Admission Procedure
APPLICATION REVIEW BEGINS:
SYMPHONY - February 15, 2012
PERCUSSION / STEEL BAND - February 15, 2012
JAZZ (both sessions) - March 1, 2012
Applications are welcome and accepted after these dates, and will be reviewed until positions are filled. Many instrument positions fill fast, so we recommend that you register as early as possible. If an instrument position is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list -- cancellations do occur.
Application Materials and Procedure
Summer 2012 application forms, instructions, and other useful documents are available on the Application Forms page.
1. Complete the ADMISSION APPLICATION FORM. If seeking scholarship assistance through our financial aid program, complete the FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION FORM. Note: General student application requirements must be met before a financial aid application will be considered.
2. Fill in the Applicant section on two APPLICANT RECOMMENDATION FORMS. Then have two teachers familiar with your musical background and abilities complete the APPLICANT RECOMMENDATION FORMS.Teachers should mail or fax them directly back to Birch Creek.
SYMPHONY SESSION - All NEW APPLICANTS must have teachers submit these forms. (Returning students are exempt.)
PERCUSSION SESSION - All NEW APPLICANTS must have teachers submit these forms. (Returning students are exempt.)
JAZZ SESSIONS - All NEW and RETURNING APPLICANTS must have teachers submit these forms.
Applications will not be considered complete until these forms have been received.
3. AUDITION RECORDING -- See specific requirements for your session following these general instructions.
3a. SELECT YOUR MUSIC
3b. SELECT YOUR RECORDING MEDIA
Check each program session (below) for acceptable media. Often, your private teacher or school music teacher will have equipment that can help you produce a good quality audition recording. WE CANNOT ACCEPT MINI DISCS.
3c. RECORD YOUR AUDITION
Listen to your recording. Keep the recording process simple. If you are not satisfied, you might record on two or three different days, listen to all the recordings and submit the best one.
3d. SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION RECORDING
3d.(1). MAIL - Clearly label the recording and its case: 2012 BC Audition, Session, Your Name, Instrument, and Contents. Package the recording in a padded envelope. Keep a copy for yourself, as sometimes items are lost or damaged in the mail. Mail your Audition Recording, Application for Admission and $50 Processing Fee to: Birch Creek Registrar, P.O. Box 230, Egg Harbor, WI 54209.
3d.(2). DIGITAL UPLOAD OPTION - Percussion and Jazz Session students only. You must first apply. Mail your Application for Admissio and $50 Processing Fee to Birch Creek Registrar, P.O. Box 230, Egg Harbor, WI 54209. You will receive an email within one week of your registration with detailed instructions for upload.
3e. Audition Recordings for Symphony Session Applicants
All Symphony session applicants (new and returning) must submit by mail an AUDIO AUDITION RECORDING on CD, with the exception of Birch Creek award winners from 2011 and students able to schedule a live audition with the appropriate Birch Creek
faculty member. Recording with an accompanist is preferred, but not required.
The Audition Recording must include:
--two scales (one major, one minor) showing your full range, AND
--two contrasting pieces (fast and slow, or contrasting styles) lasting about two minutes each. Please see SUGGESTED REPERTOIRE LEVELS on the Application Forms page.
3f. Audition Recordings for Percussion & Steel Band Session Applicants
Percussion & Steel Band Session applicants (new and returning) are required to submit a VIDEO AUDITION RECORDING. The preferred method is DIGITAL FILE UPLOAD. DVD is also acceptable.
The Audition Recording must include:
Keyboard (two mallet) percussion
--one two-mallet solo or etude at or above the level of the edudes found in the "Morris Goldenberg "Modern School for Xylophone" method (pages 62-93).
--one concert snare drum edude or solo at or above the level of "Portraits in Ribbon" etudes 1-6 by Anthony Cirone.
Optional for advanced placement in classes and ensembles:
-- one 4-mallet keyboard percussion solo at or above the level of "Yellow After the Rain" by Mitchell Peters or "Raindance" by Alice Gomez.
--demonstration of skills on another percussion instrument, i.e., drum set styles (swing, rock styles with 4-measure solo trades), steelpan, hand drums (djembe, congas).
There will be a mallet and snare drum sight reading audition the first day of the session for final placement in ensemble groups.
3g. Audition Recordings for Jazz Session Applicants
Only saxophone and drum applicantsmust audition unless you are applying for financial aid.
All Saxophone applicants (new and returning) must submit an AUDIO AUDITION RECORDING. (BC 2011 Award Winners are exempt.) If possible, record with a live rhythm section (although using a ‘play-along' rhythm section is perfectly acceptable). Acceptable methods for submitting your audio audition recording are DIGITAL FILE UPLOAD or CD. Auditions should be no more than 9 minutes total, containing 3 tunes in contrasting styles representing the categories below. Please limit the length of each piece to no more than 3 minutes.
The Audition Recording must include:
--a STANDARD such as Autumn Leaves, All The Things You Are, What Is This Thing Called Love, etc.
--a BALLAD such as Body and Soul, I Can't Get Started, Autumn in New York, etc.
--a JAZZ STANDARD such as Donna Lee, Sera, Blue Bossa, Mr. P.C., etc.
--DOUBLING SKILLS. Saxophonists who double on clarinet or flute may include a short excerpt demonstrating their skills on either or both instruments. (Major/minor scales, a short etude or a prepared piece will suffice.) While doubling is an important skill, the main focus of the Audition Recording is to evaluate your skills as a SAXOPHONIST. Doubling is NOT a prerequisite for acceptance. Those who do not double are encouraged to apply.
The Audition Recording should be no more than 10 minutes total, and contain 4 tunes in the following styles: MEDIUM SWING, BALLAD (with brushes), UP-TEMPO STRAIGHT AHEAD SWING, and LATIN GROOVE.
4. Enclose $50 NONREFUNDABLE PROCESSING FEE for each session for which you are applying.
5. Mail the APPLICATION(S), RESUME, Audition Recording (if required) and PROCESSING FEE TO:
Birch Creek Registrar
3821 County E
P.O. Box 230
Egg Harbor, WI 54209-0230
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants are responsible for verifying that the RECOMMENDATION FORMS have been mailed directly to Birch Creek. Applications will not be processed until all materials have been received.
Nondiscrimination policy: Eligibility for enrollment and financial assistance is based solely on the applicant's personal qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.
