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Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Big Red on 12/3/2022, 6:47 am

Hi all,

What tips or advice do y'all have for students that advance to Area? How do you work with them over the next month before Area auditions to take the etudes to the next level to compete and have a shot at making All-State?

Thank you all in advance for any suggestions!

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Pretzel Guy on 12/6/2022, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Area Audition tips/advice?"

For me the differences are made in things like dynamic contrast, phrasing, style/appropriate articulation, and tone (did they use vibrato?).
Lots of musicians I heard at region played correct notes and rhythms, only a few played with vibrato and far fewer played with discernable dynamic contrast. However, it's different in every region/area.

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by my experience on 12/5/2022, 8:52 am, in reply to "Area Audition tips/advice?"

Some of it depends on the area. AFter years of judging with the same people, I learned what they listen for, what they like and don't like to hear. I learned what matters most for the panel. In that area, accuracy and clarity were of the utmost importance with tempos coming in a very close second.
The area I am in now, it seems to be more tempo focused, followed by good tone and accuracy trailing way behind. Personally, I think leaning in on accuracy and the ability to play larger chunks is what I am going to work on with my students.
I dont know what your relationship with any other directors in the region/area are, but perhaps you could pick their brains about what they are listening for?

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Curious on 12/5/2022, 1:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Area Audition tips/advice?"

I don't understand why some directors prefer tempo over tone and accuracy. I would much rather hear an good-sounding, accurate performance under tempo than a rushed garbage performance. I am currently at a small school. When I would judge large school auditions in the past, it would drive me crazy that a student would play fast, sound terrible, miss dozens of notes, and still place higher than someone who had much better tone, but played under tempo. I don't care how fast you can play if it sounds like garbage.

I'm not trying to start a debate here. I honestly want to know if I'm missing something here.

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by my experience on 12/5/2022, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Area Audition tips/advice?"

I absolutely agree with you. I want to clarify that the area I used to work in (that put more emphasis on tempo) was VERY competitive and technically sound, so that was why tempo was a big deal, because there were a lot of players who played clean.
I actually got in a "professional discussion" with someone on my panel this year at our region audition. Someone who was clearly favoring tempo (they freely expressed this to us) but the students were simply not playing well. I was not trying to change their opinion, but just wanted them to understand that they had students who were going to advance. It would behoove them to understand that they need to do focus on accuracy.

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Me on 12/5/2022, 3:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Area Audition tips/advice?"

There are a whole lot of people that disagree on what exactly a "good sound" is on certain instruments.

And there are a whole bunch of people who excuse poor tone in auditions as "nerves."

IMO it goes back to the discussion thread here about how people grade their players. If tone is the most important thing, then make tone the most important thing. Always.

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Pressure on 12/3/2022, 9:06 pm, in reply to "Area Audition tips/advice?"

Reps. Lots of them! Definitely make plans to meet with your students either in person or virtually and get lots of reps of the music in so they don’t lose their chops over the break.

I’ve heard of some teachers having their kids do a quick sprint and immediately play their etudes after to imitate a fast heartbeat/shaky hands during the real audition.

Look deeper into where the auditions are going to be held. What’s the weather like? Is the room carpeted or tile? Tall ceiling or low? Have students practice their etudes with those factors in mind and play in several different places.

Recording the student performing their etudes and having the student watch and make notes on what they could improve on will also help.

Having a routine before they play will also help. Even if you need to have it scripted on a piece of paper having the kid prepare to perform and play their instrument the exact same way every time will help. I’ve seen some students in Region band auditions have lists with stuff like: “Turn on metronome to feel tempo, Finger the first measure, empty water key, and start” on their stands.

I’ve never seen it but I’ve even heard of students putting a picture of someone they love inside their folder so they can glance at it before playing. Some even had handwritten notes. “Good luck! Make sure and breathe before you start!”

None of these strategies are foolproof but they could help at the very least make the audition less nerve wracking for students.

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Big Red on 12/4/2022, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Area Audition tips/advice?"

Fantastic feedback! Thanks a bunch! :-)

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Uh on 12/3/2022, 6:24 pm, in reply to "Area Audition tips/advice?"

Private lessons?

Re: Area Audition tips/advice?

Posted by Big Red on 12/4/2022, 7:11 am, in reply to "Re: Area Audition tips/advice?"

I should have clarified that I am a private lesson teacher that is looking for ways to take my studio players to the next level.

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