Sunday earned a PhD in Anthropology and has taught college courses in Anthropology, English, and high school ACT/SAT Prep.
When seeking a musical job, enrolling in a music school, or hoping to join a performance group, the audition remains the most stressful event in the entire process. Performers want to show their range of talent and why they are the best selection of all the other candidates, but too often they are unprepared for the realities of auditioning. It takes more than just skill to ace an audition and the guidance in this lesson can help.
No one can tell you exactly what song you should sing, but some solid advice can help narrow down the selection. You must know yourself, your skills, your limitations, and your audience.
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When auditioning, performers often want to be spectacular and really wow the committee. However, choosing a difficult song with a range exceeding their own will do much more harm to their chances. Committees don't want to hear a song performed nearly well, they want to hear something sung perfectly. If that means picking a simpler song that fits one's vocal range but delivering a polished, meaningful performance, so be it.
In the case of an audition, the audience is the audition committee. You don't have to know everything about them personally, but know what they are looking for in a performer. Are you auditioning for a classical opera? Select a song within that genre instead of something by Elvis or Michael Jackson. Are you auditioning for a specific role? Perhaps consider singing a song from that performance or one similar. If applying to a music school, look into what genres they specialize in and prepare a selection from those categories.
Be sure to know you can handle any difficult parts of the song when nervous. This effects how your voice sounds. Picking a song that holds meaning for you, something you connect with, can also help give your performance something special and the emotional connection will help with nerves.
Unless you learn about the audition at the very last minute, you usually have some time to prepare and rehearse. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the piece you will perform. This means practicing until you can perfectly belt it out, start to finish, in your sleep. However, this can take several weeks and you shouldn't worry about practicing 24/7. Practice at regular intervals then take a break to rest your vocal chords and your mind. As you practice, take notes where you tend to have difficulty and give those sections extra attention. Also, make sure to practice in front of an audience as your audition approaches to help reduce anxiety.
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Will your audition be held on a theater stage or in a room with a panel of evaluators? Were you given advanced notice of the committee members? What do you know about them? These are vital questions before any audition, as the impression you make encompasses your every action from the minute you enter the room. Be professional, courteous, and above all else be confident! The committee wants to know that you have the skills necessary to meet their needs but they also want to know someone might be good to work with, has potential for continued growth, and will conduct themselves properly.
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If you make a mistake, try to recover quickly and keep going. Errors happen all the time, especially in situations with a lot of pressure, like an audition. The committee will be curious how you handle such a situation. Will you run away? Will it derail the performance? Will you pretend it didn't happen and keep moving? If you can smooth over the error and keep going strong, the committee will see your potential to handle any surprises or mishaps during a show.
In the days leading up to the audition, you may begin to obsess or worry about it. Building the event bigger in your mind will only make it more difficult to perform and weaken your confidence. Instead, keep rehearsing but make sure to take care of all your basic necessities. Have your wardrobe selected, fitted if necessary, and ready to wear with a few spare days in case something has to change. Take time to look your best, even if that's visiting the salon and having someone do your hair. Familiarize yourself with the audition venue and how to get there. Make sure to eat healthy meals each day, drink enough fluids, and avoid alcohol while doing your final preparations. Plan for enough sleep before the audition but also sleep enough the few days before that. Take the day before the audition to do something relaxing, such as meditating or visiting with friends. Finally, wake up early on audition day so you can warm up your voice.
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So now you see how to prepare for a successful audition. Know your range of abilities and select a song in that range that is also appropriate for the role, job, or school for which you are auditioning. Accept that you may be a little nervous and prepare the music with that in mind. Practice regularly leading up to the audition and take notes where you have difficulty in rehearsal. Select music you personally connect with to enable a more emotionally engaged performance. Be aware that your audition is every action and word while you are with the committee. Thus, be professional, courteous, and confident in your actions and appearance. Take care of yourself both with preparation and with health management. Eat quality meals, get plenty of rest, and avoid alcohol right before the audition. Be certain you know the venue and your travel route to get there, have all wardrobe prepared in advance, and wake up early to warm up. Finally, be sure to reduce stress by doing something you enjoy the day before.
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