PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE ONLINE AUDITION APPLICATION
LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

Dear Prospective Student:

We appreciate your interest in applying and auditioning for admission to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.

After reading all requirements in full:

• Complete the Online Application.
• Have at least two RECOMMENDATION FORM completed by current art area instructors and mailed to DA Admissions.
• Thoroughly read and then sign the STUDENT/PARENT CONTRACT and RELEASE AGREEMENT and bring them to the audition.

Plan to attend one of the following auditions for the 2013-2014 school year:

Tuesday, January 29, 6 p.m.

or

Tuesday, February 5, 6 p.m.

Please arrive on time. It is critical that at least one parent/guardian accompanies you to the gym located on San Diego Road. While you are auditioning your parent/guardian will remain in the gym for the required information session with the principal. Parking is located at the back of the school off White Avenue.

We recommend you schedule a tour of the school before the audition. If you have questions after reading the enclosed information or would like to schedule a tour, please call 346-5620 ext. 101.

We wish you the best as you develop your educational goals.

Sincerely,
Jackie H. Cornelius, Principal

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Acceptance to Douglas Anderson is through audition only.
• Students must be at an intermediate or higher skill level.
• Must have completed and submitted Online Application.
• Two recommendations are required. Print two Recommendation forms from DA’s website and give to instructor(s) familiar with your art’s progress. Recommendations should be mailed to DA Admissions before the audition.  Please click here for the RECOMMENDATION FORM.
• A copy of the student’s most recent report card must be submitted. A 2.0 Grade Point Average is required. Florida law requires a minimum 2.0 grade point average for participation in state performances, which includes All-State, State Thespians, gallery showings, and other school-related activities.
• Your audition will include an interview in addition to other arts area requirements.

CURRICULUM

Douglas Anderson offers a four-year, full academic curriculum required for graduation, which includes advanced (honors and advanced placement) courses. The advanced arts curriculum includes visual arts, dance, vocal music, instrumental music (including guitar and piano), cinematic arts, creative writing, musical theatre, and performance and technical theatre. Twelve to fourteen arts courses are required (specific to Douglas Anderson); therefore, electives are not offered.

ADDITIONAL CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

All arts areas require fair share contributions. The amount varies among arts areas and performance groups. (Fund-raising opportunities are provided for all students to earn the fair share.) Additional area-specific requirements that affect a student’s grade may be contracted. These might include, but are not limited to, attendance at all rehearsals. All students are required to critique one in-school and one outside-of-school arts event each quarter.

TRANSPORTATION

The Duval County School System currently provides buses from all neighborhood high schools to and from Douglas Anderson.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

CINEMATIC ARTS

1. Essay: Please have in hand a typed essay discussing the following points:

• The applicant’s interest in the Cinematic Arts program
  • Why do you want to study filmmaking and develop skills in this area?
  • What do you hope to achieve in this program?
• The applicant’s knowledge of filmmaking fundamentals
  • What do you find to be the most important aspect of filmmaking?
  • What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of filmmaking?
• The extent of the applicant’s experience in this art discipline.
  • When did you first realize you were interested in filmmaking?
  • What have you studied or worked on that improved your skills?
  • Discuss your video project you created for this audition. What was easy? What was hard? What surprised you about the process?

2. Project for Audition: Please bring to your audition a project you created, either in school or at home, that demonstrates your talent and skills in visual storytelling.

• Your film should be produced and submitted on a DVD-R. Please check the playability of your DVD
• before you bring it in.
• Prepare a portfolio to submit with your DVD. This portfolio should be neatly presented and should include items such as a script, shot list, and any notes that assisted in organizing your project. Please submit copies of these materials as DVDs and portfolios will not be returned.

CLASSICAL GUITAR

Guitar applicants shall perform two selections on a classical guitar. For example, one selection should be a classical piece by Carcassi, Giuliani, Tarrega, Sor, or Bach. Applicants shall be prepared to perform two octave major scales in all 12 keys, and major, minor, dominant 7th, minor 7th, major 7th chords in all 12 keys. Guitar applicants will be required to sight read a short selection.

CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing applicants should bring a portfolio of three to five examples of the student’s best writing. The pieces should have undergone careful revision either by the student on his/her own or with an instructor. They should represent the student’s strongest work in at least two genres (e.g., fiction, poetry, essay). The audition will include an on-demand writing as well as a written reaction to a published work. Please come prepared to write by bringing a pen and paper. Adjudicators will be looking for a thoughtful, honest expression of ideas that reveals expertise in language and insight into literature.

Portfolios should be typed. Students should include only copies of work in the portfolio–not originals.  As is common practice with university creative writing departments, student portfolios will not be returned.

The quality of the creative writing is most important. Please do not include drawings or visual images in or on the portfolio. Do not send your portfolio with the application. Bring portfolios with you to the audition.

DANCE

Dance applicants should be prepared to participate in a 1½- to 2-hour dance class, which will consist of ballet, modern dance, and compositional phrases. The student should wear appropriate dress as follows:

Ladies–Black leotard, pink tights*, and ballet shoes. Dancers should bring pointe shoes if they have them. Hair should be worn in a traditional, classical, ballet bun with hair slicked back without lumps or geometric patterns. If hair is too short for a bun, it must be pinned, clipped, or gelled back, flat to the head.

Gentlemen–Black leotard or tank top with tights* or sweat pants, and ballet shoes. Hairstyle should be short, neat, with no braids.

* Tights should be convertible for modern dance.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

String applicants

• Two Scales: Prepare two major scales and arpeggios according to ability. The scales must be at least two octaves. At least one of the scales must require shifting.
• Two Solos: Prepare two pieces of contrasting style lasting approximately two minutes each. Classical music such as unaccompanied suites and partitas, sonatas, concertos, and most selections from the Suzuki books are acceptable. You may also play the Florida Orchestra Association’s All-State Orchestra Audition etude and excerpt. An accompanist is not needed for the audition.
• One Sight Reading: You will be asked to play an excerpt lasting approximately 8 measures, according to your ability. You will be given approximately 30 seconds to review the excerpt before you play it.

Woodwind and Brass applicants

• Scales: Applicants are expected to perform all 12 major scales, multiple octaves when appropriate, with arpeggios, and their chromatic scale, throughout the natural range of his/her instrument as per FBA All-State audition requirements.
• Two Etudes: Performing the Florida Bandmasters Association All-State Band audition music (lyrical and technical etudes) would be appropriate. Those requirements can be found by clicking on the “All-State” tab at www.flmusiced.org/fba. Students should audition on the current year’s All-State material for their current grade level. Performing the All-State music for your audition is preferable; however, applicants may choose to perform two contrasting FBA-approved solos or method book excerpts of their choice. Etude books or solos may be purchased from any sheet music vendor. Music from your band class is not deemed appropriate for this audition.
• One Sight Reading: You will be asked to play an excerpt lasting approximately 16 measures, according to your ability. You will be given 30 seconds to review the excerpt before you play it.

Percussion applicants

• Scales: Applicants are expected to perform all 12 major scales, multiple octaves when appropriate, with arpeggios, and their chromatic scale, throughout the natural range of his/her instrument as per All-State audition requirements.
• Two Etudes: The student must prepare three selections of contrasting style to demonstrate the student’s ability on snare drum, keyboard, and timpani. The pieces should be selected using All-State requirements for the grade level for which the student is auditioning. Those requirements can be found by clicking on the “All State” tab at www.flmusiced.org/fba. Performing the All-State music for your audition is preferable; however, applicants may choose to perform three contrasting selections or movements of their choice. Timpani, xylophone, and snare drum will be provided. Percussionists shall provide their own mallets, drumsticks, etc. Etude books or solos may be purchased from any sheet music vendor. Music from your band class is not deemed appropriate for this audition.
• One Sight Reading: You will be asked to play a xylophone excerpt lasting approximately 16 measures, according to your ability. You will be given 30 seconds to review the excerpt before you play it.

