<p>This might explain the "destroy the copies" lanquage you saw at one of your schools. Some of my S's songs for his voice auditions are actually copies his voice teacher made for him. S does not actually have "originals" to either bring or give to an accompanist or judge. When I called one of the schools that requires music sent ahead of time (one of his schools doesn't require that), they said they have to put that "original music" stuff on their web site or letters, etc. to be square with the copyright laws. It is to make sure that somebody in the process has actually purchased the music that is being used. They said if S didn't have true originals it was ok.</p>
<p>[note: S does have several song collection books, and some of his pieces are in books and we made copies from the books. Others were copies from the teacher's books.]</p>
<p>The August '08 edition of the American String Teacher journal has an excellent article (Mastering the Unknown: Guildelines for Succesful Orchestra Auditions).</p>
<p>I do believe you need to hold membership in ASTA to access articles off their website, but ask your orchestra director, private string teacher, or youth orchestra personnel if they can copy the article for you.</p>
<p>Info is pertinent to all levels of auditioning.</p>
<p>I'm bumping the audition thread to revive this great information for this year's auditioning seniors. I can't believe we're already starting to schedule these! Any recent grads have any more great advice/experience?</p>
<p>last winter i had 8 auditions all over the midwest and north east coast. i know that there is school and it must be hard to take all the time off that is necessary but if u want to have the best chance for your kid to be relaxed and ready for the audition you have to be at the place of the audition at least 2 days before, that way u get to know the lace have a chance to meet with faculty and u know the routine of the audition day and ur prepared.
a few of my tips that i find are necessary especially in winter are these:
* have a lint roll(if u are wearing black or a drk color be sure to take lint off(i had a member of faculty c me do it and tell me that he was impressed!!)
* if u r walking in high heels don't!!! wait till a few minutes to the audition otherwise ur feet will hurt from all the walking around and u might look uncomfortable while walking in to the room and standing for a long time!! i wore my uggs which not only were comfortable but also kept me warm!!!!
another thing about shoes especially 4 singers never wear shoes with really high heels because no one will believe u r actually comfortable in them and the main rule in singing is being able to be comfortable while u sing!!!!
* always wear stockings if ur legs are showing!!!
* try to look presentable it doesn't mean taht u have to look like ur going to a perform at a gala just show that u put some thought into it.
* have a bottle of water and "Riccola" their really good 4 ur throat!!! and tissues!!!!
<em>before going in to the audition mak sure u get a chance to talk to ur accompanist!! and even if he doesn't do the best job don't let anyon c it, remember his job is to follow u not the other way around.
*it is always god to have someone with u to help with what u need just tell the person that for this particular day they are ur helpers and nothing more don't let them interfere with your peace of mind(yes even if it's ur parents).
*make copies of everything such as: resume, repertoire list and such and have them binded so not only do u look like a pro but ur always ready 4 anything.
*a tip i got from my teacher who was also doing auditions was have ur hair pulled back from ur face!!! the commitee wants to c ur face and how u express ur piece.
*</em> the most important thing is to walk into the room confident(not over) and have fun with what ur doing be polite and friendly during questioning but again not over talkative!!</p>
<p>I'm going to be the voice of disagreement on part of the above post. DS had seven auditions. He NEVER got there TWO days in advance. He DID arrive the night before so he could get a decent night's sleep. If you want to meet with faculty, you need to check to see if they are even available during the audition time period. At some schools, they simply are not. DS was able to schedule times to meet with faculty at only two schools during the audition weeks. The others were not available for meetings, trial lessons or conversations around the audition time period. For the others, he had already been to the schools on previous trips. He did this because he really didn't want to waste his time applying to schools where he had no prior lessons or conversations with the faculty on his instrument. For the two schools where he saw folks audition weekend, in one case he had already had a previous lesson with that person (the previous spring). In the second case, the faculty knew he was traveling from a distance and arranged for him to have two lessons AFTER the auditions were completed (one was later that day, and the other the following day...a weekend day).</p>
<p>Lots of good advice but I don't think it is realistic to be at the audition locale for two days before the audition. Maybe I misunderstood that, so correct me if I did. I also don't think it is necessary. Certainly, give yourself plenty of time to find the place. My D auditioned at 6 schools. We had visited each of them before the audition and she asked where the auditions were held and asked to see the venue whenever possible. We were within driving distance of these places so it was doable.</p>
<p>sorry to upset u i think we r all entitled to our opinions all i did was recommend!!! some people don't get a chance to visit the places before hand!!!! + if u arrive the night before ur kid won't necessarily get enough sleep or would still be tired after the traveling don't forget ur not the one who has to audition the next day!!!! + it is a known fact that if u travel by plane it makes u groggy and for singers has an effect on ur voice!!!! so u may be o.k with coming the night before but not everyone!!! i didn't say definitly meet faculty only that it gives u a chance!!!!</p>
