Rules

ALL-REGION HONOR BAND POLICIES and PROCEDURES

ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES APPLY TO BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED!!!

Entry  and Audition Procedures

Updated 7/2/2008

A. Fees for ATSSB All-Region auditions will be set at $9.00 per student.   Fees for ATSSB All-Region jazz auditions will be set at $12.00 per student.

B. Deadline for entry is 30 days prior to the actual audition date, and all entries are final. No additions to a
school's list of students will be accepted without the audition chairperson's approval.  Postmark or fax Purchase Orders (or Purchase Order Requisition Forms) with Entry Forms by the Deadline Date or pay the penalty of $100.00.  (Checks may be mailed after the deadline.)

C. Student eligibility rules will be based on current UIL Rules of Eligibility. Any director entering students must be a current
member of ATSSB and TMEA prior to auditions, and at least one director from each school must judge, monitor, and or serve in whatever capacity the audition chairperson requests on the day of auditions. Failure to do so will disqualify that school's students from the audition process.

D. Audition information and should be mailed or e-mailed to the membership in a timely manner - no later than 60 days prior to the audition date.

E. Entry process will be as per the entry process directions that will accompany  the online registration.

F. Directors must also include a photocopy of their TMEA AND ATSSB membership cards.

G.  Entries will be completed online at www.tmea.org/contests/.  All entries must be completed by the deadline or a $100.00 late penalty will be required.

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A. Five judges will be assigned to each audition panel. As few as three may be assigned to middle school panels none of the directors are judging their own students OR if it is a divided room between prepared etudes and scales.

B. Cuts are to be determined by a panel appointed by the audition chair.  There should be no discussion of cuts in the interim between the panel's decision and the posting of the cuts. Cuts should be posted at least thirty minutes before auditions begin.

C. Scales and etudes may be performed together or separate, determined by audition chairperson - "BUT THERE WILL BE NO ELIMINATION IF SCALES ARE INADEQUATELY PERFORMED."   Scales should be played exactly as notated. (tempo, slurs, rhythm, etc.)   Extra credit will not be given for additional octaves, faster tempos, etc. Points will be deducted if students vary tempos and octaves.  Students may read scales from a scale sheet during the audition.

D. Maximum instrumentation is as specified on the "instrumentation" page.  Choosing less than the number is at the discretion of the judging panel.

E.  Judges are prohibited from scoring music that is not the official audition music.

A. All students should be checked in with monitor before the auditions begin. Exceptions will be determined by the audition chairperson.

B. Students will be allowed a one breath warm-up.

C. Scales should be played exactly as notated. (tempo, slurs, rhythm, etc.)

D. A student may audition on more than one instrument if he has paid a fee for each entry, and must agree to take the higher chair of the two results for the region band. EXAMPLE-first chair bari sax must be taken over second chair alto sax.  If a student makes the area band on more than one instrument, the student may choose which instrument on which to advance to area.  The choice must be made before the audition process is confirmed.  EXCEPTIONS:  1.  The region coordinator may, at his discretion, allow a student to play the instrument in the region band that he/she has chosen for area. 2. Any student who qualifies for area is guaranteed a seat in the region band.

E. There will be NO separate audition for piccolo, but rather picked as needed from the flute section.

F.  All students auditioning for the region 3 high school region band must be in the 9th-12th grades.
 
 

All percussion equipment to be used must be in the audition area before auditions begin. Students may take their sticks and mallets with them to the holding area but must leave equipment in the audition area.

State level chair audition may be held on a portion of the Area audition music and selections from the concert music to be performed in the All-State Band.

ROUND ONE: SNARE DRUM

1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a warmup. In 4/4 time, play 2 measures of eighth notes and 2 measures of long rolls.

2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room and then auditions will begin.

3. After five students have auditioned, the next five will be allowed in to warmup (see No.1 above).

4. This continues until all students have performed the first round (snare drum).

ROUND TWO: MALLETS

1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a warmup. Students will be allowed 15 seconds to warm up (timed by the monitor).

2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room and then auditions will begin.

3. After five students have auditioned, the next five will be allowed in to warm up (see No.1 above).

4. This continues until all students have performed the second round (mallets).

Mallet recommendations are as follows (this list should be used as a reference for the type of mallet that should be used for the student's performance):

Bells: Hard rubber mallets; i.e. 06 Mike Balter, gray

Xylophone: Hard rubber mallets; i.e. 06 Mike Balter, gray

Marimba: Soft/medium rubber mallets; i.e. 04 Mike Balter, unwound (rattan) light green, medium

The students should refrain from using any plastic, brass, or acrylic mallets.

ROUND THREE: TIMPANI

1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a warmup. In 4/4 time, play 2 measures of eighth notes and 2 measures of rolls on one or any combination of timpani.

2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room, then auditions begin.

3. The Monitor will lower all tuning pedals to the floor.

4. Each student will tune each timpani from any source so long as it is audible to the judging panel. Each student will be given one minute to tune the timpani. Timing will be done by the percussion monitor. Judges will be instructed to consider tuning in assessing a student's score.

5. After the student is done, the Monitor will lower the pedals to the floor again for the next student.

6. After five students have auditioned, the next five will be allowed to warmup (see No. 1 above).

7. Continue this unitl all students have performed the third round (timpani).

B. All H.S. results will not be considered official until thirty minutes after ALL auditions and tabulations have been completed.

C. A listing of the ranking should be made available to all directors involved. This process may take place at the end of the auditions,  mail, or email.

D. There will be two high school bands and two middle school bands.

E. Audition material will be weighted 33% for etude one, 33% for etude two, and 33% for scales.

F. Official policy in every room if child leaves off part of tryout is - the room chairperson will remind the student of the omitted section as he/she detects it.

G. If a student makes Area on two instruments you may pick either but must declare before the audition results are confirmed.

H. All students auditioning for the region 3 high school region band must be in the 9th-12th grades.
     All students auditioning for the region 3 middle school region band must be in the 7th-8th grades.

I.  ATSSB is not liable or responsible in anyway for a student's equipment not functioning or responding properly.

J.  If an auditionee's student malfunctions during the scale part of the audition, they may ask the monitor to exit the room with them and expain the problem.  The student will have until the room is completed to return and complete the rest of the audition.  If a student begins the first etude, the audition must be completed before the student leaves the room.
 
 

THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES FROM ANY REHEARSAL!!

ATTENDANCE

A. Any student not able to attend the clinic for any reason should be reported by the director to the region coordinator as soon as possible, so that alternates may be contacted.
B. All schools represented must have a director and/or a sponsor in attendance during both Friday and Saturday clinic and concert.

CODE OF CONDUCT

A.  The conduct policy will be consistent with TEA/TMEA/host school district policies.
B.  Hats will not be permitted inside the buildings at any time during any phase of the ATSSB events.
C.  Any student found out of compliance with any ATSSB rules can be discluded from the ATSSB Honor Band process.
D.  Food, candy, gum, or drink are allowed only in designated areas, and never in rehearsal area, during rehearsal or performance.
E.  All participants will display respect and courtesy towards everyone at all times.
F.  Participants should be ready for auditions, clinics, and warm up before concerts at least five minutes before the start of each.  Brass players will be responsible for providing mutes, oil, etc.
G.  All attire at any phase of the ATSSB process will conform to the student's local school policy.
H.  Students should perform in concert in his or her school concert band uniform.
I.  Electronic Communication or Gaming Devices are allowed ONLY in designated areas.  They should NEVER be used in a rehearsal area, during rehearsal, or a performance

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