Welcome!

Welcome to the ISU Bands website of Dr. Patrick Brooks, Director of Bands at Idaho State University. I have developed this website as a repository of helpful information for those students in the various ISU Bands, and to provide easy access to more detailed professional information for those needing more information on myself.

ISU Bands Announcements

Fall Auditions

Auditions for Symphonic Band and Jazz Bands will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (August 25, 26, and 27) of the first week of classes. I will post sign-up sheets for audition time slots on my door (FA 211) by the Wednesday prior to the beginning of classes.

Auditions for required for all students intending to play in any ISU Band. These auditions are used to determine chair placement in an ensemble, and to aid me in determining appropriate literature for the various groups. Typically, if you have played in a high school band, we will be able to find a group for you to perform in.

Students auditioning for Symphonic Band, and possible placement in the Wind Ensemble that meets spring semester, should be prepared to play the following:

Major scales - 2 octaves preferable
A prepared solo with 2 contrasting sections, or two contrasting etudes displaying lyrical and technical aspects of your playing
You will also be asked to sight read

Students auditiong for one of the jazz bands should prepare the following:

Major scales - 2 octaves preferable
A jazz melody or solo transcription performed in the appropriate style
You will also be asked to sight read and play an improvised blues solo (optional)

ISU Wind Ensemble at W/NW CBDNA!!!

I'm pleased and proud to announce that the ISU Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Western/Norhwestern Division Coillege Band Directors Assocition Conference (phew!) in Reno, Nevada. The date of our performance is March 11, 2010. This is a great honor to be selected, and an opportunity for us to really focus our performance activities.

ISU Bands Student Soloist Auditions

As I mentioned last year, this year we will be holding formal auditions to select a small number of students that will have the opportunity to solo with one of the ISU Bands concert ensembles. If you are interested in auditioning to be a student soloist, here's what you need to know:

Auditions will be held Thursday, September 17 from 7 - 9PM in Goranson Hall. A sign-up sheet will be provided the week of auditions.
All auditions must be accompanied by piano.
It is strongly prefered that auditionees audition on a work that is available in an arrangement for band.
Final selection of solo works to be performed with band will be at the director's discretion.

ISU Wind Ensmble and Jazz I Recordings

Check out the link on this page to performances of the Wind Ensemble from this past spring. I'm really pleased with how they turned out! Lot's of great, musical playing.
Congrats.

Just got the recording session bits and pieces from this past spring's Wind Ensemble and Jazz I recordings. Not done yet, but early indications are that they turned out really wee.