Your Basic Audition Guide, by My Sheet Music Transcriptions
Are you looking for some audition tips? This is your place! Welcome to your Basic Guide for “Auditioners”.
Auditioning is a very stressful and demanding part of making music. In recent years, the field has become even more competitive, and it’s understandable that all this pressure can affect your performance.
The way auditions are conducted and the level of demands can make you forget that, actually, you are not the one making the final decisions. For that reason, one of our strongest recommendations is to prioritize yourself, instead of focusing exclusively on the music.
Don’t forget that having fun should always be your goal! To help you enjoy your audition and its preparation, the experienced musicians of My Sheet Music Transcriptions have listed 7 tips to help you get ready for the big day. Are you ready?
1. Focus on your preparation
In an audition context, there are always factors you can’t control, but what you can certainly control is your own preparation. The best way to calm your nerves before and during your performance is to know that you have done everything you can to be well-prepared.
Making a long-term plan, setting feasible daily goals, and recording yourself are the most important ingredients for a great preparation process! Also, practicing in front of the mirror sharpens your awareness of the movements you are performing. You need to let the music move you and have fun doing it!
2. Practice slowly and carefully
The first basic elements that usually eliminate candidates are rhythm and pitch. In this case, the metronome is your holy grail! Start practicing with the metronome, even in the slower tempos. And gradually increase the speed to the actual tempo of the piece you are playing.
Practicing slowly is essential to take your music to the next level – it allows your muscle memory to learn every movement it needs to perform! To keep your rhythm under control, you can use the rhythm subdivision and different rhythm patterns that you can practice daily, as scales or exercises.
3. Pay attention to the details
Paying absolute attention to everything in the score is something that distinguishes applicants who make it to the next round. You need to know not only your own part, but also the piano and orchestral score!
Also, background knowledge about the composer and the style of the piece will help you find the appropriate playing style. Read about the historical context of the piece, listen to different versions of it, and get accurate and high-quality sheet music to practice!
At My Sheet Music Transcriptions, we can provide you with customized sheet music for any piece – for you and your musicians! Send us an audio file, and get your sheet music transcribed note-for-note by professional musicians. Reach out through our web page for more info!
4. Visualization is an essential
Visualization is a whole topic in professional sports, but not usually in the arts. However, it can definitely affect the quality of your preparation and performance!
To help you feel more confident and familiar, try to visualize the space you will be performing in while practicing. Think about the stage, the lights, the people who will be listening to you.
And the most important: think about the initial tempo of the piece! The more detailed you are, the more helpful it will be.
5. Practice in front of an audience
Performing and going through your repertoire in front of an audience several times is one of the most useful things you can do. This way, you will experience the process of auditioning before the actual audition!
Also, the feedback from your colleagues and friends will help you improve. It’s about going through as many nerve-wracking scenarios as possible before you take the stage.
6. Take care of yourself
Our body and mind are key to this process, so it is indispensable to pay attention to alignment, movement, and overall balance. And, of course, don’t forget to get enough rest, eat healthy, and sleep well. This way, you can prevent injuries and chronic pain that can occur along the way.
Also, making time for your friends, hobbies, and family will help you maintain a healthier relationship with music. In summary, make sure you set aside enough high-quality time to rest!
7. Feel de musicality!
Finally, remember that no one listens to music counting the bars or mistakes – people do it because they like it! The next time it gets nerve-wracking, remember to focus on the musicality and beauty of the music itself. That’s why we’re all here, to have fun with it!
