I have an audition for my county wind band/orchestra on Wednesday (cue "ARGH"), and it is at 7pm. I've never done an audition this late in the day - any tips for keeping me focused until this time (i.e not "I'm sleepy, let's do nothing" mode)

Do a little practice around that time for the next couple of nights.

Good advice sbhoa! Trust me Nicki. When it comes to your audition you will be focused - without any problem. Good luck! Let us know how you get on!

I might be, but my tongue may not be (tired tongue trying to double tongue isn't a good idea)

Maybe you should keep talking to a minimum for the next couple of days.....

Heheh. Is that a hint?

I seem to play better at around that time in the evening, or even later - first thing in the morning it's as if my tongue / mouth haven't "loosened up", and in the afternoon I am in "siesta" mode, so I think 7 p.m. would be quite a good time for an audition.

Good luck anyway - I'm sure you'll do really well, whatever time it is

Hazel

Best of luck!

I usually play better in evening concerts. Don't know why. Just make sure you don't have a hard day before, that's where I've had problems with evening concerts. Plan so you won't be stressing over anything else that day. And of course it means you can sleep as long as you need to, unlike diploma exams at 9.30am. (I was fine though)

Good luck

Well, today's the day before, and sensibly, I am going on a Sheffield open day
It would have been audition then open day if the music service had listened to me!

maybe earlier in the day have a short practice playing easy stuff so you can tell yourself when you go into the audition room: "calm down nicki, you do know how to play the flute, and well, you did it earlier" or something like that

make sure you keep the blood sugar up - light lunch, and a good snack later in the day!

all the best.

Try shifting the times you wake up and the times you go to bed, so wake up later and stay up later - make sure you get the same amount of sleep, but just make it so 7 is as late as it would have been, good luck!

I had an audition at 9pm a little while ago and I was worried I wouldn't focus enough but when I got in there I was fine. I think the adrenalin rush keeps you awake anyway! Try not to panic during the day and wear yourself out though! Just stay calm and drink lots of water and eat snacks.

Gooood luck!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it's tomorrow, and my pieces were sounding bad tonight

Good!
Bad dress rehearsal = good first night.
Don't do any more practice. If you feel the urge to, just take the music and have a read through and hear how you'd like it to sound. All the best

I hope so. I've had some nice compliments recently (the last one being that my flute teacher says that my tone is better than her student who just passed her diploma ), I just hope I can do myself justice

Good luck! You'll do well, Nicki. Let us know how you get on.

Very best of luck tomorrow, Nicki!

Yes, good luck!

I agree good luck!!! I remember you talking about this audition on the woodwind forum. Is it the allegro from the Bach Sonata that you're doing?

Oh how I love that piece...and JS Bach's music in general

The very best of luck for your audition Nicki.

It is - also Danse de la Chevre.

In 12 hours it'll all be over!

++++++++++++))))))))))))))))))

*sends positive vibes to Nicki*

You'll be great!!

Eeeee

Is that the noise you make when hit with positive vibes???

Deep breaths.....and relax!!

Good luck for tonight, Nicki.

Good luck Nicki! Fingers crossed for you!

It'll be great! Let us know how it went

No!

It's in 4 hours...

And, despite any thoughts you have to the contrary, you will be fine. You're a great musician and auditions are just "one of those things" musicians have to endure.

Just remember, I shall have my pointy stick at the ready if you aren't totally positive about this.

Go and knock 'em dead.

At least it is only about 15 minutes long...

My Music teacher said to me today that when I played one of the pieces I'll be playing last week in a concert that it was the first time that I'd sounded so convincing about something (ie. that my piece actually was about a dancing goat!!!)

You'll do great, Nicki: we have faith in you!

Best of luck, Nicki!

Good Luck Nicki.... not that you need it


Oh, have just realised that your audition was half an hour ago. Oh well.

Retrospective good wishes are better than none at all

Exactly And I did wish her good luck yesterday in the cafe, I think. Because I remember talking about it. Anyway, she might have been playing when I posted, so the good vibes might be worth something! Lol.

Bacccchhhhhh (or bacckkk )

Dissection.

Got there about 6.30, and started warming up, was suprisingly not as nervous as I thought, felt rather tingling but not too bad.

7 o'clock was called up to the room, but had to wait for 10 minutes before I was allowed in.

Got in, and I played Bach first, couldn't breathe in it, but it wasn't too bad! Then I did Danse de la Chevre, and it was the best I could have played it in nervous circumstances.

They said a couple of things to me - after discussion about what 'chevre' was, they asked me about the harmonic on the end - I had played it wrongly, but they also said I had improved, so yay. They laughed at me when I said I didn't want to play piccolo

Sounds like you're pleased with it - good for you!
Now - no more mental dissection - enjoy the rest of your evening now that that particular stress is out of the way!

Thanks Fen

I'm going to make a cake now for my History teacher

Well done, I'm proud of you.

Well done Nicki - sounds as though you played really well!

(and you didn't panic!)

Well done, Nicki, I suspect you did brilliantly from what you said and from your usual self-appraisal

Well done too for not being too nervous *hugs* good job, flutesis!!

When do you find out for sure?

Well done, Nicki.

Well, I did for my sight reading


Results sent out on 28th July

Well done!

Well done Nicki - it sounds like you've had a great audition!

Well done Nicki! Sounds like you've done well! (What's wrong with playing the piccolo?)

It's very high, and I wouldn't be confident on it.

Piccs are evil! Death to the shrieking stick!!