Auditions

When preparing for auditions, the simulation idea as mentioned in the Performing section can be a very helpful tool. However, there are many other variables to consider. As you practice visualizing the day, be sure to include a great deal of flexibility in your imagination. It is impossible to be certain of how the audition will be run or if scheduling will be shifted. Although a bit overwhelming, the best audition advice that has been shared with my was from Daniel Silver: BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING!

Traveling/Logistics: If the audition is in your area and you are driving, plan to arrive at least an hour before your time or earlier. Allow for unexpected delays such as traffic or weather. If you are traveling by plane, plan to arrive at least the day before the audition or sooner. If there is a significant difference in altitude, you may wish to arrive several days beforehand in order to acclimate to the changes in how your reeds will respond and how your lungs will function. You may need to make some adjustments with phrasing and breathing in your music. Also, auditions can run behind and/or last all day with several rounds. It can be a true test of your mental and physical stamina. Make sure you are well-rested and plan to bring a few snacks or meals.

Meals: Bananas are nature’s beta blockers, so it can be helpful for some musicians to eat a banana about an hour before playing. Otherwise, I would shy away from any large or heavy meals. If you have a general meal routine, try to stay as close to it as possible regarding meal times as well as what the meal includes. The idea is to introduce as few new variables as possible.

Warming Up: For most orchestral auditions, you will likely have a private room in which to warm up. For younger players auditioning for youth ensembles, you will probably have to warm up in one room with other players. Keep in mind that everyone there is in line for the same prize or the same job as you. It is wonderful to think that everyone has only the best intentions, however, some auditioning musicians may actually plan to try to intimidate those around them by playing through the excerpts loudly or very quickly. There will be others who are just amazing players and have no intentions to scare anyone. The main thing to remember is to stay focussed on your goal. Some are really ready to win the job and others may just be trying to improve their auditioning skills. A strategy that helps me to stay calm is to warm up very slowly, play through PARTS of the excerpts at half speed if technical and only the essential moments of any slower excerpts. I also bring along a favorite piece of music to play as a warm up that has nothing to do with what I will play that day. This helps me to essentially warm up with something I love playing without allowing the audition music itself to intimidate me. Generally, your best run is usually your first run of the day. If you play the music over and over at performance tempi, you may find yourself building anxiety and tension in your body which could lead to disasters when you are called upon to play. Be sure to take plenty of breaks while warming up and swab out your instruments frequently. When your time is drawing near, stop playing so that your mind and body will be fresh. Hopefully you will find some of these ideas to be helpful.

The Audition: Listen carefully, follow directions and ask questions. It is best to avoid surprises if possible. When your time is called, be sure you have everything you need. Take a deep breath, let it out and then enter the room with confidence. If you can see the judges, feel free to smile and allow them to greet you. Set up quickly and carefully. Make sure the stage or room is set up to your preferences (stand number, stand height, chair, extra surface for swab and/or water, etc). Play a few notes to acclimate to the acoustics. Some musicians may even choose to play a few notes in several areas of the stage or room in order to find the area that allows them to produce their best sound. If you choose to do this, move fairly quickly. It is important to feel confident in your performance space, but at the same time, you want to avoid any unnecessary delays. Once you are ready to begin, play through your materials one after another allowing a short mental and physical break in between each excerpt. When finished, if your panel is visible, you may acknowledge or thank them. Exit quickly yet carefully with all of your belongings.

Mistakes: Perhaps by nature or default or maybe even occupational hazard, musicians are perfectionists. It is understandable considering we spend hours and hours perfecting maybe 10 seconds of music. To add to the pressure, you only have one chance to prove that you can play that 10 seconds of music amazingly. It is pretty much inevitable that you will have at least one mistake or area of weakness during an audition. Practice recovering from mistakes as quickly as possible and work to prevent them from distracting you further. It is also important to give yourself permission to make mistakes. This can lessen the pressure of the situation and will ultimately allow you to perform better. Under pressure, I feel a sort of release when I make my first mistake. I feel I can then relax once the mistake has happened and I have made it through. Keep in mind that mistakes effect everyone differently for various reasons. The important thing is to understand how you process mistakes and prepare yourself accordingly.

Final Thoughts: Even under the best of circumstances, audition days are a physical and mental challenge. I have had good ones and bad ones and everything in between. But no matter the outcome, it takes a lot out of you. The more you put yourself in that challenging environment, whether it be auditioning or performing, the easier it becomes to stay calm (or calmer) and focussed. Ultimately, it is just one day out of your life and hardly an indicator of your overall abilities as a musician! If you have a tough audition, just check it off your list and move on to the next challenge. If you have a great audition, remember that feeling so it can help you recover from the tough ones.

Resources: A wonderful resource for learning to trust yourself and avoid the perfectionism trap is The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green. Richie Hawley also wrote an article called “Your Next Audition” from which musicians of all levels can benefit.