I am thinking about auditioning for the national guard band. I need a prepared piece, but no idea where to start. Here is the requirement: Prepared piece: grade IV or higher solo, etude or other work. Any suggestions? Also, I will need to bring a piccolo for sight reading. Problem is, I have never played one. Is it much different from the flute? Thanks.
About the etude, I have no idea what a grade IV solo is, but I can say that a piccolo is similar to a flute, but it's not something that you're going to be able to pick up overnight. One of my friends started playing the piccolo after about 2-3 years of playing the flute and she could not get a sound out of it at first, but after a couple of months of practice and lessons, she was able to get a decent sound on it.
I haven't even set up the audition yet, just gathering information at this point. I can give myself a few months to work on the piccolo if I need to. I have been playing flute for 12 years.
well first of al get piccolo playing right, as for the peice try the grade 5 and higher ABRSM exam peices (in the uk but if you can't order any just look at the sylabus online) but if you type ABRSM in google and it should come up (that it propally what they mean by graded peices someting like the standard you have to play to get pass in one of abrsm exams.
I think that there is a problem understanding the repertoire grading.
Some grades are divided into A-B-C. Some are divided into 5 or 9 catagories or so. I would ask the people what grading system is used or where you can get a repertoire list. THE ABRSM system isn't often utilized in the US. as much as other UK related places.
Most band music in the U.S. is graded from 1-6 (or if you prefer, I-VI), with 1 being easiest and 6 being hardest. How about doing a few movements of a Bach sonata?
And yes, make sure you can play piccolo well before auditioning if that is part of the requirements.
Piccolo isn't that hard. I picked it up in a blink of an eye, (then again I have been playing Flute for like 7 years)I think you will do just fine. And with the song, I understand you want them to think you're great by having an extremely hard song, but to tell you the truth Playing a song you know you can play perfectly with extras you can add in is more than enough for an audishion. I did the simplest song, used my best vibroto, and added a bit of frills and I was in my band.
They specify a piece a tgrade 4 or higher. I just found out fluteworld.com lists the grades of their music, so I am looking there. Thanks for all your help, guys.
Sunshine, are you still looking for a Powell without a headjoint? I wrote to you to try to help as a friend of mine has one, but I never got a response back. If you are going to post on usedflutes.com for a wanted ad, it might help if you responded to people. I tried twice.
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I am guessing you are the same Sunshine7000 on there? If not, I apoligize.
searching...
One of my friends started playing the piccolo after about 2-3 years of playing the flute and she could not get a sound out of it at first, but after a couple of months of practice and lessons, she was able to get a decent sound on it. 
