All-State

About Auditioning for All-State

Auditions for Florida All-State Orchestras take place towards the end of September at the start of each school year. Winning a spot in your grade level Florida All-State Orchestra is a tour de force. To put things in perspective, our nation's top collegiate music schools and conservatories recruit their incoming students from the small pool of High School All-State winners from all fifty states. If you are interested in winning a spot in the Florida All-State Orchestra, you must make a plan and practice diligently and methodically, usually with the help of an expert private violin, viola, cello, or bass teacher.

Click on the dropdown links or the links below for resources for practicing for the violin, viola, cello, or bass All-State Audition.

Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Encouragement for Less Advanced Players

The successful Middle School All-State Audition winner is at an intermediate-advanced level. If you do not feel you are at a high enough level to prepare confidently for the All-State Audition, consider practicing the shifting and vibrato exercises and scales below provided by the Florida Orchestra Teaching Artists. Also, you can work through The Intermediate String Method Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Herbert Gardner, a free resource for the intermediate string student.

Shifting Explanation and Exercises

TFO Teaching Artist Kristin Baird explains how shifting works on the different string instruments of the orchestra in a two-step process

Shifting Step 1 Video – Follow along with the worksheets:
Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Shifting Step 2 Video – Follow along with the worksheets:
Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Shifting Explained! On the Cello – with TFO Assistant Principal Cellist Lowell Adams

Shifting Explained! On the Double Bass – with TFO Principal Bassist Dee Moses

Vibrato Explanation and Exercises

TFO Teaching Artist Kaitlin Springer introduces vibrato in a 4-part series that will help you get started and hone your vibrato technique. Get ready to add an extra level of artistry to your music!

What is Vibrato? – The first video in our series introduces the idea of vibrato. We learn how it works so that we can understand the technique at the most basic level and practice it for the first time. Follow along with the What is Vibrato? Worksheet.

The Fundamentals of Vibrato – In part 2 of our series, we continue to explore the fundamentals of vibrato as we learn a new vibrato exercise.

Vibrato and Left Hand Flexibility – In part 3 of our series, we explore left hand flexibility as we continue practicing our new skill.

Vibrato Practice – In our fourth and final part of the Vibrato Series, we review the fundamentals of vibrato and introduce a new vibrato exercise. Follow along with the following vibrato practice worksheets: Violin and Viola.

Vibrato Explained! On the Cello – with TFO Assistant Principal Cellist Lowell Adams

Vibrato Explained! On the Bass – with TFO Principal Bassist Dee Moses

1 Octave Scale Play Alongs

These “play along” videos are designed to be used in a live or virtual classroom or to be added to a student’s daily practice routine.

A Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

A Flat Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Bb Flat 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

C Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

D Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

E Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Eb Major 1 Octave Scale
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

F Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

G Major 1 Octave
Score and Parts | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

2 Octave Scale Play Alongs

These “play along” videos are designed to be used in a live or virtual classroom or to be added to a student’s daily practice routine. If you have a mixed level orchestra class where some students are playing 2 octave scales and some students are playing 1 octave scales, use the optional 1 Octave Alternate Parts so the whole class can play together seamlessly!

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