Audition etiquette

[MissyHPhoenix]

Is there an established correct "audition etiquette" to follow when auditioning live for a college? I've never done a live audition before. The idea is rather intimidating to me. Any tips would be very welcome!

[Arlee]

Only etiquette really is to be on time/early and to be polite and curtious (which I am sure you will have no issue with). Unless you are applying to a particularly stuffy school the dress is generally nice but not too fancy. Think business casual, but deffinitly make sure you wear something you feel comfortable in and like. It is amazing how much a person's playing can be affected if they are feeling uncomfortable in their cloths. Also, the school should have sent you a schedule and a listing of where you need to be at what time. I would make sure before that day you have as good of an idea of where you need to be as you can before hand. Also, if you are going to be late make sure you call the audions contact asap. Things happen and it should be ok as long as you let them know

Oh also many schools do a theory/sightsinging test as well during the audition process. Do not let this intimidate you at all. In general it is just to get and idea of what lvl theory/sightsinging you would need to start in and doesn't have anything to do with you getting in.

Also, if during your audition they stop you playing a peice early don't let it frazzle you. It ussually means that they feel like they have gotten to hear a good sampling of where your skills are at and are just trying to move things along because they ussually have a lot of people to listen to.

The next bit is anecdotal but...

I was heavily involded in the audition process at my college and my junior year and senior year I was the student most responsible for auditions (obviously there were professors and administrators who set things up, but as for the actual running of auditions it was my show basiclly). After the auditions professors would often ask me about how certain people they were unsure of and how they interactted with the other auditioners and the students who helped with auditions. Don't get me wrong they weren't basing decisions on what I said, but they took a lot of effort in trying to maintain a talented and friendly student body, and often people auditioning let there guard down some around people who they concider... less important than the professors.

Basiclly what I am saying is between two people of equal skill if one is a jerk and the other people generally get along with, often the person who is easier to work with will get picked. Though again I don't think you have anything to worry about in this area.


Also, good luck and have fun I am sure it will go great!

[MissyHPhoenix]

Arlee, thank you very much for the info! It's a completely new world for me with the auditions, and I definitely want to make a good first impression.

Can you please tell me a couple of more things -- is it considered appropriate to sit while I play the prepared pieces, or will they want me to stand in front of them? Also, is it all right for me to bring my tuner with me and take a few seconds to check my intonation before beginning play? Should I bring copies of the music for the audition panel? Will they ask me questions about myself and/or the music, and should I introduce myself and explain what I will be playing and why? How much interaction can I expect to have with the panel? Am I correct in thinking that if I have a sight-reading part it is acceptable to play it a bit slower than called for in order to reduce errors?

I guess that is more than a couple of more things .... I haven't talked to the music department personnel yet and I will probably have a lot of these questions answered then, but I do want to be as prepared as possible. I have found in other situations that if I feel like I am totally prepared, I will be more self confident and have less anxiety. It is when I am blindsided that I tend to flounder. Definitely don't want to flounder at an audition!

Thanks again!

[fluteguy18]

There's evidently an entire issue of flutetalk about auditions. It's actually this month's issue.

I would stand. Not sit. I would tune and warm up before you get in the room. They want to hear you play, not prepare to play. They should know the pieces that you are auditioning on (assuming they're standard rep.) so no, I would not bring them copies to follow along with unless they have specifically requested it. I would however consider having a copy or two in your bag (that you would leave in the hall).

Interaction with the panel varies. Some are very personable, some aren't. It also depends on how the auditions are structured. If there are multiple rounds, then you probably won't discuss anything with them until later rounds. It would be appropriate to introduce yourself and briefly tell them what you have prepared. If it is a really competitive school, then a good idea would be to have a program to hand them that they can keep. It would be a good idea for it to have your name and face on it. Then, if it is conveniently or shall I say... accidentally left with them, then it's a subtle way to keep your name and face fresh in their memory. Assuming you would play well and make a decent impression, that could work in your favor. I'll pm you a copy of the program I am taking with me to my graduate auditions.

Sight reading... they want the most accuracy possible. End of story.

