A. Kori Hill
As a classical musician, one of the main things we do–besides get better at our instrument or voice type, is audition. Whether for school, an opera company, or an orchestra, auditioning is a major professional component of our field. Even with its issues and limitations, knowing how to prepare for one is important. So today, we’ll go over some basic things you’ll need to be ready to do.
Now, depending on what you audition for will determine what you’re asked to play. Today, we’ll focus on the basics of preparing for a college audition, because it’s at this point where you should start being more aware (if you’re not already) of your strengths and weaknesses as a player and how to put your best foot forward in the 10-15 minutes you’re in front of the audition committee.
#1: Know the Audition Requirements
Make sure you review the audition requirements of the college you’re applying to. If you’re applying to more than one, you should see some overlap: for vocalists it may one song in English, one in another language, for string players it may be a movement from a sonata and a movement from a concerto. Ultimately, the committee wants to hear how you can interpret music from different eras and styles; how developed your technique is; and how expressive you are. They’re not looking for perfection, but for someone who is focused and dedicated to growing as an artist.
#2: PRACTICE SIGHT READING!
I know; I couldn’t stand sight reading either! But I’m so glad my private teachers made me practice it, and if you haven’t yet, ask your teacher to help you get started! To practice sight reading, you should start with material either around your level of ability or a little bit lower. In an audition, you have only a few seconds to scan the music before you start playing, so when you practice, make sure you always check the Key signature, Time signature, Dynamics, and Accidentals. If you mess up, don’t stop! It’s important to show that even when you stumble you can recover and keep going.
#3: Select Pieces That Show Your Strengths
Your teacher should suggest pieces that show your technical and expressive strengths. But on the off chance you’re not getting much guidance, ask yourself: What are the pieces that I play well? How do those pieces show off how I interpret a phrase and how good my technique is? Which of the required pieces shows off these skills? If you’re feeling uncertain, sit down and talk with a teacher or another mentor.
#4: Hold a Mock Audition
Practice makes consistent, so be sure to do some trial runs prior to the big day. This should be a few times several months before your audition. Whether your mock judge is your pet, a friend, a family member, or your teacher, it’s good to get experience playing through the whole process to it’s not totally strange when you do it for real.
#5: Reward Yourself!
When that audition’s over, be sure to treat yourself. You’ve put in a lot of work. Though we like to tell ourselves audition results are based on merit, that’s not always the case. People have bad days even if they’ve adequately prepared; people win jobs even when they think they played horribly. The point is that no matter the result, you need to honor the work that you put in!
