Clinics are a highly recommended and valuable opportunity for students to work with other conductors who also have extraordinary credentials, alongside their developmental peers from all over East Tennessee. Senior Clinic participants also attend a college concert and have time to speak with college recruiters to learn about program and scholarship opportunities. For instance, did you know that some colleges have performance grants available even if the student does not major or minor in music during college? The clinic culminates in a public concert to perform the music they learned during the 2-3 day event.

Auditions are held for Junior Band Clinic (9th grade) and Senior Band Clinic (10th – 12th grades) for a limited number of seats in the clinic bands.

Auditions include: 
• Playing specified major scales and the chromatic scale from memory. The scale requirements differ by age group. 
• Playing the specified prepared piece. 
• Sight reading one or two short excerpts, usually 2 - 3 lines each. You have 30 seconds to look these over before you attempt to play them. 
• Percussion students are required to audition on snare drum, mallets and timpani. Percussionists must perform a prepared piece, sight reading, and required scales and/or rudiments on all three instruments.

Other individual activities include auditioning for Jazz Band Clinic and participating in Solo and Ensemble events. Information regarding these events is provided in the classroom and some helpful links are on our Music Opportunities Page.
 

JAZZ CLINIC

Registration for jazz clinic takes place in mid October and will be announced in class. Cost is $10/student.

Auditions usually take place in early November at a place noted on our calendar. 2012 auditions were at South Doyle High School. (map) Audition music and student's individual audition appointment time will be given to them in class. Students can qualify for one of 3 jazz bands. Blue Band is best, then Red Band, and White Band. Auditions for the All-State Jazz Clinic are taped during the event. Their recordings are then sent to college professors across the state, along with the auditions of students in the All-Middle Tennessee and All West-Tennessee Jazz Clinics. These professors pick the top performers to be a part of the All-State Jazz Band. Students find out in March if they made it or not. Mr. Thomas or his designee will notify students with results.

The Clinic usually takes place the last Friday and Saturday in January and was held at Walker Valley High School near Chattanooga in 2012. Cost per student is $25. Make check payable to the MWHS Band Boosters.

SENIOR CLINIC

Registration for senior clinic takes place in late October and will be announced in class. Cost is $6/student.

Auditions usually take place the first Saturday in January after Winter Break at a place noted on our calendar. 2012 band and orchestra auditions were at Bearden High School. (map) Audition music can be found at this link. All State East Tryout Music. Student's individual audition appointment time will be given to them in class. Students can qualify for one of 4 bands and orchestra. Blue Band is best, then Red Band, Green Band, and White Band. There is also an Orchestra. A specified number from the All-State East Band also qualify to participate in the Tennessee All-State Band Clinic which is held in April. Mr. Thomas or his designee will notify students with results.

NOTE: In the case of inclement weather the tryouts are not cancelled. You need to use your own judgment to decide if you can make your appointment time. (In the past they have allowed students to audition later that day.)

The Clinic usually takes place the first Thursday-Saturday of February at the Park Vista in Gatlinburg. See our map. Cost per student is $25. Make check payable to the MWHS Band Boosters.

The Senior Clinic Concert is on Saturday in the PV ballroom. Parents are encouraged to attend but be advised that there is NO PARKING for concert attendees at the Park Vista. You will need to park in town and take a trolley. Here is a map of parking and trolley routes. You can park near a trolley stop along the red or green lines. You will need up to $8 for all day parking and .50ea for trolley. (The PV does run a shuttle bus from the Conference Center but it is not advised since you still need to pay for parking and they only have one bus for three times as many people standing in line which can blow all your time planning.)

Time Planning:

• 1.5 to 2 hours (due to usual heavy traffic on Saturdays) to get from Morristown to your parking lot. Of course add more time if you plan to stop and eat along the way.
• Allow a half hour to park, catch a trolley and arrive at the Park Vista.
• At the Park Vista allow at least a half hour if you need to purchase t-shirt and/or sign-up for performance CD.
• Be advised that the blue band performance, which is first, is standing room only. If you want a seat for it you will need to sit at least an hour before the concert start. (This might be a good time to eat a packed lunch?) More seating does become available as people leave after each performance.

Best bet if you want to try and video the performance is to stand along the side walls. While seated you cannot see the performers unless you are in the front rows. If you want a front row seat you might get one if you sit by 8:00 a.m.

The 2012 Senior Clinic concert started at 1:00 and lasted until 5:00. (Using above formula without stopping for lunch, we should have left home at 9:00a.m. Instead, we left at 10:30 and missed the Blue Band performance.)

JUNIOR CLINIC

Registration for Junior Clinic takes place in November and will be announced in class. Cost is $6/student.

Auditions usually take place the second Saturday in January after Winter Break at a place noted on our calendar. 2012 band auditions were held at Volunteer High School. (map) Orchestra auditions were held at Dobyns Bennett High School. (map) Audition music can be found at this link. Upper Junior Band Clinic. Student's individual audition appointment time will be given to them in class. Mr. Thomas or his designee will notify students with results.

NOTE: In the case of inclement weather the tryouts are not cancelled. You need to use your own judgment to decide if you can make your appointment time. (In the past they have allowed students to audition later that day.)

The Clinic usually takes place the second Friday-Saturday of February at Greeneville High School. (map)

2012 Junior Clinic Concert will be on Saturday, Feb. 11th, will start at 4:00 for the 7th grade band; 4:30 for the 8th grade band; and 5:00 for the 9th grade band at the Niswonger Performing Art Center, Greeneville, TN. (map)