With auditions like these, your first impression is everything. In one panel at NFA, they concluded that sometimes up to 80% of their decision comes from your first impression when you walk through the door. If you look like you could be successful there, come across as a friendly person to work with, come across as a GENUINE person (not a phony who's just trying to get in), and you play well... the odds are in your favor. It's just a matter at that point if anyone does any of those things better than you.

[MissyHPhoenix]

Thanks! I don't think SLU has 2nd round auditions -- I was simply told to prepare two pieces, one slow and one faster. This is not one of the big music universities so I don't think it is as competitive to get in. The thing I like about it is that it is a smaller school with more intimate classes, and the flute professor is the principal flutist in the Baton Rouge Symphony.

I've got all of your instructions tucked away in my brain, and now all I have to do is get the audition scheduled and done. I'll let y'all know how it goes! I feel good about it. I've chosen Bach and Telemann as my two pieces. Staying in my comfort zone with Baroque, but pushing a bit technically. I think I can do them well, tho.

[Arlee]

I agree with Fluteguy on the standing thing. I know especially for the flute auditions we generally didn't even have a chair around for the person to have the option of sitting. The exception of course would be if there is some reason you couldn't stand.

Bringing a tuner to check your tuning while warming up is fine, I wouldn't recommend doing it in the audition room though. Are you having a piano accompaniment? If you are being able to tune yourself to the piano before playing (without a tuner) would be a boon for you.

I would ask the person who is your contact for the audition if you should bring copies. Generally the answer no though because unless you are playing something very unusual they probably know the pieces pretty well. Also, I would make sure you are using originals in your auditions. Some auditions/competitions won't even listen to you if you are using a copy.

I would say take our queues from them on how much interaction they want. Sometimes they will want to talk a lot, sometimes not. "Often" they do have some sort of scoring sheet with your name and what pieces you are going to be playing on it already. If they want you to tell them before hand what you are going to be playing you can count on this being the case.

It is expected that sight-reading will be done a bit slower than the called for speed. If you can play it at tempo perfectly then go for it, but only if you can do it perfectly. Like Fluteguy said accuracy is what they are mainly looking for.

I would also suggest if you have the time not doing two Baroque pieces. It is certainly not the end of the world if you do, but playing a piece from two different styles would show some of your different abilities really well. However, I know auditions are in the spring so if you don't have something non-baroque pretty much ready to go don't worry about it

And I am really glad I can help. Auditions are always something which have stressed me completely (I am honestly a pretty shy person). So being able to help in this way makes me happy too

[MissyHPhoenix]

I mostly play Baroque so that is definitely my comfort zone. I could use an etude from Kohler I guess -- I am fairly fluently on his works since I like Romantic a lot, too. Are etudes acceptable?

I am glad to hear that somebody else is shy! One of the reasons I have hesitated so long in going back to school is because I am SO shy about playing in front of people. I finally had to just say I AM going to do it because I KNOW I can play very well in front of people, and I am determined to do it. The performance anxiety is going to be something that I'll be fighting big time, but I am not going to let it stop me from doing what I want to do. That is the big reason I am trying to get as much info as possible about auditioning - I want to be so prepared that I will be confident that I am ready!

Thanks again for all of the help.

[Arlee]

Different schools have different rules about what you can play for an audition. I would get in contact with the flute teacher there and ask what her/his recomindation would be on what you should play. Most perofessors would rather you ask instead of just showing up with something

My shyness/stagefright was the hardest part of being a music major actually... even harder than ear training in some ways lol. Literally when I first went to college my nerves were so bad you could see my fingers shaking while I played. It was rough lol. But I will share with you the best piece of advise my teacher ever gave me.

She said, don't fight the nerves embrace them. If you fight against the fact that you are nervous you make it worse by freaking yourself out about being nervous and then it becomes a self sustaining cycle. If you accept that you are nervous and that it is natural and not a big deal then you get to a place where you can easily deal with it. At this point I look at my nerves as a good thing because with them I can get colors in my sound and a kind of nice vibrato I can't get other times.

Also, if you are interested I would recomend "Effortless Mastery" to read. I found it very helpful as well

[MissyHPhoenix]

Arlee, thank you very much for your ideas. I do look forward to the audition, but at the same time am dreading it. I will do a lot of mind-over-matter meditating to try to get through it!