<p>isravoice, I think you were improperly jumped on! For anyone who can add an extra travel day - I'd go for it when possible. Many things can upset an audition schedule - especially travel from a distance and by air. It's not always possible or necessary to add a day, but for 1st time auditioners and for important auditions, I wouldn't dismiss the recommendation out of hand!</p>
<p>Instrumentalists - some of the schools, for instance NYC conservatories, require auditions with accompanist. The schools e-mail contact(s) names as the auditions approach. If you are not bringing your own accompanist (and schools somtimes encourage auditioners to use their pianists not your own), an extra day or EARLY arrival the day before the scheduled audition can facilitate meeting and rehearsing with the accompanist. This can be great for nerves - even if the collaborative pianist can follow ANYTHING you do!</p>
<p>My response was directed to the words "have to." I would agree that getting there as early as you can certainly can't hurt, but I wouldn't want parents looking at this board to think they "have to" get there 2 days early or their child will be at a disadvantage. That is simply unrealistic for lots of kids - expense wise and also because of time away from school. Lots of kids are penalized for excessive absences.</p>
<p>Adding my $.01 (adjusted downward due to current economic realities), the "have to" may be read as too strong. I read it as doing whatever you can to minimize stress beforehand and allowing some unfettered time to explore a bit. </p>
<p>It does add a bit of flexibility by being early, by hours, or days if you can, but it can pose an additional financial strain on those with stretched and limited resources. </p>
<p>isravoice - all opinions welcome - that's what makes this such a useful board. I personally didn't feel that Thumper or Cartera were "jumping on you" - just offering a counterpoint (something all musicians should be familiar with :) ). I also note that you are a vocalist; my experience is for instrumental. Don't know if that makes a difference. At any rate, I applaud you for being able to handle 8 auditions! Wow. And I hope you've landed somewhere you are excited about.</p>
<p>I've been through the process with two kids. In every case we arrived the night before. More than that would have been impossible both for financial reasons and because s/d was missing enough school (unexcused) as it was. In some cases, it would have been possible to arrive same day, but we did feel that having a day before allowed us to explore and get our bearings, and find the place ahead of time that we were supposed to be at, and minimize the horrors caused by delayed flights or missed connections. With the Curtis, Juilliard auditions - they were back to back. Arrive in Philly Friday night, audition Curtis Saturday morning (unaccompanied), take the train to NYC Saturday afternoon, meet with Juilliard accompanist Saturday night, audition Juilliard Sunday afternoon, fly home Sunday evening. Whirlwind trip, but there was no other way to do it. Mannes and MSM had their auditions on that Monday and Tuesday, I believe, and some of S's friends did back to back to back to back!</p>
<p>Interestingly, now that S is taking professional auditions, he continues to do it this way. Flies in the day before, gets his bearings, finds the audition site, gets a good night's sleep.</p>
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Interestingly, now that S is taking professional auditions, he continues to do it this way. Flies in the day before, gets his bearings, finds the audition site, gets a good night's sleep.
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<p>My son as well continues to take pro auditions, and the day before strategy has worked for him. However, if he can squeeze in that extra day before or after to explore the area or specific sites of interest, visit friends, he'll do it. He did this in a recent audition for the President's Own, killing the day before at the Smithsonian.</p>
<p>Oh, I'm so happy to see everyone weighing in, and S2 has his first audition in late November. Thanks everyone! Anyone have any insights about jazz auditions specifically?</p>
<p>SJTH, my son did jazz auditions last year so if you have any specific questions I'd be glad to answer them. There are a few subtle differences between jazz and classical departments to my unschooled eye, and the places he auditioned might overlap yours, in which case, I could speak specifically about those: UMass, Hartt, Purchase, MSM, New School and NEC.</p>
<p>I certainly did not mean to jump on isravoice - there are really great suggestions in that post - I just commented on a portion of one. These suggestions are needed and welcomed.</p>
<p>My son has his first audition in early Dec. (cello). Any suggestions for proper attire? </p>
<p>Obviously nice, Sunday best but he's a little on the edgy side but in very good taste. Wearing a long sleeve white dress shirt and black pants will not match his personality & it might even interfere with his confidence for a good audition if he feels he's weirdly dressed (in his opinion). He's more of a paisley dress shirt, tie, and pinstripes. But he certainly wouldn't want to be disrespectful & inappropriately dressed either.</p>
<p>Not to change the subject rudysmom, but Isravoices suggestion for the lint roller reminded me of another suggestion. If the music school has put out doughnuts for the early auditioners----remember, if you are wearing black----STAY AWAY FROM THE POWDERED SUGAR DOUGHNUTS. I speak from experience. Spent a long hour in the ladies restroom trying to remove the traces of white from D's otherwise elegant black wool suit. I REPEAT--NO POWDERED SUGAR DOUGHNUTS EVER. ;)</p>