District Orchestra

So this Saturday is District orchestra auditions for me! For those of you who don't know what Districts is, in the plainest terms, it is a cattle call for just about every decent player who feels like working up the piece to come and audition to be in the orchestra. This group is extremely high caliber (although it depends on the district for difficulty), and the piece this year is Bach's Concerto No. 2 in e-major. It is not a walk-in-the-park easy piece. Here's a link if any of you want to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SGdzbQAzoo.

My point in telling you this is to give you some pre-audition pointers:
1) RELAX.
I know that this is extremely hard in the week or so leading up to audition, but it is absolutely crucial to a good audition!!! If you do not relax about playing, your fingers can tense up as well as your bow arm, and then strange things happen that never happened before in practices.

2) Have a banana about an hour before your audition.
Bananas contain some nutrients that aid in focusing your mind and helping to keep you alert. I always have a banana before any audition.

3) Make sure you've practiced your piece!
This may come as a "no-duh" type of tip, but it is not always assumed. The more comfortable you are with playing your piece, the more comfortable you will be in your audition, and the less likely you are to make mistakes. Knowing the piece itself also gives you more confidence to help you blow the auditioners away!

4) Use safe fingerings and bowings
Unless instructed by the audition requirements, use bowings and fingerings that work for you and that you feel comfortable with. Fool-proof fingerings in positions that you know well tend to cause less mistakes during auditions - especially if you haven't practiced as much as you could have!

5) DO NOT change fingerings or bowings any time relatively close to the audition
Changes in fingerings or bowings that ultimately change the way you play the piece should be avoided AT ALL COSTS. In auditions, your mind reverts back to whatever you have practiced the most (especially if you're nervous), and if the change is new, it may not have stuck.

6) As much as you want to, don't run the piece
This one came as a shock to me once my private teacher told me not to, but it actually is very effective. About a week before audition, run the piece and have someone else listen to it. That person should tell you to stop whenever they hear something that needs work. Mark the spots in your music with a star or something you'll remember. That week, go through the spots you marked with a slow, methodical practice ethic, but DO NOT run it over and over. This drills into your mind any of these spots that have arisen, and may exacerbate bad habits that only get worse in the audition.

7) Give yourself confidence!
Auditions make everyone nervous, it doesn't matter how many you've done. It's very easy to panic once you're in the room and the door is shut with just you and the judges inside. Practice the piece for others as much as you can before hand so the experience isn't quite as scary. Think of it as practicing your piece in front of some people. They want you to do your best so they can get the most qualified people in their orchestra!

So, before your audition, breathe and relax, have a banana, feel prepared, use safe fingerings and bowings that haven't been changed in a while, don't run the piece the week before, and be confident! Play your best and just remember that not everyone makes every audition they try. You don't have any way of knowing who else will be there and how they play. They could be better or much worse than you are! You never know! And you definitely won't make it if you don't try out!

Good luck with your audition!