PSHS South Avenue Audition Info
First Round Auditions:
May 22nd or 23rd (Your choice!)
3:00p-5:00p
PSHS Chorus Room
Group Auditions:
Thursday, May 25th
3:00-5:00p
PSHS Chorus Room
(Students who wish to be considered for the group must attend)
May 22nd or 23rd (Your choice!)
3:00p-5:00p
PSHS Chorus Room
Group Auditions:
Thursday, May 25th
3:00-5:00p
PSHS Chorus Room
(Students who wish to be considered for the group must attend)
First Round Auditions
May 22nd or 23rd (your choice!)
Step 1 - Sign up for an audition
May 22nd or 23rd (your choice!)
Step 1 - Sign up for an audition
-Decide which day you'd like to audition (May 22nd or 23rd).
-Sign up for an audition by filling out the Audition Sign-Up Form - This will ensure that you get any information about auditions as we get closer!
-Sign up for an audition by filling out the Audition Sign-Up Form - This will ensure that you get any information about auditions as we get closer!
Step 2 - Prepare Your Solo Audition
-Learn about each part of the Solo Audition by checking out each tab below.
1. introduce yourself
Say hello! Tell us your name, what grade you're going into, and what you're going to sing!
2. solo song
Perform a verse and chorus (about 45-60 seconds) from TWO songs, unaccompanied (Just your voice!)
- Your two songs should be contrasting in some way -- Fast/slow, different genres, different ranges, any differences like these will work!
- Feel free to sing your solos in a key that's different from the original. We want to hear where you sound best! If you know a specific note that you need to hear before starting, we can give you that!
- Students are encouraged to choose a song from a contemporary popular genre -- i.e. pop, rock, R&B, hip hop, etc. While all genres are permitted, students would be smart to audition on a song that a group might conceivably sing.
3. part singing
1. Download the Part Singing Materials at home.
2. Use learning tracks and sheet music to learn whichever voice part suits you best (your choice!), paying attention to phrasing, dynamics, and inflections of the voices in the demo.
3. In your audition, we'll play the "Performance" track out loud for your voice part while you sing along with it (your part will be missing from this track -- fill it in with your voice!)
Casualty - please prepare from the beginning of the song through measure 25
Hate to be Lame - please prepare measures 27 thru 48
2. Use learning tracks and sheet music to learn whichever voice part suits you best (your choice!), paying attention to phrasing, dynamics, and inflections of the voices in the demo.
3. In your audition, we'll play the "Performance" track out loud for your voice part while you sing along with it (your part will be missing from this track -- fill it in with your voice!)
Casualty - please prepare from the beginning of the song through measure 25
Hate to be Lame - please prepare measures 27 thru 48
4. vocal percussion
How the vocal percussion part of the audition will go:
- Choose a tempo to set the metronome at (Tip -- figure out a tempo that works for you while practicing at home!)
- Do a vocal percussion pattern for about 30 seconds.
TIPS:
- Search 'metronome' on Google (or just click on this link), and use the slider to choose a tempo that you can keep a steady beat to.
- This might be brand new for you, and that's okay! Do your best! We want to hear you keep a steady beat and take a chance!
- If you would like to learn some vocal percussion basics, check out these videos. Yes, I know they're super dated and lame, but they're REALLY helpful!)
- Choose a tempo to set the metronome at (Tip -- figure out a tempo that works for you while practicing at home!)
- Do a vocal percussion pattern for about 30 seconds.
TIPS:
- Search 'metronome' on Google (or just click on this link), and use the slider to choose a tempo that you can keep a steady beat to.
- This might be brand new for you, and that's okay! Do your best! We want to hear you keep a steady beat and take a chance!
- If you would like to learn some vocal percussion basics, check out these videos. Yes, I know they're super dated and lame, but they're REALLY helpful!)
5. scales
In your audition, you will be asked to sing along to some vocal exercises to hear how high and low your voice goes right now. This will have no effect on your audition score! It's just a convenient way to get a sense of where your voice sits range-wise right now!
Step 3 - Fill Out and Submit the Audition Form
-Go to the South Avenue Audition Form.
-Fill out ALL of the requested information.
-Check out the tabs below for info on a few important parts of the form!
-Fill out ALL of the requested information.
-Check out the tabs below for info on a few important parts of the form!
personal statement
Type a paragraph that explains why you want to be in an a cappella group. Your paragraph should address the following questions and should use correct spelling and grammar.
1. What elements (musical, social, or otherwise) need to be in place in order for a group to be successful?
2. How will you contribute to the group's success? What should we know about your qualifications as a candidate that we may not have observed in your audition?
