How to Organize for an Audition

Hear me now and believe me later: great auditions require great organization.

Why?

Because when you have the various aspects of an audition in order and ready to go, it makes all of the practicing so much easier!

Auditions are huge projects, and you have to make smart use of your time. So many people put off the organization, as if it were "nice to have." This results in inefficient practice and wasted effort. 

Take it from me—start getting organized NOW, when you don't have an audition breathing down your neck. You'll thank yourself the next time you're working towards a specific audition.

Here's what you'll need:

  • A concise and clear one-page resume. This is your first contact with a possible employer. Make sure it is professional and formatted with the most important information at the top. Be sure to check out my example here. Feel free to imitate it closely (with your information, of course.)

  • An organized binder or iPad which contains all of the excerpts that you’ve collected from past auditions and studies. Being able to easily access excerpts you need for an upcoming audition is crucial to getting started on the right foot. Now is the time to make sure you have the cleanest and most standard editions.

  • A calendar that will help you organize your practice over the course of your preparation time. (We’ll talk about mapping out your time in another "pillar.")

  • A journal to help you track your daily practice sessions. Using either pen and paper or a digital device is up to you.

  • A dedicated practice place that is easily accessible (one that you don’t have to keep setting up every time you need to practice). This area should have good lighting, a sturdy stand, and pencils and erasers! And a good chair that is set to the right height (if you’re a cellist) is a must!
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Being organized ahead of time takes away a lot of the stress of taking an audition. You can jump into preparing for your next audition without spending a lot of time looking for stuff!

Next up: You need to hear it before you can play it. We'll talk about how day dreaming can help make you a better player.

Happy organizing!

gloria lum