Tips for Audition Day

I recently had an orchestral audition on viola. So, I thought I'd share some of my audition-day tips with you!

1. Dress at least somewhat professionally
Yes, auditions are usually screened and they'll probably let you know whether there's any possibility of taking screens down for final rounds. But nevertheless there are a few people who will see you regardless of screening, like the managers or coordinators of the orchestra (whoever has a part in organizing the auditions) and you want to make a good impression on them as well - you don't want to get into the orchestra and then have the administration people make fun of you for showing up in sweatpants or worn-out tshirt.  

2. Be healthy in body and mind
Don't do anything stressful beforehand if you can avoid it, stay hydrated, eat healthy foods during the day (and days before if possible), and get plenty of sleep. Musicians are athletes too, so keep that in mind - our bodies need just as much maintenance as those of professional basketball players or runners.

If it helps, take along some peppermints or essential oils if those clear your mind. Everyone has their own little calming rituals, and this is definitely a time when you want to be calm. Make sure you've got everything you need before you get to the audition venue as well - you don't want to discover after you arrive that you are missing a page of music, or don't have a mute or rosin or your beta-blockers (if you take them). This brings on the next point...

3. Arrive early! (Or at the very least don't let there be any possibility of being late)
This is going along with being calm and relaxed - make sure you've got enough time to get to the audition venue comfortably, and try to get there at least half an hour early so you can warm up and relax a bit before the audition. (And if you've forgotten something, you still have time to go get it now). Some people do find that if they arrive too early they'll over-practice and stress out, so know your own tendencies and plan accordingly - just don't let there be any chance that you'll have to rush there and not be ready to play when you have to!

4. Don't play faster than you can play.
If anything, take a few notches off your top speed, think "slow" to combat the audition adrenaline rush. You are going for rhythm and clarity, both of which will suffer if you are going at breakneck speed. You've presumably practiced with a metronome beforehand, so you know exactly what your comfortable speeds and capabilities are.

5. If you make a mistake, don't give up!
If you play a note out of tune or stumble over a rhythm, don't automatically think you are written off. Just make sure to prove you can play in tune or do the rhythms correctly in the rest of the excerpt, or following excerpts. Everyone makes mistakes, but your recovery from a mistake can show the judging panel that you don't consistently make mistakes.
The other thing to remember about this is that things often don't sound as bad as you think, or don't come across as bad as you felt it did in context. It's not over until they've told you to leave, so don't stop trying.

6. Try not to encourage nervousness
It's difficult especially with auditions for actual jobs, not to be nervous. I ended up being more nervous than I had expected to be for my audition, even though I'm not in a situation where my livelihood may depend on this job as others sometimes are. The thing is, though, that auditions will come again. There will always be another orchestra and another audition somewhere, so even if you do mess this one up or don't get the position, you haven't totally blown it. Just keep practicing and try again!

Orchestral diagram