What do I mean, "strategic practice"? Well, I want you to get the most out of your chance to rest and recharge. You need to practice to keep your skills sharp, but you need to do it in a way that RENEWS your energy, rather than DEPLETES it.
Organizing your time, whether or not it’s for an audition or a recital, is paramount to having a successful performance. Knowing what you need to work on, and how to effectively practice is a skill in and of itself.
What is your musical equivalent of my dreaded push up?
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“Just let me get through the notes, figure out the rhythms...oh, wait a minute, what is that accidental? How am I going to finger that? HOW fast is this supposed to go?”
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The road to audition success is not an easy one. There's a lot to know about the entire process, with excerpts being the first order of business!
It’s a new year! And time for your annual New Year’s resolutions. What are you tackling this year?
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If you have been taking auditions for a few years, chances are that you have had to prepare the same two concertos and 10 excerpts many times.
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Recently, I was on a call with a cellist. He was finishing up at grad school and weighing his options: Go on for another degree/certificate? Or try the freelance route in another city?
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Walk out of the room, take a breath, and imagine yourself about to go onstage to play an audition.
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"Money is the root of all evil…but try living without it." -Frank Lum (my dad)
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“If I only had one more week.”
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What’s the most common mistake auditioners make?
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Here is a list of 5 minute practice goals…
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Had enough of the Sugar Plum Fairy yet?
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If you don't work with an audition specialist, it could take you five to ten auditions just to master the process.
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Can you name the MAIN thing orchestra auditioners get wrong?
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Make a plan. Show up. Follow through. Sounds simple, right?
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Yikes! Is that lint in there?
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She has just stepped on stage and put the bow on the string. Can you tell what she’s saying to herself?
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