Honor Band Comparison Essay

Few experiences in a high school musician’s career are as rewarding as participating in an honor band. A weekend on a breathtaking college campus advancing one’s musicianship, honor bands not only help a musician blossom but also create lasting memories. Those accepted into an honor band have both talent and dedication. Consequently, auditioning for an honor band is a challenge that requires diligent practice for weeks or even months. To successfully audition, one must have fast and accurate scales, the right etudes, and skillful sight reading. Building fast, accurate scales is the best way a musician can begin to ready him or herself for an upcoming audition. To increase accuracy, the student should practice scales note-by-note alongside a tuner. As notes register, the musician evaluates his or her tendencies (i.e., if a note is commonly played flatly or sharply) then adjusts accordingly. Doing this prevents mistakes from becoming second nature. A musician will still face challenges in the audition, however, if he or she does not work on tempo. Judges encourage auditionees to play scales briskly because fast scales denote a great deal of talent, and they must rank …show more content…
An etude is a short piece of music that demonstrates the musician’s ability to play both technically and emotionally. To let these two contrasting qualities flourish, one should select two different pieces: a technical piece, which has a fast tempo, many notes, and short articulations, and a musical piece, which has a slower tempo, wide dynamic range, and long, connected articulations. Once the student has his or her etudes, he or she subdivides the solo into phrases and sets up short-term goals. Having multiple, small objectives is motivating and establishes a constant flow of progress. As a bonus, it keeps practices fresh and exciting, which is likewise important in sight