TRUMPET

TECHNIQUES &
MATERIALS
2023 EDITION

© Bluecoats, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Non-Transferable. Duplication & Sharing Prohibited.

 340 Mississippi St SE
North Canton, OH 44720
(330) 433-9115 | bluecoats.com

Hello!

We’re so glad that you’ve downloaded this packet as the first step in the audition process for
Bluecoats. Some of you may still be on the fence or hoping to audition in a year or two. And for some
of you, you’re just hoping to play along, get better, and enjoy learning from this material. All three
options are great and we’re glad that you trust Bluecoats for improving your brass skills. 

At this time, we are planning four Audition Experience Camps in Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Southern
California. These events are open to all students, of any skill level, and each performer will have the
opportunity for an individual session where they’ll get individualized feedback about their
performance. These individual sessions are also the one-on-one sessions where we learn the most
about your potential to perform with the Bluecoats in 2023.

Additionally, this year we will continue to offer a virtual audition experience for those unable to
attend an in-person event. Virtual auditionees will be scored on the same rubric, use the same
audition sheet to receive written comments, and be considered on the same schedule as the in-
person candidates. We are working hard to make these virtual options as accessible as ever, but it
should always be noted that seeing a performer in person, alongside other performers, is always the
most reliable indicator of a student’s ability to perform in the corps. 

You can learn more about the dates and locations of the in-person Audition Experience Camp, as
well as the virtual options, at bluecoats.com/join. This information is updated throughout the “pre-
season” so be sure to check back regularly. 

Whether you are auditioning this year, or just learning from the Bluecoats, we are so glad to have
you. 

Happy Practicing!

- The Bluecoats Team

Bluecoats is a non-profit that brings world-class performing arts education to aspiring performers around the globe.

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 CONTENTS

Audition Instructions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…… 4

Exercises …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

Etudes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

Visual Audition Information ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

 2023 BLUECOATS BRASS

ROUND 1 AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS
For your 2023 Round 1 Brass Audition you just need this audition packet containing a few
fundamental exercises, etudes, and your visual audition instructions. Before you begin your
preparations, please read all instructions in this document, as well as the Bluecoats Brass Philosophy
page, and the document entitled “What We Look for in Auditions.”

AUDITION GROUPS
If you have not already, please be sure to join your instrument’s Facebook audition group, to stay up
to date on all audition information, get to know your fellow auditionees, and share your audition
preparations with each other:

2023 Trumpet Auditionees

2023 Mellophone Auditionees
2023 Bari/Euph/Trombone Auditionees
2023 Tuba Auditionees
2023 Visual Preparations Page (all sections)

AUDITION INSTRUMENTS
NOTE for all instruments, our primary preference will always be for you to audition on the instrument
you intend to march. However performers may audition on alternative concert instruments as
follows:

• Mellophones should prepare and audition on either mellophone, trumpet, or concert french horn
(preference in that order). Know that students invited to callbacks will be asked to perform their
second audition on a mellophone only.

• Baritones or euphoniums can prepare and audition on either a marching horn, concert horn, or
trombone (preference in that order). Know that students invited to callbacks will be asked to
perform their second audition on a marching baritone or euphonium only.

• Tubas can prepare and audition on either a marching or concert horn, including C tubas
(preference in that order). However, only play on a sousaphone as a last resort. If playing on a
concert horn, please mark time sitting down for the lip slurs. Know that students invited to
callbacks will be asked to perform their second audition on a contra only. We will have corps
instruments available for use in the audition room.

 BRASS AUDITION MATERIAL & INSTRUCTIONS

Your individual brass audition is in 3 parts, all included in this packet:

The first part of your brass audition is Techniques Exercises.

This portion of the audition should be performed with marching performance posture: standing, horn
at 10 degrees above parallel to the floor. Metronome should be audible while performing each
portion of this audition. Start at set/carry. Instrument will come up to playing position on beats 5-6 of
the count-in to begin any exercise, & mark time begins when you begin playing (if applicable).

• Stamp, quarter note= 120 bpm, marking time. Start from open series, moving chromatically
down to 1-2 series, & back up to open series. Halt on the final whole note sustain.

• Lip Slur 5b & 6b, quarter note= 120 bpm, marking time. Start from open series, moving
chromatically down to 1-2 series, & back up to open series. Halt on final whole note sustain.
Please note the valve combo at top of each slur series should be used throughout that series.

• Vizzutti, quarter note= 90 bpm, NO MARK TIME. First slurred, then legato tongued. Please refer to
the Bluecoats Style/Note Length Glossary for proper interpretation of articulation markings.

• PPAC, quarter note= 180 bpm, marking time. “Last phrase,’ or open series only. Halt on the final
whole note sustain.

• LEAD AUDITION OPTION: For those interested in lead trumpet or lead mellophone, you may
include the “expanding scales” exercise at a comfortable tempo of your choice, or you may
show off your range in another way, or both. You can find the expanding scales exercise here.

The second part of your brass audition is instrument-specific selected etudes and/or excerpts.

Each section will have a:

• Technical etude/excerpt

• Lyrical etude excerpt

You may perform this portion of your audition in a comfortable playing position, standing or sitting.
No audible metronome, but checking tempo before performance is recommended.

The third part of your brass audition is your VISUAL AUDITION.

In addition to your music audition, you will also have a visual audition to prepare. This additional
visual audition is required for those students wishing to be considered for a position in the 2023
performing ensemble. On page 7-8 of this packet, you will find a brief outline describing the visual
material you can expect to be auditioned on, at both live AND virtual audition events. We also

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recommend you join and share your individual fitness journey on the Bluecoats Visual Auditionee
Page 2023 throughout the audition season.

