Florida All-State Auditions: Private-Lesson Checklist by Instrument (2025–26)

If All-State is on your calendar, a structured private-lesson plan is the fastest way to feel confident and score well. Below you’ll find a 6-week countdown, instrument-specific checklists (band, orchestra, chorus), and day-of tips—all organized the way we coach students one-on-one.

⚠️ Requirements (etudes, scale lists, sight-reading format) vary by association and year. Always confirm details on your organization’s official page (FBA, FOA, FVA) and your district instructions before you begin.

6-Week Countdown Plan (use with your private teacher)

Week 6 — Syllabus & Setup

• Print official requirements; highlight tempos, keys, and cut markings.
• Baseline recordings of scales, etude(s), and 1 sight-reading attempt.
• Build a 15–20 min daily plan (scales → etude spots → sight-reading → run-through).

Week 5 — Mechanics First

• Slow practice with metronome; lock in fingerings/positions/breathing.
• Tone work: long tones (winds/brass), open strings/bowing (strings), vowel shaping (voice).
• Isolate the top 3 trouble spots; loop in rhythms at half tempo.

Week 4 — Time & Style

• Bring sections to written tempo in small chunks.
• Style: articulation, bowings, diction, dynamics, phrasing.
• Sight-reading 5–7x/week (fresh 16–32 bars each time).

Week 3 — Mock Auditions

• Two full run-throughs under “record light.”
• Practice entrances: count-offs, rests, and pickup cues.
• Start memorized scale patterns (as required).

Week 2 — Polish & Endurance

• Full takes at target tempo; refine intonation & rhythm consistency.
• Breath/bow plans marked into the part; page turns solved.
• One live mock for a parent/teacher friend.

Week 1 — Taper & Trust

• Short, focused reps; avoid over-playing the day before.
• Pack day-of kit (see checklist below). Sleep, hydrate, and visualize the room.

Instrument-Specific Private-Lesson Checklists

🎼 Woodwinds (Flute • Oboe • Clarinet • Bassoon • Saxophone)

• Tone/Intonation: Long tones with tuner (crescendo/decrescendo); match registers (chalumeau/clarion for clarinet, headjoint for flute).
• Finger Technique: Slow scales with alternate fingerings marked; trill fingerings confirmed.
• Articulation: Single/double tonguing patterns; evenness at all tempi.
• Etudes: Circle accidentals, breaths, and phrase peaks; subdivide tricky syncopations.
• Sight-Reading: Key scan → count scan → rhythm clap → play; keep airflow/phrase over mistakes.

🎺 Brass (Trumpet • Horn • Trombone • Euphonium • Tuba)

• Breath/Tone: Long-tone ladders; breath marks penciled; resonance over volume.
• Range/Slots: Lip slurs daily; slot accuracy before speed.
• Articulation: Ta/Da contrast; marcato vs. legato clarity.
• Intonation: Tendency notes marked (+/–); slide/trigger plans pre-set.
• Etudes: Rhythm first; then add style (staccato length, accents, crescendos).
• Sight-Reading: Subdivide out loud once; keep a steady pulse—even if notes aren’t perfect.

🎻 Strings (Violin • Viola • Cello • Bass)

• Setup: Left-hand frame, relaxed thumb; bow grip checks each session.
• Intonation: Drones & double-stops; slow scales with guide fingers.
• Bowing: Open-string bow drills (contact point, speed, weight); marked bowings honored.
• Shifts/Vibrato: Isolate shifts with rhythms; vibrato evenness (width + speed) on long notes.
• Etudes/Excerpts: Phrase map + bow distribution; articulate spiccato vs. legato on purpose.
• Sight-Reading: Silent air-bow first; count subdivisions; prioritize rhythm/intonation over fancy bow strokes.

🥁 Percussion (Snare • Mallets • Timpani)

• Snare: Rudiments (open/closed); roll calibration at audition tempo; stick heights even.
• Mallets: 2- and 4-mallet scales; double-verticals & independent strokes; note accuracy > speed.
• Timpani: Tuning by reference pitch; pedal maps pre-marked; muffling plan.
• Time: Practice to click on 2 & 4 (groove focus) and click on subdivisions for control.
• Sight-Reading: Clap first; mark sticking choices; respect dynamics for instant musicality.

🎤 Voice (Soprano • Alto • Tenor • Bass)

• Breath/Support: 5–10 min of breath flow and sirens; resonance over volume.
• Diction: IPA basics for audition language(s); consonant clarity without pushing.
• Pitch & Ear: Interval ladders; tonic-dominant patterns; solfege or numbers as required.
• Prepared Piece: Story/arc notes; phrase peaks; soft onsets (no scooping).
• Sight-Singing/Tonal Memory: Key scan → establish tonic → rhythm clap → sing on la/solfege; steady tempo over perfect notes.

Daily 20-Minute Practice Template (copy/paste)

1. 5 min – Fundamentals (long tones/lip slurs/open-string bows/breath & vowel work).
2. 7 min – Etude spots (two trouble measures × slow loops → build to tempo).
3. 5 min – Sight-reading (new short excerpt each day: scan → clap → play/sing).
4. 3 min – Full excerpt/scale pass at target tempo.

Record 60 seconds. Write one win + one tomorrow cue.

Day-Of Audition Checklist

• Printed requirements & music (with clear cuts, breaths/bowings, and page turns).
• Pencil, tuner/metronome (if allowed), valve oil/reeds/strings/mallets/water.
• Warm-up plan (5–10 minutes): tone → scale at mezzo → excerpt spot.
• Mindset card: “Breathe. Steady pulse. Musical line.”
• Timing: Arrive early; locate rooms; practice entrances (count-ins, pickups).
• In the room: Keep going through mistakes; protect the pulse; sing/play to the last bar.

Common Scoring Pitfalls (and quick fixes)

• Rushing easy bars: Put click on off-beats in practice to anchor groove.
• Pitch drift (winds/strings/voice): Drone practice; mark tendency notes; refresh reference tonic before starting.
• Chopped phrases: Breathe/bow in phrase; mark release points, not just starts.
• Over-tension: Reset posture every 3–4 minutes; loosen jaw/shoulders; smaller motions = cleaner execution.

FAQ

How many private lessons before the audition help most?
Even 4–6 weekly sessions with a focused plan make a measurable difference. We build fundamentals first, then polish for the room.

What should I prioritize if time is tight?

1. Pulse & rhythm, 2) Tone/intonation, 3) Style/articulation. Notes matter, but adjudicators reward control and musical line.

Should I memorize scales/etudes?
Follow your association’s rules. If memorization isn’t required, still internalize scale fingerings/patterns to reduce anxiety.

A solid plan, consistent practice, and targeted private coaching turn auditions from stressful to doable. If you want a custom 6-week roadmap—and mock auditions that feel like the real thing—we’re here to help.