How to Advance to the Next Round of Auditions
A lot of people I talk to often tell me that they are playing well, but not advancing to the next round. They are frustrated and stalled because they are doing the best they can.
I usually tell them that while they think they are doing everything right, there are probably things in their audition that they are not hearing. I don't mean mistakes like “I totally blew that shift and that’s why I didn’t advance.”
Often, it’s something much more subtle that they aren’t aware of in their playing. Often, it’s an inconsistency in their rhythm. Often, it's a lack of understanding of the correct style. And sometimes, it's a failure to really differentiate styles across the different excerpts.
I could go on, but there are lots of things that a player can be doing wrong, without realizing it's a problem.
So what's the "secret" to figuring this out?
The people who win auditions are the people who seek out and work with audition experts. I started Audition Confidential so that more cellists, no matter where they lived or where they went to school, could have access to someone who knows what a committee is looking for.
Not only have I been on audition panels for cellists, I have listened to countless auditions for almost every instrument in the woodwinds, brass, percussion, and string sections throughout my career.
Based on my decades of experience playing and judging auditions, let me tell you what the committee is looking for:
Mastery of the instrument—as a cellist, I can help you hear things in your playing that you may not be aware of. Together, we can analyze what's happening and fix the issues.
Artistic and musical expression—I can help you develop your sense of the phrase so that your playing lives up to your full artistic potential.
Finally, none of this matters if you can't play your best when you're at the audition, so I spend a lot of time helping cellists develop their mental strength, so they can deliver their best playing when it really matters.
There are so many aspects that go into making a successful audition. And while you might have a handle on many of them, I need to point something out—if you're not advancing at auditions, you're probably doing something wrong, and you're probably not clear on what it is or how to fix it. Click the button below to find a time when we can have a short chat about your what’s going on.
Happy practicing!