Auditions at Eastman are fast approaching. You may be waiting to hear whether you will be invited for auditions, or waiting for confirmation of your audition date. The Eastman Admissions Office will notify applicants of this information by email no less than three weeks before the preferred audition date listed on your application – sooner if possible. In the meantime, what can you do to ensure that you are ready to perform your best? Here are some suggestions to help you to prepare:
Know your audition repertoire very well. This is self-evident, but it bears repeating. When you walk into an audition, there is nothing that will give you more confidence than feeling thoroughly prepared. Take a few minutes now to look back at all of your audition requirements for each upcoming audition to be sure you haven’t overlooked any details such as etudes, scales, memorization or sight-reading. Avoid the unnecessary stress of being asked to play something you aren’t ready for!
Know what to expect. Are you likely to perform your audition on a concert hall stage, or in studio or classroom? Will there be one person listening or several? Will it be more like a lesson or a mini-concert? Will your evaluators stop you and ask you to try a passage differently? The answers to these questions will vary by instrument and by school, but having some idea of what the audition setting will be can help you to be more prepared. You will also want to know what else you will be doing on the day of your audition. At Eastman undergraduate applicants also take a diagnostic theory exam, and most are also scheduled for an interview.
Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, drink water and avoid caffeine (as much as possible) in the days before your audition. Wellness is fundamentally important for all musicians, and is especially critical for vocalists. You can’t perform your best if you aren’t feeling your best, and the stresses of audition travel and keeping up with schoolwork can make this a challenge. Once your audition date has been confirmed by the Admissions Office, arrange your travel plans carefully to avoid being unnecessarily exhausted or rushed when you arrive at your audition even if it means staying over an extra night.
In an upcoming post we will discuss more ideas to help you have a great audition. Happy practicing!