UNT Trombone Studio

Fall 2011 Studio Auditions
Studio and Ensemble Audition Music (Available August 1st)

Welcome To All UNT Trombone Students

The following information is very important for all new students, but returning students should also read it carefully, as there are changes from previous years. Please refer to it frequently as you plan for the beginning of the upcoming school year.

In order to expedite the registration and audition process, a required informational meeting of all trombone students is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23rd at 11:15 a.m. in Room 232 in the College of Music. Please make every effort to attend.

Audition Procedures
The audition materials and instructions for ensembles and studio placement will be available on the UNT Wind Studies web site at www.music.unt.edu/windstudies or www.untbones.com on August 1. Musical passages have been selected to provide you ample opportunity to present yourself at the highest possible level and at the same time allow the faculty to prioritize the players. Less experienced players may choose to select the passages only that fit their ability level. The audition for orchestra, wind symphony, symphonic band, concert bands, brass band, trombone choirs and studio placement will occur in one hearing on Tuesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, August 24th, using the materials posted at www.music.unt.edu/windstudies. Audition appointments will be accepted at www.music.unt.edu/windstudies beginning on Monday, August 2nd. All students who plan to study applied trombone must audition. The only exceptions are graduate and upper division jazz studies majors who plan to only study applied jazz trombone.

Auditions will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23rd and will continue on Wednesday, August 24th until all players are heard. You will be asked to indicate your ensemble choices (in priority order) at the time of your audition. Note that certain passages are specified for those who wish to be considered for the Wind Symphony and Orchestra. Be aware of any ensemble requirements that are connected to your scholarship, and be sure to check the UNT degree and laboratory requirements for your specific degree.

Ensembles
Symphony Orchestra (meets MWF 2:15 – 4:05 p.m.)
Concert Orchestra (meets MWF 12:15 –2:05 p.m.)
Wind Symphony (TTh 1:15 – 4:05 p.m.)
Symphonic Band (TTh 1:15 – 4:05 p.m.)
Concert Band ( MWTh 2:15 – 4:05 p.m.)
Brass Band (MW 2:15 p.m – 4:05 p.m.)
Marching Band (MWF 4:15 – 6:15 p.m.)
Lab Band (meets WTWTh – 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) (assigned by audition)

Preliminary auditions for all these ensembles except Lab Bands and Marching Band will be handled by the trombone faculty, and conductors Itkin, Couturiaux, Corporon, Fisher and Williams will be added for the final round at a time TBA.

Marching Band
Marching Band will begin its schedule the week before classes start. Undergraduate music education majors are required to participate, and others are welcome. The audition process noted above does not pertain to Marching Band. For information about Marching Band participation, contact Professor Nicholas Williams in the UNT Wind Studies Office (940.565.3737) or email .

Trombone Choir
All trombone students are required to participate in a trombone choir and are strongly encouraged to register for credit (MUEN 2602.504 for undergraduates and MUEN 5602.504 for graduates). The ensembles will meet on Tuesday and/or Wednesday evenings, starting at 6:00 pm. Placement in trombone choirs will be based on the results of the August 23–24th auditions. NOTE: Participation in the U-Tubes will satisfy this requirement for jazz studies majors only.

Brass Chamber Music
Brass chamber music groups (brass quintets and trombone quartets) will be accepted for credit without an audition, so if you want to form a group, please do so. Each member must be registered for MUCM 3530.500 (undergraduates) or MUCM 5530.500 (graduates) in order to receive coaching. Provide names, instruments, phone numbers and email addresses of all brass quintet members in writing to Professor William Scharnberg by August 26th. Provide names, instruments, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of all trombone quartet members in writing to Vern Kagarice by August 26th. Requests for a specific faculty coach will be accommodated wherever possible. If you wish to play in a group, but are not part of an established ensemble, contact Professor Scharnberg or Kagarice for assistance.

Lab Bands
Lab band auditions will be held on Saturday, August 27th beginning at 1:00 p.m. The lab band audition sign-up sheet will be located on the bulletin board outside Professor Wiest's studio (274). The audition will be comprised of sight-reading big band charts and newly-composed jazz etudes. Tenor trombonists who hope to place in one of the top bands should also play an improvisation audition. Jazz studies majors and jazz scholarship recipients are required to participate in one of the lab bands, and non-jazz studies students are strongly encouraged to participate as well.

Applied Trombone Study and Teacher Assignment
It is important for both new students AND returning students to note that this audition will be used in decisions regarding teacher assignment. Regardless of your ensemble intentions, you must play this audition if you plan to study applied trombone. Again, the only exceptions are graduate and upper division jazz studies majors who plan to only study applied jazz trombone.

New students and returning students who studied with a TF last year will have an opportunity to indicate a teacher preference on an information form that will be distributed at the August 23rd meeting. It is not necessary to indicate a preference if you don't have one. Efforts will be made to honor requests wherever possible, but both new and returning students should understand that during the August 23–24th ensemble auditions, they will be auditioning for studio placement as well as ensembles. Returning students who studied with a faculty member should NOT indicate a teacher preference. If a change is contemplated, there must be private discussions with the appropriate teachers in advance.

All applied trombone courses include a 50-minute lesson, participation in trombone choir and a required weekly trombone departmental meeting described elsewhere. It is CRITICAL that you complete your applied trombone registration by the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, and be aware that payment may be necessary that day as well.

A registration code for applied trombone is needed to successfully register. The codes are posted on the doors and/or bulletin boards of Professors Baker, V. Kagarice, Wiest and J. Kagarice. If you have questions regarding the correct number, please check with one of us. If in doubt, pick one, as we can administratively fix it. You may also obtain help from Julie Bice in Room 231.

Trombone Departmental Recital Hour
Each Wednesday at 12:00 noon throughout the semester, all trombonists meet for a recital/master class hour. Attendance is required for those enrolled in applied trombone study. Be sure to inform your advisor of this requirement as you prepare your class schedule, and make every effort to avoid a conflict. Private teaching and other outside jobs are NOT acceptable conflicts. Unavoidable class conflicts must be approved by the trombone faculty. The first Departmental Recital Hour will be at 12:00 noon, August 31st in Voertman Concert Hall.

Trombone Specialty Classes
In addition to the normal selection of ensembles listed above, three special “elective”classes are available for trombonists. Late registration for any of these classes can be accomplished during the first week of classes.

Jazz Fundamentals for Trombonists (MUJS 1131-292 for undergraduates) —this one-credit class is required of all new jazz studies majors, but others are strongly encouraged to gain this valuable experience as well. Contact Professor Wiest at for registration and details.

Orchestral Brass Repertoire (MUGC 4890-018 for undergraduates) (MUGC 5890-018 for graduates) will meet on Fridays at 12:00 p.m. and will provide a special opportunity to study and rehearse the brass parts to standard orchestral repertoire in a brass section setting. Contact Professor V. Kagarice at for registration and class details.

Trombone Orchestral Excerpts (MUGC 4890-019 for undergraduates) (MUGC 5890-019 for graduates) will meet on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. and will offer an introduction to the study of the standard trombone audition passages. Contact Professor Baker at for registration and class details.