...of Planning a Successful Audition  
by D. Krehbiel, Santa Barbara, 1995

I. Preparation (The worst fear is the fear of the unknown.) A. We are actors, trying out for a part in a famous play

1. Know your lines
   • have the music in your heart, your ears and your fingers (heart, head, body)
2. Be in character
   • what emotion or emotions am I portraying
   • what tone colors are appropriate
   • what dynamics are appropriate
3. Be in context
   • what happens before, during and after my passage
   • now does this passage relate to the rest of the movement and the whole work

B. Ask why

1. Why is this particular passage on the list? What are they testing? Technique? Tone? Control? Intonation? High register? Low register? Expressiveness? Dynamic range? Musical understanding? Ensemble playing?
2. What are the traditions?
   • of this piece and composer
   • of this particular instrument section
   • of this particular orchestra
   • of this particular conductor
3. What will the auditions be like
   • physical- stage, screen, numbers, etc.
   • mental- prepare to wait; prepare for backstage showoffs and rumors

II. Practice (the more you do it the easier it gets)

A. Practice Real Music

1. Have an emotional blue print of each passage

2. Practice what you prepared (being in character and context)

3. Play it on the drums

B. Practice in Real Time

1. Practice rhythm- most common error

2. Practice real tempo, but be prepared to go faster or slower if asked

C. Practice Real Dynamics

1. Remember all dynamics are relative

2. Dynamics are also tone colors

D. Practice to Make it Easier (you can’t make it easier by working harder)

1. Practice to make all your days good days

E. Practice Real Conditions

1. Pretend you are doing it for real

2. Put yourself under pressure (play for friends and colleagues)

3. Play each passage the first time like it’s the second time

4. Play with a short or no warm up

5. Play with long warm up or when tired

6. Play at different times of the day (remember time zones)

F. Don’t Over Practice

1. Don’t let yourself get stale or bored

2. Don’t distort through repetition

III. Performance (The attitude of Creative not Caring)

A. Be in Character

1. Let the emotion in the music carry you through

2. Use your emotional blue print

B. Show Off

1. Your chance to show what you can do

2. Your chance to show the first two P’s

C. Give Yourself Permission to Succeed

1. This is a psychological audition as well as a physical one

2. Give yourself permission to be nervous (don’t be nervous about being nervous)

3. Remember worry is the creative mind imagining the worst future

D. Give Yourself over to a Higher Power

1. Ride the bike- drive the car

2. Believe in the power of music

E. Success often comes from the lessons learned from failures

1. Be willing to take chances

2. You can’t get something for nothing

F. Humor Helps (Keep it Lite)

1. This is not life or death

2. Be able to laugh at your situation

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© 2008 Julia Rose