<p>I had an audition yesterday at one of my top schools. The accompanist didn't give us a chance to set the tempo before our audition. My ballad was played much faster than I've ever rehearsed it, and it threw me off a lot. I kept singing it at the correct tempo, hoping that she would notice this and follow me. She didn't, though...I felt like my performance was negatively affected by this. In addition to my vocals being affected because I couldn't breathe as much, I'm worried it may have seemed as if I didn't know what I was doing, because my tempo was different than the accompanist's. After my audition, I texted my voice teacher and told her what happened, and she said I should've either stopped the accompanist and told her the correct tempo, or said something to the auditors after I sang. I feel like this could be seen as unprofessional, but I'm not sure. Anyone know what should be done in a situation like this?</p>
<p>The same thing happened to me at a top school, I would not be surprised if it was the same school. I did end up stopping about 8 bars into my song-she was about 2 measures ahead of me in my ballad.</p>
<p>Was that this past weekend?</p>
<p>No, it was back the first weekend of January. I would love if anyone could chime in about the ideal way to handle this kind of situation in a college audition setting, I have no doubts it will happen again in some way during the audition process.</p>
<p>This has also happened to my daughter at auditions and it is frustrating- the accompanist should be following you! She has actually stopped and asked to start over and for a moment with the accompanist to briefly go over the tempo. Now she always makes a point to briefly review the piece with the accompanist before she sings. Even if they don’t offer it, she initiates the review!</p>
<p>It happens a lot–even professionally. Don’t feel bad. You did your best. There’s more to the audition then just the vocals. Notes are shared. The auditors have seen your overall audition. So have faith in your talents and just accept that you had a somewhat frustrating experience. My son had a less-than-satisfactory vocal audition for his first choice school. He was out of sync with the accompanist and, in a panic, dropped his lyrics. Ouch, the kiss of death. But not. He got back on track and finished the song. Had an overall good experience. He was later accepted and is now at his dream school. So, I think you can’t let it get to you too much. Stuff happens. It’s natural. It’s how you cope and get on with it that counts. Hope you did and hope that helps.</p>
<p>I agree with the above comments. Let me also suggest that it is entirely proper “form” to walk into room, greet the auditors and make a bee line to the accompanist to review your music and any notes you want the accompanist to have. Accompanists are there to help you, many do this professionally too at area outside productions so they expect to be approached, and most will appreciate the brief time you spend reviewing your material with them. Then take your mark, introduce your self and your audition pieces and “go”. Usually, that will avoid these situations but even then, sometimes stuff just happens and all you can do is just try to work past it.</p>
<p>It’s probably not a good idea to make a negative comment to the auditors after you have performed. Just make sure that you spend a few seconds with the accompanist before you sing. It might be okay to re-start a song if you really get off to a bad start; but sooner or later you’re going to run into a bad accompanist – believe me, it happens, even at professional auditions – and you’ll just have to muddle through and do your best.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I thought since she didn’t allow me to set my tempo she must have been familiar with the song and how it should be played, but obviously not. I’m definitely going to make sure I set my tempo with each accompanist from now on, even if they don’t ask.</p>