Audition Technique's Options

[Trumpet_Jen]

So bascially I've just sent my applications to music college (RNCM, RWCMD, and Birmingham) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
I often struggle with nerves and stuff, and I'm really worried that no matter how good I can play the music in the comfort and security of my practice room, when It comes to being put in front of an audition pannel, with the pressure of the day its likely I might fall to peices!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

Anyone done music college auditions? Anyone got any tips for dealing with nerves? (although thats a thread that has been discussed before!)

Thankyouu in advance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[notmusimum]

My daughter is auditioning in the autumn on saxophone. She managed to have lessons and did masterclasses over the summer with two of the profs she is interested in learning with which has helped enormously.

Might be worth looking around to see if they are doing any courses or performing near you so you can at least meet them(assuming you haven't already).

[floboe]

I did them last year, I didnt get a lot of help with nerves from my teachers, it didnt really help that I was practising for joint first study auditions.

My advice would be to talk to people around you beforehand, this helped me in my auditions. The staff and students at RWCMD and Birmingham were so helpful and friendly, but I didnt get a very good atmosphere at RNCM, but it is all down to personal experience because some people I have spoken to, said the opposite things. I think a clam and relaxed atmosphere may help you calm your nerves, it did for me.

I had 3 or 4 friends apply to the welsh college last year and said they really wanted to go there. I actually turned up in Cardiff about 2 hours late due to many train cancellations. I had a great audition there and the buildings are fantastic.

I didn't have my parents go with me, but that may help with nerves on the day too.


Good luck and enjoy the experience!

[Fran*Piano]

Is there any way you could get into something where you could perform your pieces in front of an audience? It might help reassure you that you can play your pieces brilliantly, and that bit of extra mental "safety blanket" might just make all the difference.

[Bass Clef]

Have you got any little brothers or sisters? If so, could you ask them to try and deliberately annoy you and put you off while you're playing, so that you can practice staying 'in the zone' no matter what?

EDIT: also just found this: http://www.ism.org/events/info/audition_te...ith_peter_stark

May be more useful than my previous suggestion!

[Trumpet_Jen]

Notmusimum - Good luck to your daughter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) where is she applying to? I had a masterclass/ demonstration thing with one of the trumpet teachers at the royal welsh, but seeing as I didnt really play my peices it wasnt very useful in that respect, it did let me get a feel for the place though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

floboe - They let you audition even though you turned up 2 hours late (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) thats really nice!! Yeahh, I'm taking mum and dad up with me... they'll probably be more relaxed than I am on the day so that should help

Fran*Piano - I'm performing 2 of my peices next saturday... and (because my lessons are at wells cathdral school) in october, I'm going to be doing the performance workshops at Well's... Hopefully that should help... its not quite the same pressure though...

Bass Clef - That ISM workshop thing looks really good! I'm working on that day though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Which sucks... I dont have any brothers or sisters... but I did just practice with the radio on in the room which I thought might have the same effect....

[notmusimum]

Notmusimum - Good luck to your daughter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) where is she applying to? I had a masterclass/ demonstration thing with one of the trumpet teachers at the royal welsh, but seeing as I didnt really play my peices it wasnt very useful in that respect, it did let me get a feel for the place though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thank you!She's applying to RNCM, Trinity and Birmingham there were thoughts of Guildhall too but her teacher hasn't looked at the set pieces with her (sax).

One piece of very useful advice she was given, but can't neccessarily take, was to play pieces that easily fitted with piano, or to take along her own accompanist (will probably do this for RNCM). Officially she has 3 pieces, 2 soprano and 1 alto, and may well use the one that is easier to fit with piano at Trinity. Unfortunately unless she goes for something else she's stuck with the most difficult one. I don't think any decisions have been made about Birmingham with regards to repertoire (she's just started working on something new....).

Last year daughter auditioned for as many things as possible just for the experience and did several festivals just to get used to playing under pressure. The performance course sounds really useful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .

Best of luck to you too!

[Chris H]

I agree with NMM that auditioning for lots of things and doing festivals and masterclasses are really useful. My son gained a lot from doing the Rotary Club Young Musicians competition.

[floboe]

floboe - They let you audition even though you turned up 2 hours late (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) thats really nice!! Yeahh, I'm taking mum and dad up with me... they'll probably be more relaxed than I am on the day so that should help

I turned up in Cardiff 2 hours late but only half and hour late to the audition, I thought I had left loads of time, clearly not! So a 5.5 hour train journey turned in to 7.5 hour train journey- not what I needed on the morning of the audition! Though by the time I got there I was beyond the point of worrying. I had done that all the way there. Everyone was so nice it actually got rid of the nerves as I was auditioning, it was just like being in a lesson with my teacher despite there being 2 men listening and scribbling notes. I had a workshop aswell as the audition with the other oboists, that was interesting too.

[Chris H]

My son enjoyed his audition at RWCMD too. He was auditioned by the head of woodwind, Meyrick Alexander, plus another guy, and he said they were both really really nice. The interview part was more like a very pleasant chat, which certainly isn't the case with some music colleges.

[serendipity]

From our experience (daughter 2 years ago and son applying this year), I would say just try to feel as prepared as you can in every way.

Obviously this means musically - know your pieces well and what you should prepare. You would be surprised at how many people don't know or mix up the requirements for different colleges!

Think more widely about your music, what you might be able to talk about in terms of musical likes and inspirations and how you see your musical life progressing.

Why are you auditioning at that place, what sets it apart for you? What do you want to get out of the course?

Make sure you are really well prepared for getting to the college, make sure you know where you are going and how you are getting there. Allow loads more time than you think you need, perhaps get the train before the one you really need! Dress comfortably but not sloppily. Think about who is going with you - if your parents will help you be calm, great - if they make you more stressed, think about going on your own!

Easier said than done, but try to relax and enjoy it as much as possible. Remember, you are auditioning them too! My daughter found the audition process definitely affected her view of the colleges. Some were definitely more brusque than others.

Having said that, most panels want you to do your best. Royal Welsh stands out as one of the two (Guildhall being the other) who seemed to really make an effort to get to know the candidates and get the best from them in their audition. They were the friendliest but also the most thorough. Don't worry too much about the odd slip-up, they know that everyone is nervous and in general I think they can see past the odd mistake and look at musicality and whether you are a good match for them.

Hope all goes well, I will be joining you in a sigh of relief when it's all over. And for better or worse, you should at least know by Christmas, so not too much waiting around - although it feels like it at the time!

[Devil_Fiddler]

Hi Jen (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm just going in to my third year at Birmingham, so it must be about 4 years since I was applying (blimey (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) ) I auditioned at Birmingham and Welsh, and had auditions at a couple of universities as well.

I think most of what I would say has been said, there's some great advice here, but I think a couple of things to try and bear in mind are firstly that the audition panel want you to do well! They're interested in finding some new great musicians to add to their department, and they'll be hoping that it's you! also, remember that to some extent, the audition and the whole experience on the day is also to do with you choosing whether you want to be studying there. I know for my that there were a couple of places where the whole experience pushed me towards knowing that I didn't want to go there, but maybe the feeling that they are as much under scrutiny as you might help with confindence? I that makes any sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Anyway, good luck with all your preparations, and I'll just echo whoever it was who said that the staff and students at Welsh came across as friendly and welcoming, and I know that practically everyone at Birmingham is as well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)