This year many Aragon music students auditioned for a selective state-level band known as the California All-State Honor ensembles. These ensembles perform a state-wide concert early in the year to showcase their skills. While hundreds of students apply all over California, only a few are selected.
Sophomore Nicky Dobbs explains his understanding of the All-State program and what students are expected to do if they get in.
“All-State is an annual event held in Fresno, where middle school and high school music groups perform. To get into a music group, you can submit a recorded audition, which will be judged blindly by a group of music educators. You need to be in your school band to audition, but many kids still try out, so the competition is stiff,” Dobbs said. “If you get in, you get a month to practice and prepare and get two days with the band and director to rehearse. On the last night of the program, you perform with the other bands to an audience of parents, music educators, and other students.”
This January, four Aragon students have been formally accepted into the All-State band: sophomores Nicky Dobbs and Geoffrey Nelson as trumpeters, junior Max Yeh as a bassoonist, and junior Sami Fayyad as an alto saxist.
“The audition music came out sometime this summer, and recordings were due December 1,” Yeh said. “The results come back early January and our concert is in mid-February.”
Like others who have been accepted, Dobbs expresses his
initial surprise when he found out that he was part of the All-State band.
“My mom told me I got into the band. I was shocked because I was confident that I wouldn’t get in,” Dobbs said. “I honestly didn’t think my improvisation was up to par, but it was good enough, and I’m relieved I get to play with such talented [student] musicians.”
These musicians put lots of time and work into developing their skill and accuracy for their auditions, and Nelson explains how a musician should practice.
“The general goal for most musicians [to practice] is four hours a day, and rehearsals do not count. However, this is often [not] feasible because of school and homework,” Nelson said. “My teacher once told me, ‘Don’t just splash around in the pool, you need to swim laps!’ Just because you are playing your instrument does not mean you are effectively practicing and improving.”
Fayyad explains the importance of having private teachers and band directors.
“Private teachers to me are the primary way in which a musician can really excel and achieve, as they are the ones that students may look up to and will absolutely listen to, providing huge technique tips and important practice tips,” Fayyad said. “Band directors are critical too, however, for better learning and practicing in [an] ensemble.”
Dobbs similarly agrees about the necessity of band directors and credits Aragon’s music program for their success.
“Aragon’s awesome music program has helped contribute to all of the success with the All-State bands,” Dobbs said. “ In addition to the other musicians who made it, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Chen deserve credit for the hard work they put into improving our tone and technique.”
Nelson believes that it is extremely helpful for an aspiring musician to audition for every opportunity available as it provides valuable experience in becoming a professional musician.
“Getting all the components in an audition together, recordings, resume, etc, is a pivotal skill to develop for the future. A musician’s life is made up entirely of auditions, auditions and auditions,” Nelson said. “I highly recommend All-State for anyone who is confident in their skills and is a dedicated musician.”
Fayyad believes that only talent does not make a great musician.
“Talent is a horrifying word,” Fayyad said. “Anyone can have some degree of starting skill on a given instrument or in a given activity, but if that skill isn’t refined through practice and hard work, there’s no realistic way it can go as far as people convince themselves.”
This year, Aragon’s four musicians will be performing with the All-State band on February 20-24 at the Fresno Convention Center.