1. What elements (musical, social, or otherwise) need to be in place in order for a group to be successful?
2. How will you contribute to the group's success? What should we know about your qualifications as a candidate that we may not have observed in your audition?
history/qualifications
If you HAVE had Mr. Luciana as a teacher before, you don't need to do anything
If you have NOT had Mr. Luciana as a teacher, indicate the name of a music teacher who can evaluate your past performance for the History/Qualifications portion of the rubric
If you have NOT had Mr. Luciana as a teacher, indicate the name of a music teacher who can evaluate your past performance for the History/Qualifications portion of the rubric
weekly schedule
Make sure to list any weekly conflicts that you know will be in place for the year, along with any sports/activities that you plan on participating in next year.
Group Auditions
Thursday, May 25th at PSHS
3:00 - 5:00pm
- You will be asked to sing the same parts you sang for the Part Singing portion of your solo audition, but this time with everyone else!
-We'll spend some time at the start of the audition in brief sectionals.
-After some brief sectionals, you'll be asked to sing in small groups, either one-to-a-part or two.
-This is where we get to see how well you work with others and how flexible you can be in a group setting, so in many ways it's the most important day of auditions!
3:00 - 5:00pm
- You will be asked to sing the same parts you sang for the Part Singing portion of your solo audition, but this time with everyone else!
-We'll spend some time at the start of the audition in brief sectionals.
-After some brief sectionals, you'll be asked to sing in small groups, either one-to-a-part or two.
-This is where we get to see how well you work with others and how flexible you can be in a group setting, so in many ways it's the most important day of auditions!
Roster/Group List
Posted via email Friday, May 26th at 2:00pm
-Mr. Luciana will also be available in the PAC after school until 2:45p to answer any questions or give any feedback.
-Mr. Luciana will also be available in the PAC after school until 2:45p to answer any questions or give any feedback.
-Students will be emailed with the attendance policy and contract that night.
-Read the attendance policy and contract carefully, sign with a parent/guardian, and submit a photo of the signature page by Sunday, May 28th to accept your spot in the group!
-Read the attendance policy and contract carefully, sign with a parent/guardian, and submit a photo of the signature page by Sunday, May 28th to accept your spot in the group!
South Avenue Frequently Asked Questions
what is the time commitment like?
South Avenue rehearses every Monday and Thursday from 4:00pm until 6:00pm.
Aside from regular rehearsals, the group may perform at events in school (assemblies, pep rally, etc.), winter and spring concerts, opportunities inside and outside of the community, as well as competitions in the area. Members are required to be in attendance at each rehearsal and performance. While it is a significant time commitment, by all accounts, it is a rewarding experience, and you get as much out of it as you are willing to put in.
Ensembles frequently have commitments which take place on Friday nights or Saturdays. Being a member of any a cappella group will force you to get your time management skills in order and keep a detailed planner.
Aside from regular rehearsals, the group may perform at events in school (assemblies, pep rally, etc.), winter and spring concerts, opportunities inside and outside of the community, as well as competitions in the area. Members are required to be in attendance at each rehearsal and performance. While it is a significant time commitment, by all accounts, it is a rewarding experience, and you get as much out of it as you are willing to put in.
Ensembles frequently have commitments which take place on Friday nights or Saturdays. Being a member of any a cappella group will force you to get your time management skills in order and keep a detailed planner.
i play/want to play a sport -- can i still sing in south avenue?
While it would be great if this were a simple answer, it depends entirely on the sport. Different sports practice at different times, and different sports have different game schedules. Contact your coach and see how the two conflict. Usually, we can make this work! We've had students that are also involved in softball, soccer, track, cross country, hockey, swim, and more. Ideally, any overlap time between rehearsal and practice would be split between the sport and the group.
what happens after the roster is sent to us?
Auditioners will be sent 'contracts' to be signed by the student and a parent/guardian by Sunday, May 28th. This is how you will accept your spot in the ensemble. Our first rehearsal will be Thursday, June 1st from 4:00pm until 6:00pm.
can i get feedback on my audition?
Yes! Mr. Luciana will be available after school on Friday, May 26th until 2:45pm to answer any questions or go over your score sheet.
how are the auditions scored?
Each audition will be seen and scored by Mr. Luciana and two other experienced members of the a cappella and music education communities. You can find the Audition Rubric below. The scores from each solo song will be averaged together.
You can view the score sheet for auditions HERE.
You can view the score sheet for auditions HERE.