Ability to play with a click: Each instrument on stage will be required to know how to play along to a click or metronome track. Please make sure that you download the audition materials provided and submit your video with the track provided that has a click included.
Ability to learn parts by ear: We provide MP3 tracks on our Planning Center database for volunteers to learn their parts for the weekend. We will be looking for accuracy on the original parts recorded on the tracks.
Ability to demonstrate dynamics: Each musician on stage will need to demonstrate an awareness of not only the musical dynamic, but also the atmosphere of the room. We will be looking for string musicians who can demonstrate a wide variety of musical dynamics throughout a song or set; offering a range between a louder, more movement filled style of playing, and a softer and less busy style.
Ability to demonstrate tonal quality, intonation, bow control, and appropriate amounts and usage of vibrato: All strings players would recognize that these listed items are crucial in producing the right quality of tone. The expectation would be that our strings players would have proficiency in their instrument that would allow strong execution of all the listed elements.
Ability to play within the song and the role: Often the trick with this is learning to not over-play, while also making sure to play enough to add substance.
Chord vocabulary – when the songs call for it, the ability to play every chord that is required: Our strings players must have a knowledge and understanding of reading chord charts and how it applies to their specific instruments, as we do not typically utilize notated sheet music.
Accuracy of specific parts and lead lines: Our strings players need to have the ability to hear various specific lead lines, whether they are portrayed by an actual string player on the track or another instrument (guitar or piano typically), and have the ability to play them accordingly as is appropriate to their instrument.
Ability to fill in with own parts if and when needed in a musically creative and stylistically appropriate manner: There will be times when there are no specific lead lines for the strings players – in this case, we are looking for individuals that have both the ability and creativity to come up with and play their own parts as is appropriate for the song(s).
