The soft tune of the scales being played can be heard down the hallway. It’s the sound of hard work and concentration. It’s the sound of band members preparing for All-Region.

Every year, talented band members from all over Northwest Arkansas flock to the tryouts. Some make it, some don’t, but most of them have practiced every day. This year over 600 students tried out Jan. 11 at George Junior High for All-Region Band. That number is nothing compared to three years ago.

“Our region got smaller, three years ago we had the largest region in the state, at like, 1,500 eligible students,” said band director Jeremy Ford.

As for actually making All-Region, Har-Ber has had the most kids make it in this region for the last six years. The majority of the band will be auditioning this year.

“Of our 200 hundred band members, 120 are auditioning for All-Region,” said Mr. Ford.

Last year, senior Carlos Udave made third chair for alto saxophone. That was the result of being prepared and practicing.

“I prepare by myself in a practice room and go over exercises that I have been having trouble with,” said Udave.

The auditioning process is rather simple. The students will be split up into groups by instrument and then receive a card with a number on it. When their number is called they will go into the auditioning room and the judges decide what they want the students to play.

“You go in first and play your prepared pieces and your technical exercises that they choose and then you go across the hall into another room and play your sight reading and scales,” said junior clarinetist Libby Ducote. “Then you’re done and wait for them to tell you your scores and what chair you got.”

Udave has made All-Region four times. He believes that since he has been, he will know what to expect and be better prepared.

“I am better prepared because I have had lessons since then and playing in the jazz band has really exposed the way to deal with things when under pressure,” said Udave.

All-Region, daunting as it is, is a great opportunity for band members. Students go for different reasons but most go because of the scholarships.

“It’s good for scholarships,” said sophomore Katie Casey. “I think it’s fun and I’ve done it for the past two years.”

Casey had an exciting experience last year when she felt like she did badly during her audition but was pleasantly surprised.

“I kind of got nervous in there and messed up, and then when we got results I got first band first chair,” said Casey. “I freaked out and ran to Mr. Shelby because he helped me the entire year. It came as a shock because I was last band last chair.”

Past participants of All-Region have their fair share of memories from the event. Sophomore Megan Wolf remembers an interesting piece of music they had played.

“Our band got to play the Batman theme song and it was probably the crowd’s favorite,” said Wolf.

The auditions only last for one day and students find out their scores at the end of the day.

“It’s a good experience. It really helps improve your technique as a player,” said Ducote.

Out of the 125 that tried out Jan. 11, 79 made All-Region Band. Of that 79, one sophomore, one junior, and five seniors made first-band first-chair.