MUSICAL THEATRE

The Musical Theatre audition has three parts. First, the applicant will perform with expression 16 bars of a song from the musical theatre repertory or another similar style. Please provide either sheet music or a recording with only music (no words) to play for your song. An accompanist will be provided. Please do not perform a rock-and-roll style or a rap song.

Secondly, the student will be taught a short dance combination and asked to perform it. Thirdly, the student will be interviewed. Jurists will be looking for the student to demonstrate a strong aptitude in two of the three disciplines: Dance; Vocal; and, Acting. The song should spotlight the vocal strengths and range of the student as well as his/her acting abilities. The dance should spotlight strengths the student’s ability to learn and accurately perform a new combination with proper technique.

PIANO

Care should be given to choose a repertoire that successfully demonstrates the student’s technical and musical stage of development. Applicants must perform in person two contrasting, original (no simplified arrangements) classical (not popular) solo compositions. Freshmen must be at the ability level to learn J.S. Bach’s Inventions upon admission. Music for the two selections should be brought to the audition; however, compositions must be played from memory.

Applicants should be able to play simultaneously with both hands all major scales (two or four octaves), a chromatic scale, and as many minor scales as the student knows. Applicants will be asked to sight read. Applicants should bring a repertoire list of major works covered the last three years of piano study.

THEATRE – PERFORMANCE

Performance Theatre applicants will perform a memorized monologue from a published play lasting no more than four minutes. An example for a male applicant is a monologue from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; for a female applicant, The Diary of Anne Frank. Many other monologues would be acceptable. Jurists will be looking for clarity of speech, volume and vocal expression that illuminates the meaning of the words. The actor should attempt to create a character and to identify emotionally with the character and the words. The actor must show confidence on stage. The actor must show that he/she knows and understands why the character is saying the words. The actor must show some physical flexibility. Monologues can be found at any public library or copies can be picked up from the Douglas Anderson Main Office.

The applicant should wear clothing that is suitable for a job interview that also allows for character movement during the monologue.

THEATRE – TECHNICAL

The student is required to bring two individual projects that he/she has produced. Instructors will be looking for design ideas and implementation in at least two of the following areas: sewing, carpentry, painting, sound, lighting, and properties.

During the personal interview, discussion will revolve around the student’s work, creativity, previous theatre experience, and ability to express and communicate ideas.

The student will take a short quiz on basic technical theatre terms.

VISUAL ARTS

Portfolio: All students should bring a portfolio containing a minimum of three (3) works of art. Additional artworks including sketchbooks are encouraged. All artwork should have been completed under the direction of an art teacher. Recent works (done within a year) are preferred. Artwork may include drawing, sculpture, painting, printmaking, or photography. Suggested subjects are figure drawings, self-portraits, cityscapes, or perspective drawings, and still life work. Students should not include any cartoons, superheroes, or “fantasy” images. Portfolios should include work done from observation and real life. Drawings copied from photographs are not encouraged.

Interview: The interview with the auditioners will include a discussion of the portfolio works.

Drawing: Students will complete a pencil drawing of a section of a still life on 18” x 24” paper.

Critique: Students will write approximately three (3) paragraphs, or one page, describing, analyzing, and interpreting a reproduction of an artwork.

VOCAL MUSIC

Vocal Music applicants will perform one of the following selections:

The Star Spangled Banner
America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Amazing Grace

All auditions should be performed from memory. The applicant may bring his/her own accompanist, or one will be provided by the school. Should a copy of the musical selection be needed, please call the school at 346-5620 ext. 101 to request that one be mailed to you. Applicants may not sing a cappella.

In addition to the audition piece, applicants should be prepared to perform a vocalise/warm-up (as directed by the voice faculty), demonstrate their skills in tonal recall (after the playing of three to five random pitches the auditioner sings it back on “la”), and be able to sight read rhythmic and melodic examples.

AFTER YOU HAVE CAREFULLY READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOVE,
PLEASE CLICK BELOW TO BE DIRECTED TO THE

DOUGLAS ANDERSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 2013-2014
ONLINE AUDITION APPLICATION