HOW i PREPARE FOR AUDITIONS (Overview)

1. Technical Prep- working on all the techniques that are used in the rep or may be asked for in the process of the audition. Making all of said techniques readily available upon request.

2. Mental Prep- preparing your mind for the multiple effects of the audition: anxiety, distractions, extended time of focus, recalling information (tempos, characters of pieces, etc.), negative self-talk, over analyzing during performance, etc. Visualize, meditate (breathing, body scan, mentality programming/mantra, yoga), audiate. 

3. List Prep- listen to recordings, get tempos (base, reasonable slowest, reasonable fastest), character of pieces (word or phrase to describe it), phrasing choices (traditional, personal). Learn the notes, memorize if possible, establish sound concepts, play with metronome (slow practice, shifting strong beats, accent every X number of bars, etc.). Play with recordings, play by yourself, experiment/improvise on elements in the piece, mock auditions alone/for x number of people. Play as if you are always performing, even as you practice. Who are you playing with, how do you fit in, how would you play it in the orchestra/how does it differ from the audition way/does it differ at all?

4. Self Prep- get to know yourself. How do you respond to different stimuli, what is your self-talk like, are you happy with your progress, are you frustrated, are you scared, are you disappointed, are you happy, etc. Connect with, face and understand all of the inner issues, and you will grow and increase your esteem and resolve. Develop a positive self-image that is strong enough to withstand all negativity.

WHEN I Feel i’m READY

These goals are what I strive to achieve and every audition. When I first started I did not execute every single one as well as I wanted to, but as I continued to audition, it got easier and easier to complete every one of these tasks.

1. Excerpts should be note perfect- If you can play the excerpt note perfect at least ten times in a row, it is ready for the audition. This gives you more confidence and increases the chances of you correctly executing it under pressure at the audition.

2. Everything must be in time- While performing the excerpt, no unintentional pushing or pulling of the tempo should occur, at all.

3. Everything must be in tune and have consistent timbre- Intonation should be as flawless as humanly possible, and you should develop your ear to hear even the slightest change in intonation during a performance, as well as your reaction time to correcting that change. This also includes the color or timbre of the notes. The color and quality of the notes should not change unintentionally, but remain consistent throughout each piece. 

4. Every sound must be appealing and appropriate- The sound must match the character and style of the excerpt, and be consistent throughout the excerpt. 

5. Do at least 1 mock audition- You don't want to go into the audition completely blind, so do at least one test run before you take it. This allows you to observe how nerves affect your playing, and assess how you can adjust when they arise. The more tests or real auditions you do, the more comfortable you will be and you’ll know what to generally expect.

6. You must be comfortable- If you are not comfortable with being uncomfortable or playing each piece, you are not ready. Finding a way to stay focused or regain focus under pressure is essential.

7. Everything must be musical- convincingly express a musical idea at all times with every note.

When should I start auditioning?

There's no time like the present! Particularly if you are using these suggestions as a guide, you have the basis for a solid approach to auditioning that you can continue to build on. Whenever you do decide to start, remember that this is a cumulative process. Your first audition may not go the way you want, but it can give you information that you can use to improve your strategy, an aspect of your playing, etc for the next one. You don't have to have everything perfect on your first, fifth, thirtieth or even your last audition. What matters is that you feel as comfortable as you can while presenting your musical ideas through the music given. Just start, see what happens and learn from that experience!

What Equipment Do I Need to Start Auditioning?

Let’s be very honest: instruments are expensive and as percussionists, we need a lot of them. I made a list of things that are not going to break the bank, but also things that you will not have to replace. If I were going to an audition with these items, I would feel perfectly prepared!

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