All-West
About All-West
Each year, the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (W.T.S.B.O.A.) puts on a large convention in the Cannon Center downtown to show off all the great things that are happening with music education in West Tennessee. Since the students are the greatest things that can happen in education, the most successful players are selected to participate in honor bands of other high achievers with guest conductors of great skill and prestige. The goal of the bands is to reward hard-working and dedicated students with an enriched learning experience in a large group of their peers. The hope is that students will return from the event with a greater appreciation for music, their instruments, and players from schools all over the region. Additionally, we hope that students learn new and useful techniques to share with their home bands.
The Auditions
This year's auditions will be held on Saturday, January 14 2023 at South Gibson High School (1000 Hornet Dr, Medina, TN 38355). The auditions are blind, which means that students and judges will not be able to see each other. Students will also be asked not to talk in the audition room. This preserves the anonymity of the students auditioning to avoid any inappropriate favoritism. Students will be led by a room monitor, who will be one of the teachers in W.T.S.B.O.A. The monitor will not have a role in judging the students' performances.
The audition has three parts. Some instruments will do all three parts in the same room, but others will move between two or three rooms for different parts of the audition.
Audition results are usually released the following week.
If You Make the Clinic
Congratulations! Each year, over 1,000 students audition, so being one of the top players is a wonderful honor. You and your parents should be very proud of your accomplishment. Alternates are runners-up, and while they do not perform, they are usually honored as well. Although not typical, Alternates may be asked to play in the event that a higher ranked player cannot make the clinic. The clinic starts on Thursday, February 09 2023, and ends with a performance on Saturday, February 11 2023 at the Cannon Center (255 N Main St, Memphis TN 38103).
Each year, the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (W.T.S.B.O.A.) puts on a large convention in the Cannon Center downtown to show off all the great things that are happening with music education in West Tennessee. Since the students are the greatest things that can happen in education, the most successful players are selected to participate in honor bands of other high achievers with guest conductors of great skill and prestige. The goal of the bands is to reward hard-working and dedicated students with an enriched learning experience in a large group of their peers. The hope is that students will return from the event with a greater appreciation for music, their instruments, and players from schools all over the region. Additionally, we hope that students learn new and useful techniques to share with their home bands.
The Auditions
This year's auditions will be held on Saturday, January 14 2023 at South Gibson High School (1000 Hornet Dr, Medina, TN 38355). The auditions are blind, which means that students and judges will not be able to see each other. Students will also be asked not to talk in the audition room. This preserves the anonymity of the students auditioning to avoid any inappropriate favoritism. Students will be led by a room monitor, who will be one of the teachers in W.T.S.B.O.A. The monitor will not have a role in judging the students' performances.
The audition has three parts. Some instruments will do all three parts in the same room, but others will move between two or three rooms for different parts of the audition.
- Prepared Audition Music: click the following link to view/print the music:
Middle School Audition Music Winds
Middle School Audition Music Percussion - Scales: You will then play three scales: two majors and a chromatic. The two major scales will be chosen at random from the following sheet: Middle School Scale Sheet. When your majors are done, play your chromatic. Practice exactly how you will do the chromatic before you audition. It is every note, in order, in your full range. Play all scales both up and down.
- Sight-Reading: The room monitor will then give you a piece of music that you have never seen or heard before. You will have about 30 seconds to silently look over the piece. You may not play or sing, but you should finger, breathe, tap your toe, and count in your head. You will then play through the piece one time without stopping.
Audition results are usually released the following week.
If You Make the Clinic
Congratulations! Each year, over 1,000 students audition, so being one of the top players is a wonderful honor. You and your parents should be very proud of your accomplishment. Alternates are runners-up, and while they do not perform, they are usually honored as well. Although not typical, Alternates may be asked to play in the event that a higher ranked player cannot make the clinic. The clinic starts on Thursday, February 09 2023, and ends with a performance on Saturday, February 11 2023 at the Cannon Center (255 N Main St, Memphis TN 38103).
Houston Middle Band Boosters | PO BOX 381273 | GERMANTOWN TN 38183-1273