Congrats! You made it past the prescreen. Now you have to ace that audition to get in to the school of your dreams and hopefully get some scholarship money as well.
How do you do that?!
Here are my top 10 tips for acing your college audition:
1. Bring What You Can Sing
Bring only the things you know you can absolutely sing on good days or bad. Many students make the mistake of bringing things they think will sound impressive for whatever reason. Don’t!
Most colleges would so much rather hear you sing something that you think is “easy” or “simple,” really well, rather than hear you struggle through a “difficult” piece.
Concentrate on what you can control: Good diction, correct rhythms and pitches, and singing things that show off what you can do right now, not what you hope to be able to do someday. More high notes, loud singing, and lightning fast tempi do not automatically mean your selection will be impressive or memorable.
2. Read the audition information CAREFULLY!
Many students miss an important detail on the website or in the information sent by admissions, before showing up to an audition. Sometimes they don’t bring the correct repertoire, sometimes they miss the detail that they will have to do some sight singing, or a monologue, and sometimes, they don’t look closely at the audition dates to make sure they can actually come on the date they’ve signed up! You don’t want to show up and get surprised with something you weren’t expecting in an audition. Not a fun feeling, and doesn’t sent a good message to the audition panel.
3. Research the people for whom you will audition
This may sound like basic knowledge, but read up on the teachers, coaches, choral directors, opera directors, and conductors before you go to the audition.
If you decide to talk about how wonderfully and accurately you sing Puccini, only to find out later that one of the people you were singing for is a Puccini expert, you won’t feel great about the experience.
If your musical goals, passions, and interests line up with some of the faculty members, find a way to talk about that openly. It shows you have done your research and that school isn’t just a “safety school,” on your list of 12. You want to try and form a good connection in the limited time you have.
Also, make sure that you show your best self to your pianist during the auditions. Faculty often ask the pianist about interactions they had with you in the hall before and after the audition. If you were a jerk to your pianist, that will most definitely affect the success of your audition.
4. Be prepared for the unexpected
Something during your audition will surprise you. Your voice may suddenly do weird things, or you may get a question about what you hope to do with a music degree. Someone might ask you to try something musical or acting related while performing a song. You might even be asked to vocalize. They may stop you randomly during one of your selections for no apparent reason.
Don’t bank on coming in, singing one song and leaving. Also, don’t count on singing more than one song! Be ready for the unexpected and know that an unexpected element in your audition is not only entirely possible, but likely.
5. Leave the water bottle
Leave your water bottle outside.
Ok, ugly truth time. If you are not hydrated by the time you walk in that audition room, it’s way too late.
Water you drink takes about 2 hours to be absorbed in to your system. Good hydration should start at least 2 days before you perform. 2 weeks of good hydration will ensure best results. That little sip of water before you sing, or in between songs isn’t going to help, so leave it outside and don’t look like a rookie!
6. The audition starts when you walk in the building
Truthfully, your audition actually starts when you have any interaction with someone from the school, be it a representative from the admissions team or any other faculty member, through text, email, zoom, or in person.
However, on the day of your audition, as I mentioned previously, what you say and do outside of the audition room is part of your audition. If you are talking trash in the hall about other singers, or other schools, we will know. If you are supportive and encouraging to the other singers auditioning, we will know. If you are rude or dismissive to the students and faculty with whom you interact, you guessed it…we will know.
It’s ok to be nervous, shy, or quiet, but make sure you bring your best self when you walk in the building.
7. Be memorable
In your audition, you want to find the line between unique and distracting.
Be yourself! That’s the best way to be remembered during the audition season. If you are trying to guess as to what answers the panel wants to hear or you are trying to say the “right things,” you will often not show your best self.
If you are quirky, be quirky, if you are a high-energy person, be that person. Yes, be respectful and professional, but go ahead and tell that story about turfing it on stage during your high school musical if you want to. Let people know what an unhealthy passion you have for drinking Prime or Diet Coke, or that you are obsessed with Dogs. We want to get to know you, not the version of you, you think we are looking for.
When it comes to audition attire, show your style! Wear the crazy earrings or the flashy tie, or the pocket square. Do your hair in a way that you love. Again, be professional but be yourself. You want to be unique but not distracting.
8. Do your research
If you don’t have time to properly research the school for which you are auditioning, you are either auditioning for too many schools, or that school shouldn’t be on your list.
Don’t go in asking questions like “Do you guys have master’s students?” or “What kind of degrees do you offer?” or “Do you guys do operas here?” These things are online and easy to find. Ask for further details, certainly, but do your homework.
Find out what the school and its students are known for. Research notable graduates from the program, and ask specific questions about how the operas are chosen and how they are cast. Ask about weekly lesson structure, the surrounding community, and the student experience.
