Vocal Music Audition Packet

The music program at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts provides comprehensive preparation in vocal or instrumental music. Students participate in a variety of performance ensembles; receive weekly private music lessons, and study music theory and literature. Students who qualify may take College Board Advanced Placement examinations in music.

Students interested in auditioning should complete the following requirements to be considered for acceptance into the Vocal Music Department –

I. APPLICATION : Complete the BISFA Application of Interest . This application may

be completed one of the following ways: a. Online b. PDF

II. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION : Ask the student’s music teacher (or any

non-family member who has worked with the student as a vocalist) to fill out the attached form, found in the appendix, and email it to macklme@wcps.k12.md.us . Alternatively, you may mail the completed form to…

Audition Coordinator Barbara Ingram School for the Arts 7 S. Potomac St. Hagerstown, MD 21740

III. VOCAL AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION : This video replaces the live

performance portion of the audition. Using Flipgrid.com , make a video of you singing two (2) contrasting selections from memory . Submit videos to FLIPGRID no later than January 30, 2021 .

The first selection is the required piece . Choose from the following titles based on your voice part:

a. Soprano – “ Evening Prayer ” b. Alto/Tenor – “ Now is the Month of Maying ” c. Bass – “ The Jolly Miller ”

The second selection is of the student’s choice . It should be chosen from the following genres: classical, jazz, musical theatre, church hymns or a patriotic song. It is preferred for students to sing their selected piece with live or recorded accompaniment track. No other voices should be present on the recording. (see APPENDIX for instructions and resources)

http://wcpsmd.com/events/bisfa-2021-2022-application-process-has-begunhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe30I-2wY-XlTJIYn8FqGYiqeWySvAuvIqxV6ymTRhO4v8DFw/viewformhttp://wcpsmd.com/sites/default/files/documents/BISFA%20APPLICATION%202021.pdfhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1pEi2BrIbZys_yNPXM7bflfoCYIHLbvVl/view?usp=sharingmailto:macklme@wcps.k12.md.ushttps://flipgrid.com/bisfavocalauditionshttps://flipgrid.com/a8f61836https://drive.google.com/file/d/19lMG1tpA30DLnBS2ewWv3AfwF4cISYGD/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/16Vfgndc_jhhbk5uzE3i06AMtfyRetN14/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/148DQPV3rUAe2SbARsavcjcU6sETJ4475/view?usp=sharinghttps://flipgrid.com/939c64ac

IV. AUDITION DAY :

1.) Musicianship : Students will be asked to vocally demonstrate their skills in basic musicianship, including, but not limited to, matching pitch and echoing short musical phrases played by the adjudicator. Use of solfege is not required.

2.) Interview : Applicants will be interviewed so that the instructors may get an opportunity to more fully understand each applicant’s background and interest

in the program.

3.) Music Aptitude Test : At the conclusion of the interview, students will be required to take a brief music aptitude test, differentiating between tonal and rhythmic patterns.

V. ACCEPTANCE : Students will be accepted on the basis of achievement, talent,

potential for advanced development, and the specific needs of the vocal department.

If you have any questions, or if you do not have the equipment necessary to record your performance, please email Mrs. Melissa J. Mackley, Lead Teacher of the Vocal Department , at macklme@wcps.k12.md.us for assistance.

APPENDIX: Directions & Resources I. VOCAL AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS :

❏ When you are ready to record, dress professionally and stand up to make a professional style recording.

❏ Join the BISFA Vocal Music Auditions FlipGrid at https://flipgrid.com/bisfavocalauditions

❏ Introduce yourself by telling us your name, grade, and current school. ❏ Tell us the name of each selection before you sing it. ❏ Submit each selection to their respective topics. Each topic has a 5 minute

time limit, so please do not take any repeats. ❏ Required Piece Submission ❏ Student’s Choice Submission

❏ Have a second device available to play the accompaniment tracks. Remember, the track should NOT have other voices singing along. It should be loud enough to hear, but not so loud that it drowns out your voice.

❏ Stand back from your recording device (laptop, ipad, phone etc.) so that your upper body and head are showing in the video, but close enough that your voice is clearly heard in the recording.

❏ Make sure you push submit after each recording!

mailto:macklme@wcps.k12.md.ushttps://flipgrid.com/bisfavocalauditionshttps://flipgrid.com/a8f61836https://flipgrid.com/939c64ac

II. VOCAL AUDITION RESOURCES : a. Required Music Practice Tracks b. “Student’s Choice” Song Resources: Web sites offer accompaniment

tracks, but be careful to choose one that is in the correct key for your voice. Choose an accompaniment track WITHOUT vocals. Some website that may be helpful include:

a. pdf song resources: https://www.musicnotes.com/ b. accompaniment tracks:

https://www.youraccompanist.com/ https://www.karaoke-version.com/

III. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FORM : Ask the student’s music teacher (or

any non-family member who has worked with the student as a vocalist) to fill out the attached form below.

IV. REQUIRED MUSIC PDFs : Choose which required selection you will perform from the following titles based on your voice part:

a. Soprano – “ Evening Prayer ” b. Alto/Tenor – “ Now is the Month of Maying ” c. Bass – “ The Jolly Mille r ”

VI. AUDITION SCORING FORM : For your reference, the attached scoring form is

what the adjudicators will use when scoring your vocal audition submissions.

VII. HAVE QUESTIONS FOR A CURRENT BISFA VOCAL STUDENT? ASK THEM HERE VIA FLIPGRID: https://flipgrid.com/93ba973c

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lARN1EZrIJlLsgyfpFrO0FIFoZMHTGac?usp=sharinghttps://www.musicnotes.com/https://www.youraccompanist.com/https://www.karaoke-version.com/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pEi2BrIbZys_yNPXM7bflfoCYIHLbvVl/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/19lMG1tpA30DLnBS2ewWv3AfwF4cISYGD/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/16Vfgndc_jhhbk5uzE3i06AMtfyRetN14/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/148DQPV3rUAe2SbARsavcjcU6sETJ4475/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/148DQPV3rUAe2SbARsavcjcU6sETJ4475/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1DtiCJI-i0oxbKj5Hxj6KzEEsIrMyUf3i/view?usp=sharinghttps://flipgrid.com/93ba973c

Confidential  Middle/High  School  Director  Recommendation  Form    

 Student  Name___________________________________________  Instrument(s)____________________________    Director  Name_________________________________________      School_____________________________________    Signature_________________________________________________Date________________________________________    List  the  classes  the  applicant  took  from  you  and  for  how  may  years:    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________      Compared  to  ALL  other  students  you  have  taught  of  similar  age,  how  would  you  rate  this  student?      No Basis Poor Avg. Good Superior Extraordinary Musical Achievement Musical Intellect Tone Quality Technique Innate Musicality Creativity Disciplined work habits Maturity Leadership Integrity Reaction to Setbacks Concern for Others Poise Initiative Independence OVERALL    Comments____________________________________________________________________________________________        _________________________________________________________________________________________________________