Key Dates & Location
- Audition Date:
- Saturday, February 28, 2026
- Location:
- Century II Convention Hall, Wichita, KS
- Registration:
- Through your KMEA District (contact your band director)
Kansas KMEA
All-State Band Audition Guide
Prepare for the Kansas All-State band auditions at Century II Convention Hall, Wichita — February 28, 2026
Eligibility Requirements
To audition for Kansas KMEA All-State, you must meet all of the following:
- ✓Be a performing member of your District KMEA Band, Jazz Ensemble, or Orchestra
- ✓Be an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing at your high school
- ✓Meet KSHSAA eligibility requirements
- ✓Have your director submit your audition entry and payment
Scale Requirements
All scales are performed as marked below. Precision and consistency matter more than speed.
Major Scale
Slurred up, tongued down at quarter note = MM 60
Chromatic Scale
As written, slurred up, tongued down at quarter note = MM 60
Note: Specific scales (Bb major, F major, etc.) are assigned by the KMEA. Check your district materials for your assigned scales. Download and study the audition excerpts from KMEA's website.
Etude & Solo Requirements
Your district provides assigned etudes and solos specific to your instrument. Sections of required materials are posted on the KMEA website. Contact your band director for your specific assignments.
→ Download audition excerptsPreparation Strategy (2 Weeks Out)
With the audition on February 28, focus your remaining practice time on execution and consistency:
Now through Feb 26
Isolate weak passages. Spend 80% of practice time on spots you miss.
Daily practice
Play through assigned scales at audition tempo once. No stopping.
Record & listen
Record yourself 3x weekly. Playback reveals what your ears miss in the moment.
Slow it down
Practice 20 BPM below audition tempo. Perfect the technique. Speed comes last.
Feb 27 (day before)
Light warmup only. 30-min session focused on confidence, not perfection.
Audition day
Nail your first note. Judges form impressions in the first 4 bars. You've got this.
Practice Tips for All-State Success
- →Practice scales in random order — prevents muscle memory from masking real improvement
- →Warm up with long tones, not scales — save your fresh embouchure for the work
- →Record every audition run — you hear different things in playback than session
- →Practice the audition ritual — same warmup, same order, same mindset you'll use Feb 28
- →Sleep 8 hours the week before — your tone production and mental clarity both depend on it
- →Bring water and reeds/supplies — have backups, but your primary instrument should feel familiar
Track Progress with Session Feedback
Virtunity scores your scales and exercises after each session, showing you exactly where your pitch accuracy, rhythm, and timing stand. See measurable progress week to week leading into your February 28 audition.
Get startedBuilt for all 10 band instruments. $15 to download.