Successful Audition Experience

Contributing Factors to a Successful Audition Experience

Audition is similar to a job interview. Appearance is important.
1. Choose a professional outfit
  1. Men – suit with tie
  2. Women – professional suit, dresses, etc.
2. Make sure you are comfortable in dress clothing
3. Try different outfits
4. Make sure you can breath properly
  1. Choose a shirt whose neck size is a bit larger for you
  2. Choose a coat in which your arms can move freely
5. Practice with dress clothing on prior to audition, including shoes
6. Consider borrowing clothes if needed
7. Things to consider
8. Downplay any display of jewelry
9. Wearing body piercing
10. Cover tattoos
11. Develop a relationship with professor/school
12. Familiarize yourself with music facilities in relaxed setting
13. Ask what and how to improve
14. Fill out applications in a timely manner, know deadlines
15. Include Music Resume, describe in section 4c below
16. Select Audition date that allows time to prepare
17. Be aware of deadlines, submitting recording
  1. Mail dvd
  2. Document sharing
    1. YouTube university code
    2. Dropbox
18. Schedule a lesson, prior to audition, with instructor at the school
19. Music application / Scholarship application / Audition Dates

Music Selection
1. Refer to the university’s audition procedure
2. Appropriate material may be discovered by
  1. Discuss with a music teacher or trained music person
  2. View solo lists provided by state music associations
  3. Research university websites, some private studios list repertoire for lower division college students.
3. Research
4. Find recordings
  1. YouTube is a great resource
  2. Local or music library
  3. Private instructor
5. Research the pieces that your are performing
6. Composer
7. Time Period
8. Any other pertinent information
9. It is best to prepare scales
  1. Start with major, as many as possible
  2. Minor is a plus
10. Major and Minor scales
11. May be one octave, to octaves or range of instrument
12. 3 types of minor scales
  1. Natural minor
  2. Harmonic minor
  3. Melodic minor
13. Ask private teacher, music teacher for method books
14. Go to a music store and look at method books
  1. Choose something that gradually increases in difficulty
  2. Start at least a month before audition
15. Prepare Scales and Apreggios
16. Practice Sight Reading

Live Audition conditions
1. Research the seasonal climate during audition dates
  1. Humidity, East vs. West Coast
  2. Temperature, North vs. South
2. Arrive a day or two prior to audition
3. Acclimate to climate
4. Practice in music building
  1. Practice what you need to practice
  2. Do not over practice
  3. Do not “show off” ability
5. Building familiarity will reduce stress/ anxiety
6. Tour
7. Meet with professors
8. Tour music facilities
9. Remember humility!
10. Make a connection, ask about:
  1. Majors
  2. University environment
  3. Professors
  4. Performance venues
  5. Performance opportunities in community
11. Check out the campus
12. Talk with current students

What to bring to the audition
1. Music
  1. Your music, if not memorized
  2. Music for faculty
  3. Music for accompanist
  4. Recording
2. Instrument, metronome, tuner, accessories, pencil, paper
3. Musical Resume include
4. Name, address
5. High School, GPA
6. Favorite bible verse and calling
7. List all private teachers, which instrument(s), and length of study.
8. High school ensembles, chair placement
9. Church ensembles
10. Community ensembles
11. Any musical camps attended, i.e. Camp Electric
12. Solo experience, district/state contest ratings
13. Honor Ensembles
14. Will I get to study with the main professor?
15. How often and for how long are the lessons?
16. Is there a master class or seminar?
17. What can I do to be prepared for my first lesson?
18. Should I purchase and begin practicing from certain method books?
19. Is there a basic list of equipment that I should own upon acceptance to the studio?
20. A list of questions you want to ask
21. Audition outfit

Recorded audition
1. Follow dress/appearance recommendations listed above
2. Make sure you have quality equipment
  1. Don’t try to record in one session
  2. Find a trained professional to assist
    1. Private teacher
    2. High/Middle School music teacher
    3. Trained professional
  3. Critique recording, make sure you have represented yourself to the best of your ability
  4. You may use the best “takes,” but do not use studio editing to correct pitch, missed notes/rhythms.
3. Choose a proper performance room
4. High School Instrumental/Vocal rehearsal room or performance venue
5. Church
6. Community center
7. Consult private instructor, at least one month.
8. Write down schedule with individual target goals
9. Set aside rehearsal time to prepare
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing during orientation prior to fall semester
Types of testing
1. Written music theory
  1. Knowledge of bass and treble clef
  2. Notate scales in various clefs
  3. Spell chords
  4. Analyze SATB music
2. Aural music theory (ear training)
3. Pitch matching
  1. Single pitches
    1. In student’s range
    2. Outside of student’s range
  2. Simultaneous pitches
  3. Sing lower pitch
  4. Sing higher pitch
4. Identify
5. Intervals
6. Chords
7. Harmonic progressions
8. Melody
9. Harmonic progression
10. Rhythm
11. Transcribe
12. Music preparation
13. Sight reading
14. Transposition
15. Harmonizing melody
16. Piano proficiency
How to prepare
TNU Online Summer Music Theory Course
1. Written theory concepts
2. Aural theory concepts
High school music theory
Community music theory courses
Community centers
YMCA
Libraries
Search web
MacGamut CD Rom (used at TNU)
Piano lessons with emphasis on theory
Steady, consistent preparation. You cannot cram these concepts