Great Insights Into the Audition Process
Andrew Hitz
Yesterday, I stumbled upon a great article by euphonium player Dave Werden on taking and preparing for auditions. There's enough information in this post that he easily could have broken it up into 3 or 4 parts. But instead, he gave it to us all at once! This article is a must read for anyone trying to win a gig. A lot of it is common sense and stuff that we all need to hear over and over again. For example:
"Is your f louder than your mf? And is your mp softer, and your p softer yet?"
"Not only are you trying to be better than all the other players, you are also trying to be better than the ensemble's expectations and standards. Set your sights accordingly."
"You will be distracted during an audition, so practice with distractions."
He goes on to give some suggestions of how to practice with distractions, how to solidify rhythm and groove, how to present yourself at an audition and lots more. Anyone trying to win an audition must read this article:
Dave Werden: Audition Advice - Part 2
You should also listen to this great conversation that Lance LaDuke had with one of my graduate students at George Mason about his preparations for the Air Force Band audition he won years ago. Again, it is not a coincidence that he won that audition when you listen to him discuss his preparation.
Lance LaDuke on Audition Preparation
Good luck on your own audition prep!