The Nitty Gritty of Audition Preparation

In Part I, we talked about the whys and hows of getting organized. In Part II, we talked about using your imagination to develop your artistry.

Part III gets down to brass tacks—your technique.

Specifically, I'm talking about:

  • Intonation

  • Rhythm (steady pulse and correct rhythms)

  • Coordination of hands (this is mostly relevant to string players)

Be sure that when you are working on technical aspects that you define a goal (a small one!) and work creatively to attain it. Some of the techniques you use should include the following:

  • Metronome work

  • Rhythmic work (practicing in rhythms)

  • Working on intonation (drones or tuner if necessary)

  • Careful analysis

  • Mixing up how you practice (timed intervals)

PRO TIP—we're usually so involved in playing the notes that we don't hear small intonation, rhythm, and coordination issues when they happen. Luckily, we all have access to recording devices. These will save you THOUSANDS of hours of practice if you use them to identify these issues before they're "ingrained" in your playing.

How do you get the most out of recording your practice? Here are the basics:

  • Record an excerpt and listen to the recording immediately.

  • What was good? What needs improvement?

  • Target what needs to be fixed.

  • Pick a small section that you can dig deep on.

  • Practice slowly, record again, and listen back immediately.

  • Rinse and repeat until you have improved that section.

If you're not finding things getting better, make your improvement goal smaller (e.g., four notes instead of a whole phrase).

Some students ask my why I don't talk about technique first, since it seems like one of the most crucial aspects of preparing an audition.

But if you've already organized your materials and made your artistic decisions, the time you spend on your technique will be far more focused and productive (saving you even more hours of practice time).

While audition committees are famous for eliminating candidates with technique issues, remember they still want to hire great musicians! Make sure that your technical practice is grounded in your interpretation of the piece. Keeping the artistic vision first and foremost in your mind will make your technical work more efficient AND more fulfilling.

Happy Practicing!

gloria lum