Preparing for an Audition

Regardless of the type of audition, think of it as a type of job interview.  You want to be as professionally prepared as possible to maximize your chances of getting hired.  In an audition, we want to see what you can do as a performer when you are truly and exceptionally prepared.  It should be a representation of your very best work on a small scale.

 

The first step in preparing a great audition is to find out what the audition is for and when it will be held.  Research the style of the group for which you are auditioning, then select literature best suited for this style.  Some auditions want you to sing a capella (without accompaniment) while others require live accompanists, while others might allow a karaoke CD or pre-recorded accompaniment.  Find out what the audition requires and be sure to follow those requirements.

 

Know your audition pieces forward and backward.  Be able to perform them well, even in distracting situations.  Don’t simply prepare the piece so you can usually make it through, prepare so you almost never make a mistake.  You are likely to be nervous in an audition (nerves mean you care about what you are doing) so prepare so thoroughly that you can focus on truly performing and really representing yourself well.

 

Tips for a Good Audition

• Dress up!  Looking nice says that you care about the audition.  It’s not prom, but it is something special—dress accordingly.

• Arrive early.  Know when and where your audition is so there are no surprises.  Arrive early enough that you can sign in, warm up and calm down before your audition.

• Breathe!  Don’t worry about being nervous, let the nervous energy fuel your performance.  Be sure to talk slowly and clearly and don’t forget to take deep, calming breathes before you sing.

• Be prepared.  As mentioned above, preparation is what an audition is truly about.  Pick your song early and practice it regularly.  Work with a private teacher or take advantage of master classes or mock auditions whenever you can.

• Project your voice.  Many auditions do not use microphones so you have to prove that you can be heard in a large theater without the aid of sound reinforcement.  This doesn’t mean that you sing everything loud; use your dynamics but always support your sound from the diaphragm and use your resonance to get a vibrant and full sound.

• Perform!  Don’t ever just “sing through” a song.  Music is an art that communicates not only pitches and words but also emotion and intentions.  We want to see your face reflect the emotion of the songs and your physical gestures enhance the meaning of the words.

• Your job in an audition is to show up, share what you love, and leave.  It is not to get a job, or a role, or anything else.  With enough auditions the jobs will come, but at the end of the day, you will never know why you did or didn't get a part.

• Judges are people too.  Always say “hello” before you audition and “thank you” afterward.  Never interrupt an adjudicator when he or she is speaking to you and politely accept any criticisms, even if you disagree.  The world of music is a small one and you will very likely be auditioning for or working with these people again later in your life.  Don’t ever burn bridges.

Preparation

Practice

Performance

 

Auditioning for a BHS Choir or Musical

The performing arts at BHS are an educational experience.  As such we are not looking for professional perfection but rather appropriate growth.  Each audition should be better than the one previous as you practice and refine your auditioning skills.

 

We always prefer auditions with CD accompaniments or a live accompanist.  This shows us not only that you can sing, but that you can match pitch and keep time with other musicians. 

 

Accompanying yourself on guitar or piano is an impressive skill, but it is better in a vocal audition to focus on your singing alone.

 

Every audition is a chance for personal growth, but please, only audition if you intend to participate in the choir or show.  If you are given a spot in a performing group, it means someone else did not get it.  It is incredibly unfair to your fellow musicians to not participate in something for which you were selected by audition.

 

We always like to see students dress up for auditions, but not in costumes.  Simply look nice and show us that you care.

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It is always special for the directors when a student really makes a leap of progress – so prepare and practice then really ‘wow’ us at your audition.

 

After an Audition

Regardless of the outcome of an audition, be gracious to the directors and other performers.  There will be thousands of opportunities to perform throughout your life.  Sometimes you will get exactly what you want, but usually you will not.  Every opportunity to perform is an opportunity to learn and grow.  Accept whatever the director’s decision is and then find a way to make yourself, your choir or your show the best it can possibly be.

 

Once you are in a choir or a show you must continue to work hard and strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.  The audition is only the “first impression,” the rest of the process is where you will develop your reputation.  A bad reputation can ruin your career and a good reputation can open doors for opportunities for years to come.  No one ever said the life of a performer was easy, but if you stick to your commitments and always try to find ways to continually improve, you will find that life extremely rewarding.

 

Choosing a Song

Often young singers sabotage their own auditions by waiting to find the “perfect song.”  There is no such thing.  Pick a good song and make it great through preparation and practice.  There are a few things to consider when picking audition repertoire.

 

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• Style.  Keep in mind the nature of the work for which you are auditioning.  If you are auditioning for a popular entertainment job use popular music; musical theater for Broadway-style jobs and art music for conservatory or all-state auditions.

• Range.  Many currently popular songs have a very limited vocal range and so don’t really show off your voice.  Since the point of an audition is to show off your voice, be sure to pick music that does just that.  Also keep in mind your vocal range.  Some songs are better suited for altos and basses than tenors and sopranos and vice versa.  You shouldn’t have to strain for any notes in your song and the bulk of the song should be in the part of your range where your voice sounds and feels best.

• Requirements.  Some auditions require two contrasting songs while others only want to hear 24 measures of a single piece.  Know what the audition is looking for and plan accordingly.  If you are only doing a portion of a song, be sure to pick the part of the song that gives you the best performance.

• Current Hits, Standards and Obscure Works.  There are literally hundreds if not thousands of great audition pieces out there for every voice type.  Some are tried and true standards that almost every musician knows; others are from cutting edge shows that are virtually unknown.  There are some songs that have been performed so many times that they should generally be avoided (Part of Your World, Reflection, My Heart Will Go On) and others are perhaps too controversial to be a good audition piece (certain selections from Ave Q, Rent).  To find the great audition songs you do have to do some research.  A vocal coach can help you, but you can find music for yourself by listening to Broadway CDs (often available for free from the public library), seeing musicals at local theaters, and using the internet to find sheet music and recorded performances.  It is work, but it pays off in a memorable audition.

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Ideally, after several years of auditioning, you should have a portfolio of a variety of songs in a variety of styles.  Keep revisiting these pieces to keep them fresh, that way if an audition comes up with short notice, you already have material ready.  College and professional auditions frequently ask for two or three songs of contrasting styles so be sure to keep your portfolio of audition material current and diverse.

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