design) runs between $25-$27.
• Each group has specific apparel for distinction purposes, thus the cost for outfits varies.
• Payment for apparel is NOT applied to one’s school bill but is handled through the Music Department office. At least half of the money must be turned in during the first week of classes, so that clothing can be ordered in time for the first fall performance.  Once the clothing arrives, the Costume Coordinator will contact each student to schedule a fitting session and/or pick up time.   Outfits must be paid in full by this time. Students will not be able to take their semester exams until outfits are paid in full.

• Auditions are required for entry into the Chamber Singers, Chorale, and Madrigal and Hand Bell Choir. Auditions are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semester.
• Choir is viewed as a school year long commitment.  Students may not switch choirs between semesters.
• Placement in Chamber Singers and Madrigal and Hand bell Choir will be based upon open seats, voice quality, seniority, and character. Generally, freshmen and those who have not been in a Maranatha choir will be required to take Chorale for the first year.
• Sign up online for an audition time.
• Complete a Choir Audition Questionnaire, and bring this form with you to your audition.
• Choir auditions consist of:
  +A Warm-up Exercise – to demonstrate range, vocal color, and vocal characteristics.
  +A Solo Melody – to demonstrate musicianship, pitch, and stylistic characteristics.
  +Singing a Song – bring a song of your choosing or pick a song from song books which we will provide.
  +Reading a Harmony Part (lead familiar of our choosing) – to demonstrate your harmonic ear and linear reading skill.
  +Repeating a 4-5 Abstract Tone Patterns – to demonstrate pitch, memory, and mental focus.
• After the audition, you will be fitted for a choir outfit. Outfits vary in price ranging from $93-$150. A choir polo shirt is also required for all touring members and costs $25. Payment for outfits is handled through the music office. This is not applied to one’s school bill.
• Those selected will be notified during the first week of classes and will need to add this to their class schedule. Choir is .5 credit per semester.

• Sign up online for an audition time.
• Complete the Band Audition Questionnaire, and bring this form with you to your audition.
• Please bring a list of repertoire studied to your audition.
• Band auditions consist of:
  +Major and minor scales
  +Music majors need to be prepared to perform a memorized piece (sacred or classical). Minor, concentration, and personal enrichment students must have a piece (sacred or classical) prepared to play, but it does not have to be memorized.
  +Sight reading
  +Technical skills drills
• No evening concert uniform is required. Concert black is the standard. A band polo shirt is required for all touring members and costs $25. Payment for polo shirts is handled through the music office. This is not applied to one’s school bill.
• Those selected will be notified during the first week of classes and will need to add this to their class schedule. Symphonic Band is .5 credit per semester.

• Sign up online for an audition time.
• Wind and percussion instrument positions are open by invitation only.
• Complete the Orchestra Audition Questionnaire, and bring this form with you to your audition.
• Please bring a list of repertoire studied to your audition.
• Orchestra auditions consist of:
  +Major and minor scales
  +Music majors need to be prepared to perform a memorized piece (sacred or classical). Minor, concentration, and personal enrichment students must have a piece (sacred or classical) prepared to play, but it does not have to be memorized.
  +Sight reading
• After the audition, you will be fitted for an orchestra outfit. Outfits vary in price ranging from $93-$150. Payments for outfits are handled through the music office. This is not applied to one’s school bill.
• Those selected will be notified during the first week of classes and will need to add this to their class schedule. Orchestra is .5 credit per semester.

• The admissions department determines audition procedures for traveling ensembles.
• Ensembles travel during the fall semester and summer months.  There are also many on-campus opportunities for ministry.  These commitments are part of the monetary compensation that ensemble members receive and will take priority over any jobs, personal commitments, etc.
• Auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester.  The audition process includes:
  +Completion of application obtained through the Admissions Office.
  +Personal interviews
  +Auditions (solo and group singing/playing, scales, sight-reading)
  +Call-backs
• Spring Semester Commitments for a summer ensemble:
  +Practices (usually 3 times a week)
  +Pre-tour performances (2-4)
  +Weekends (the last 2 weeks of school)
• Summer Tour: Usually lasts 12 weeks beginning around the first week of May and ending around the first week of August.
  Fall Semester:
  +Opening Fall Evangelistic Meetings
  +Fall Festival Vespers Program
  +Missions and Evangelistic Meetings in October
  +Weekend Tours (3-4 weekends during the fall semester)

Piano Audition for Traveling Ensembles

Your piano audition for summer ensembles consists of the following:

• How you perform in chapel, on your piano platforms, on your final piano exams, in your keyboard classes, in repertoire class, and during private lessons.
• We also suggest that you have tested out of or taken Hymnplaying 1 & 2.
• You are required to attend the ensemble vocal auditions so that we can evaluate what other contributions you could bring to the group (i.e. vocal, instrumental).
• One of the requirements for the ensemble pianist who is chosen involves taking private hymnplaying lessons in the semester preceding your travel.  You will use the semester of lessons to prepare hymn preludes, offertories, and accompaniments. Note: This semester of lessons will be at the student’s expense, and these lessons are in addition to the private lessons required if you are a music degree student.
• From the list of those auditioning, four pianists will be selected by the piano faculty based on the above criteria.  The ensemble directors will then choose a pianist for the group from this list.

Contact Dr. Jim Harrison for more information regarding traveling ensembles.

• Please read the Private Lesson info in the Music Department Handbook.
• For information on lesson fees, please see fees on My Maranatha and the Music Department Handbook section on Private Lessons. If you still have questions, please contact the music office at sherry.trainer@mbbc.edu.
• While there is a fee for private lessons by an MBBC instructor, group lessons such as FIPI 1001 Beginning Piano Class, FISM 113 and 223 Hymnplaying Courses, FIMK 101-104 Keyboard Skills, and FIVO 135 Intro to Vocal Studies are included in the flat tuition rate without additional fees.

• All students (including personal enrichment) taking private piano lessons must sign up for a teacher placement assessment so that we can assign students to compatible teachers. (Note: beginning students need to sign up for FIPI 1001 Beginning Piano Class).
• Sign up online for a teacher placement assessment.
• Register for lessons in the same manner you do for courses.
• Complete the Piano Questionnaire, and bring the form to your teacher placement assessment.
• Please bring a list of repertoire you have studied to your teacher placement assessment.
• During the teacher placement assessment, students will be asked to perform a prepared piece (piano majors must perform a memorized classical piece), sight-read, play a hymn as written and improvised, play a randomly chosen technical skill such as a scale, and play chord roots by ear of a common tune.
• All students are encouraged to take lessons regardless of their current ability.
• Direct any questions relating to piano lessons to Miss Janet Tschida(janet.tschida@mbbc.edu).

• No teacher placement assessment is required.
• Private lessons are available for all levels on most major instruments.
• Register for lessons in the same manner you do for courses.
• Most of our instrumental instructors are adjuncts and are paid directly for the cost of lessons.

• No teacher placement assessment is required.
• Register for lessons in the same manner you do for courses.
• Intro to Vocal Studies, FIMU 135 is a prerequisite for private lessons. Students who want to test out of this class must pass a vocal audition and a written test (see the testout section  of the Music Department Handbook)