Marina High School - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Marina High School2013-2014

AuditionsSlide2

When Will I Use This?

Honor Choir (SCVA, All-State, Western Division, National, etc.)

Other Ensembles (Vocal Jazz, college groups, professional groups, etc.)

College ConservatoriesMusicalCafé MarinaTalent ShowsMany others…Slide3

We Will Discuss the Following…

Preparing for the audition

At the audition

During the auditionAfter the auditionSlide4

Preparing For the Audition:

Get the info

Choose your music

How to practiceMental preparationSlide5

Get the Info

Make sure you know:

What you are auditioning for (duh)

The dates of the commitment Honor choir weekends, musical rehearsals/performances, etc.The date, time, & location of the auditionMake sure it is

accurate

and

on your calendar

The audition requirements

Piece, tonal memory, sight-singing, scales, improvisation, etc.

What YOU need to do to prepare

Do you need to pay to audition? Can you arrange a ride? Do you need to provide an accompanist? Do you need to find your own music?

ALWAYS ASKSlide6

Choose Your Music

Do this EARLY

Choose something that:

Fits the requirements (language, time period, etc.)Isn’t too long (keep it under 3 minutes)Shows your range (i.e. Sopranos, don’t sing a piece written in an Alto range unless you want to sing alto)

Shows your skill but isn’t too difficult—or too easy

You can work on without outside help (i.e. accompaniment tracks, available recordings to listen to, etc.)

Please ask for help from any of your sources (voice teachers, Mr. Graham)Slide7

How to Practice

Listen to different recordings (hello, YouTube!)

Take a couple of lessons to learn and prepare the piece

Get an accompaniment/karaoke track (online, in a book, ask around) or have someone make one for you to practice withPractice somewhere quiet and alonePractice with a friend or two to help critique you before the big day

Don’t forget to practice your scales, sight-singing, and tonal memory, too

*Be diligent and work as hard to practice as you would to get an A on your performance in the classroom.*Slide8

Mentally Prepare

Believe it or not, this is one of the most important parts of this process.

Practice a positive attitude and a positive outlook

No one likes to hear you say, “I’m so nervous,” “I’m so unprepared,” “I’m gonna mess up,” or “I don’t know if I should do this.”

These phrases are actually just practicing negativity and discouraging yourself from doing well.

Don’t be influenced by others’ negativity

It’s a terrible competition that no one wins.

“Perfect practice makes perfect performance.”

Imagine yourself succeeding. Imagine a positive experience. Always.Slide9

At the Audition

Start preparing early

What to bring

Get to the site earlyContinue “preparing”

Give yourself something to look forward to afterwardSlide10

Start Preparing Early

Wake up with plenty of time to get ready

Shower, hair, makeup, iron your clothes

Eat a good meal, and avoid anything that will get in the way of you singing wellDress well (and pick out clothes before the day of)Ladies: Knee-length dress or skirt, or dress pants, nice top, nice shoes, hose, hair out of face, natural makeup; no sleeveless or strapless, no B’s showing, no deadly heels

Gentlemen: Dress shirt and pants, tie optional, dress shoes; no ill-fitting clothing

Everyone: NO jeans, sandals, t-shirts, B’s showing

Warm up or run through stuff

Get your stuff together…Slide11

What to Bring

ID

Water

Snacks (optional)Change of clothes or shoes (optional)Binder or folder with…PaperworkResume, headshot (depending on audition)Music and extra copies/extra pieces (depending on audition)

No sheet protectors, No one-sided copies

Everything organized neatlySlide12

Get to the Site Early

Give yourself plenty of time to get there, find parking, and figure out where you’re going

Introduce yourself and be personable and smiley with EVERYONE

You never know who will hire you in the future…Fill out your paperwork accurately

Spell composer’s name correctly, know your height, etc.

Find your buddies (if applicable)

Find a place to warm up and run through your stuff

Talk to the other people there!Slide13

Continue “Preparing”

Continue to practice positivity, positive outlook, and a good attitude

Again, you never know who’s there and who will hire you later

Remember, it’s okay to be nervous.“There is a thin line between nervous and excited. YOU get to choose which side to stand on.”Do what YOU need to do to feel ready

i.e. warm up, run through stuff, hum, listen to music, facial stretches, yoga, meditate, etc.

Also remember, EVERYONE wants to see you succeed. : )Slide14

Give Yourself Something to Look Forward to

If you can, plan something for after your audition to reward yourself for your hard work

Lunch, adventure on the way home, milkshakes, whatever!Slide15

During the Audition

Be professional

Always smile

The answer is, “Yes”

Never apologize

Do all the thingsSlide16

Be Professional

Come in looking like a pro

Dressed well, paperwork and music in hand, shoulders back, chin up, smiling, BA.

Introduce yourself to the accompanistThe accompanist will make or break you. Be nice.Walk over and introduce yourself with your bum away from the judges, give him/her your music and explain anything if you need to

THANK THEM before and after you sing

Introduce yourself to the adjudicators

Shake hands if appropriate

Be proud of your name and what you are about to do

Most importantly…Slide17

ALWAYS SMILE

Even if you are nervous, sick, sad, angry, or anything else.

A smile can cover up most things, including terror.

Smiling makes you look confident.Smiling makes you FEEL confident.Smiling makes you seem personable and professional, even if you’re not.If you mess up, smile

bigger

.

The judges will either know you messed up and appreciate that you were positive and continued singing, or they will not know and just think you’re really happy to be there.Slide18

The Answer Is, “Yes”

Unless the question is, “Are you ready to begin?” and you are actually not, the answer is always, “Yes.”

Or, obviously, if the answer is no. It’s the principle.

For example…Can we hear your major scale? Yes.We will now do the tonal memory, are you ready?

Yes.

Can you please read sight-singing line 1?

Yes.

Can you sing another piece for us?

Yes.

Would you please take 3 steps forward for us?

Yes.

Can you please start a one-man conga line?

Yes. Absolutely.

The answer is

never

, “I’m so bad at this.”Slide19

Never Apologize

If you mess up, you do not say you are sorry.

If you mess up, you also don’t roll your eyes, curse, cry, or stop.

If you mess up something like a scale or sight-singing and you know you can fix it, simply finish it strong or ask, “Would it be alright if I try that one more time?”Accept and understand that the answer might be, “No.” Smile and move forward.

As long as you are doing your best, you have no reason to apologize.

Obviously, if you hurt one of the judges or something, you do need to apologize.Slide20

Do All the Things!

Piece

Pitch accuracy, correct pronunciation, attention to detail (dynamics, articulations, etc.)

ScalesMajor, minor, chromatic—pitch accuracy; sol-feg does NOT matterTonal Memory

Accuracy; it’s like a game to get as many right as you can

Sight-Singing

50% for pitch accuracy, 50% for rhythmic accuracy; do your best!

Range (sometimes)

The answer is, “Yes.”Slide21

After the Audition

Feel whatever you need to feel once you have left the site completely.

Don’t talk smack on yourself or anyone else until you have left the site completely. Also don’t brag. Bragging is a bad color

on everyone.Reward yourself for your hard work, whether you felt you nailed it or not.If you don’t get what you wanted, feel your feelings and let it go. Always move

forward

.

If you do get what you wanted, that is awesome and so are you!Slide22

Questions?