VIRTUAL/VIDEO AUDITIONS
We highly recommend all audition candidates attend a live camp, if possible. If not, you may submit
a video audition that will be evaluated the same as live audition candidates. For all video audition
details & to submit your audition, go to bluecoats.school/audition. You will need to:

1. Prepare all brass & visual material listed in this packet

2. Record each audition exercise/etude as individual videos. Please review this document titled
“Guidelines for Virtual Auditions” for best practices in capturing a great recording.

3. Upload each video unlisted on Youtube. Label each video uploaded individually (i.e. Brass
Audition: Stamp Exercise; Visual Audition: Leg Shape) so we can identify them easily, then

Create a playlist containing ALL brass & visual videos you uploaded. Label your playlist as Your
Name, Audition Instrument, 2023 Bluecoats Round 1 Video Audition. This playlist link is what you will
submit for your full video audition within the School of the Arts.

BRASS VIDEO AUDITIONS ARE DUE BY 11:59 PM EASTERN, FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022



Trumpet in B  BLUECOATS BRASS AUDITION EXERCISES
2023
Stamp Exercise
 = 120

        
      



        
Perform back Halt

     
up to open

  
Lip Slur 5B
 = 120

      
    
0 2

     
 

         
1 12

         
Perform back Halt


up to open

 
Lip Slur 6B
 = 120
  
        
   
 
2
 
0


         
       
1 12
    
Perform back Halt


up to open

Vizzutti
 = 90
                                  

                                  
    

PPAC
                        
 = 180

         

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Trumpet in B 
BLUECOATS BRASS AUDITION ETUDES
2023
  = 120
     
                     
      
 risoluto

    
       
    
      
 
       
 
7

 
 

                
                
  
13


 cresc.

                 
                     
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 



                  
                    
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  
 cresc.

Wurm 21: mm. 1-33 first note. Tempo: Dotted Quarter = 120. Maximize the dichotomy between the resolute forte and playful piano
moments. All eighth notes should have space unless slurred. Practice intervallic passages slowly, to hear the arpeggios and center
each individual pitch. Supplemental exercises: Arban Interval Studies and Arban Arpeggio Studies.

Andante cantabile ( = 60)

   
                 

3


    
         
              
3

6 3
3 3


3

3
           

   
            
12 3 3
3 3

3
3

     
         
   
            
3 3

 
17


3 3
3

3 3

 
         
   
22
3

3 3

Bordogni- Vocalises for Trumpet. Tempo: quarter = 60. Show off your most beautiful tone! Practice subdividing the beat so that you don’t
lose time - there should still be a sense of pulse in a lyrical etude. Take time with the written breaths and don’t clip the last notes before
the breath. Sing out in the piano dynamic and use your own musical intuition to shape the phrases. The grace notes come before the
beat. Take great care to have the same timbre (tone color) in different ranges of the trumpet.
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 BLUECOATS VISUAL
Your visual audition will be over two parts. We will observe you move and march throughout the day
as we lead you through a visual basic session and see your skills individually through a formal
audition. Both areas of observation will be taken into account when you are assigned a skill level as it
relates to your visual skills.

The expectation at camp is to use the Bluecoats style of movement. At the Bluecoats, we use a long
glide stride technique. There is minimal bend in the knee. It is expected that you have at least a
working knowledge of this technique. You may find help videos through Bluecoats School the Arts,
watch performance videos from the past three years of shows, or reach out to Bluecoats veterans to
see the shape and style that is used.

While not all of the skills will be individually tested in the formal audition, you would be expected to
do any of these things when it comes to your audition. We will pick two or three of the following
things to test your visual skills:

1. Forward 8/4 
A. Forward march 8, hold 4, forward march 8, hold 4, forward march 8, halt
B. Step size: 8 to 5
C. Tempo: 100/140/180
D. Horn playing position

2. Backward 8/4 
A. Backward march 8, hold 4, backward march 8, hold 4, backward march 8, halt
B. Step size: 8 to 5
C. Tempo: 100/140/180
D. Horn playing position

3. Slides 8/4 
A. Forward left slide march 8, hold 4, backward left slide march 8, hold 8 and rotate to opposite
side, forward right slide march 8, hold 4, backward right slide march 8, halt
B. Step size: 8 to 5
C. Tempo: 100/140/180
D. Horn playing position

4. Direction Changes
A. Forward 8, backward 8, hold 4, backwards 8, forward 8, halt
B. Step size: 8 to 5 or 6 to 5
C. Tempo: 100/140/180
D. Horn playing position
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 5. Effort Changes

A. Forward 8 (8 to 5) forward 6 (6 to 5) forward 16 (16 to 5), hold 8, backward 16 (16 to 5)

backwards 6 (6 to 5) backward 8 (8 to 5)
B. Step size: Varies
C. Tempo: 100/140/180
D. Horn playing position

Your evaluation will be based on 4 things:

1. Timing
2. Posture
3. Leg Shape
4. Performance Quality/Confidence

Best of luck as you prepare for the initial round of auditions! We look forward to seeing you at a
camp and starting your 2023 Bluecoats Experience!

- Bluecoats Visual Team

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 Bluecoats is a non-profit performing arts education organization that brings life changing
performing arts experiences to young people around the world.

Bluecoats School of the Arts, THE BLUE WAY, and the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps are programs of
Bluecoats. All related marks and logos are property of Bluecoats.

Bluecoats works hard to develop these educational materials and distribute them to our students.
These packets and their contents are property of Bluecoats and produced by our incredible
educators. Please support our programming by purchasing this packet, and do not duplicate or
share. Such sharing is unlicensed and illegal. You can purchase this packet at www.bluecoats.school.

© Bluecoats, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Non-Transferable. Duplication & Sharing Prohibited.

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