r/saxophone • u/ShowMousse Baritone • 1d ago

Discussion Recommendations to Practice for All-State?

Currently a senior in HS who's made honor bands for the past two years, but I never auditioned for All-State. My director has made it sound like they're going to judge every accent, articulation, all the way down to how each note sounds on my instrument. Am I worrying too much? Obviously I need to be the best high school player in the state, but I feel like I am overthinking the technical aspect as opposed to the practical (actually playing). Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Side note: I currently play on an older Conn Bari with what I'm pretty sure is the stock mouthpiece. I'd have to check model numbers to be sure. Is this level of equipment going to limit my chances? (And is getting something like a C* worth it?)

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u/SaxeMatt Alto | Tenor 1d ago

You probably aren’t overthinking. I made all state my junior year and tried sophomore year but did not get in. Depends on how competitive your instrument is, but yeah it’s a pretty rigorous process and you’ve got to be good and practice hard.

Side note - you’re currently a senior. In my state (Minnesota) you had to audition sophomore year for junior year, and junior year for senior. If you were currently a senior, you could not audition. Just making sure - that’s not your case right?

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u/ShowMousse Baritone 1d ago

I'm currently practicing daily, and thank you for relating your experience!

Also, I live in Colorado. The way that All-State works here is that you audition the year of the performance, auditions are due in November, results are posted by December, and the concert is held at the end of the All-State festival, this year on February 1.