The spring semester of your senior year in high school is an exciting time – you’re nearly a high school graduate, you’re starting to get excited about next year… and if you’re a prospective music student, you probably have a few college auditions lined up.
Here is some advice to help you stay stress-free and rock your college music auditions:
- Plan out every detail for each audition. Avoid last-minute stress by planning all travel arrangements in advance (lodging, transportation, parking, etc). Always leave early so you’re not frantically running to your audition in a frazzled mindset.
- Create a practice plan. You’ve chosen and learned the repertoire, but now’s not the time to slack off in the practice department. Make a practice plan and stay committed to keeping your repertoire at its highest possible level so you can wow the panels at each audition.
- Try to schedule a lesson with the professor. If you haven’t already done so, see if your potential future professor is available for a lesson sometime on your audition day. This will give you a chance to ask any questions and experience what lessons will be like with this teacher.
- Prepare your reeds. If you are traveling to different climates and regions for auditions, make sure you bring a variety of reeds so you are prepared for any environmental changes.
- Familiarize yourself with airline regulations regarding musical instruments. If you are flying with your clarinet, make sure that your case meets all size and weight restrictions to avoid checking your precious cargo.
- Refine your audition process. As you take more and more auditions, you will start to develop your own optimal audition-prep routine. Take a moment after each audition to evaluate what went well and how you can improve the process at the next audition. (This can include your performance as well as any non-music related steps, such as what to eat before you play.)
- Remember that you are auditioning the schools and teachers just as much as they are auditioning you. Of course an audition is important to choose candidates for entry into different music programs, but it is also an invaluable chance for you to “audition” each school and make sure it would be a good fit for you and your musical goals.
Good luck at all of your auditions this semester!
