Music Auditions

2025–2026 Instructions

Students wishing to participate in one of our Junior School Instrumental Music ensembles or High School Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band, or Orchestra courses must submit a brief placement audition recording via email or shared file. Please carefully read the following information describing the placement audition requirements. Students who play more than one instrument should submit an audition for each. Recordings should include both video and audio; please listen through your recording to make sure you are clearly audible in the video.

Your placement audition is meant to give the teacher an idea of what you’re comfortable playing and to help us find the right ensemble setting for you. Though we try to place all students who audition, we may have to limit certain instruments in our ensembles due to space and balance requirements. If you do not get your first choice ensemble, another music option will be made available to you. Placement decisions will be ongoing up until the end of May.

Instructions for Grades 9–12 Voice Placement Auditions

Please sing a piece of your choosing, accompanied or a cappella, no more than 3 minutes in length. If you do not have a piece prepared, we will also accept a scale of your choice. Note that Choir placements are not necessary for incoming 7th and 8th graders.

Instructions for Grades 7–12 Instrument Placement Auditions, non-Jazz

Part 1: Prepared Piece

To help us understand your technique and musicality, you are asked to record a piece of music that you have prepared. This piece can be a solo, etude, or other music selection of your choosing that features your instrument. Please record yourself playing about 1-2 minutes from your prepared piece that best shows your skill. Keep in mind that your selection shouldn’t be something that you consider very easy, nor should it be difficult for you. Rather, it should show your current technical and musical ability.

Part 2: Scale
To help us understand your sense of pitch and note relationships, please perform a concert B-flat major or D major scale on your instrument. Students may choose to play one or more octaves and may also choose to play arpeggios, though arpeggios are not required.

Instructions for Grades 9–12 Jazz Band Placement Auditions

Students interested in auditioning for Jazz Band must prepare the following selections for their audition video:

1. Play a Concert Eb Major scale (1 or 2 octaves) with arpeggio.

2. Play a Concert Bb Chromatic Scale (1 or 2 octaves).

3. Play the Jazz Etude specific to your instrument (linked HERE). Instructions are listed below.

4. Improvisation - Students should play the melody of “Sonnymoon For Two” and then improvise 2 choruses. It is not mandatory for students to submit an example of Improv, but it is strongly recommended. Instructions are listed below.

Instructions for Jazz Etude:

Alto and Bari Saxophones - Play Etude #8 - Jazz Conception for Saxophone (by Lennie Niehaus) up until the high D with the fermata on it on the first page (second line from the bottom).
Tenor Saxophone - Play the first page of Etude #4 - Jazz Conception for Saxophone (by Lennie Niehaus).
Trombone - Play the first page from “It’s Nobody For Me” from Effective Etudes for Trombone (by Mike Carubia)
Trumpet - Play the first page of “Bird Blues” from Jazz Conception for Trumpet (by Jim Snidero).
Piano - Play the Intro and the first 32 measures of “Rose” from Jazz Conception for Piano (by Jim Snidero). Performing both hands is ideal, but if you can only do one, play the right hand melody. Then, using the lead sheet chords above the etude, play the same 32 measures in a chordal comping pattern that shows consistent time and is in an appropriate style to accompany the melody.
Guitar - Play the first 36 measures of “Rose” from Jazz Conception for Guitar (by Jim Snidero). Then, using the lead sheet chords above the etude, play the same 36 measures in a chordal comping pattern that shows consistent time and is in an appropriate style to accompany the melody.
Bass - Play the Intro and the first 32 measures of “Rose” from Jazz Conception for Bass (by Jim Snidero). Then, students should use the lead sheet chords above the etude and play a walking bassline that shows consistent time (quarter notes are fine) and knowledge of how to walk over chord changes. Performing this on upright bass is recommended, but electric bass works as well.
Drums - Play the Intro and the first 32 measures of “Rose” from Jazz Conception for Drums (by Jim Snidero). In addition, please submit two recordings in the following two styles and tempos. A Latin groove for 16 measures (bpm = 172) and a 3/4 swing feel with brushes for 16 measures (bpm = 84).

Vibes - Play the first 36 measures of “Rose” from Jazz Conception for Guitar (by Jim Snidero).

Instructions for Improvisation

Find the sheet music and chord changes to “Sonnymoon for Two” for your instrument HERE. Students should play the melody two times, then go on to solo for 2 choruses. Record yourself playing along to THIS recording.

Submitting your Audition Recordings:

Please submit your placement audition recording by 5/16/25. You may do this via email, though file size may prohibit this. You may also consider sharing a file through Google Docs, DropBox, Youtube, or another file-sharing service of your choice. Recordings are kept confidential and will only be shared with Hopkins music faculty.

For voice placement auditions, please send a file or video link to Ms. Erika Schroth. eschroth@hopkins.edu

For wind/brass/percussion and all jazz auditions, please send a file or video link to Mr. Erik Elligers. eelligers@hopkins.edu

For strings auditions, please send a file or video link to Mr. Bobby Smith. rsmith@hopkins.edu

Hopkins Music Program Accepted Instruments:

Flute/Piccolo

Clarinets

Oboe

Bassoon

Saxophones*

Trumpet*

French Horn

Trombone*