Preparing for the Audition
Have your études and excerpts completely learned and memorized at least 2 weeks before the audition.
Continue to practice using the methods from the General Tips and Techniques page, but start implementing a couple of run-throughs each day in your practice sessions.
Take 2-3 opportunities during your practice sessions to run through your études and excerpts. Do mock auditions for yourself - do not stop once you start (play one étude/excerpt after another), and do not restart any sections or notes.
Record your run-throughs with your computer, phone, or other audio recorder (such as a Zoom). Video recording is also helpful as you may notice correlations between having difficulty with a section and a physical issue (i.e. elbow too low, violin drooping, bow hold stiff). Listen to your recordings and make notes about what needs work. Pretend you are one of the All-State judges and critique yourself.
Play for as many audiences as you can. The All-State audition may only be for an audio recorder and not in front of judges, but the effect on your nerves will be the same. Play for your stuffed animals, your pets, your friends, your family, your neighbors or anyone you can think of! Just make sure you treat each run-through/mock audition as seriously as you would the actual audition. The more you play for audiences, the more comfortable you will become with performing, and the less your nerves will affect your playing.
If you notice that caffeine makes you jittery, try cutting out caffeinated sodas, coffees and teas a couple of days to a week before the audition.
The last couple of nights before the audition, read through your études and excerpts in bed and visualize playing the most perfect audition. Notice how your hands, arms and fingers feel. Take deep breaths and associate playing the music with a very calm sensation. For best results, have your music memorized and do this exercise with your eyes closed.
Get a good night's rest the night before the audition and each a healthy breakfast in the morning. If your stomach doesn't feel like it can handle food, eat something simple like a banana or a piece of toast. If your blood sugar drops too much you might be shaky.
Dress nicely for your audition/recording. It doesn't matter if you are playing for an audience or not, the simple act of dressing up will make you take the audition more seriously. If you are dressed for success you will play with confidence.
Take a couple of deep breaths before you begin your audition/recording. Play a little slower than you think you need to - adrenaline will make you play everything slightly faster. Take your time in between the études and excerpts and only begin playing when you feel comfortable.
Do your best not to back up and repeat something if you make a mistake. Just keep going - that's what counts!
Most of all, have fun! Prove to yourself what you can do with your instrument and be proud of yourself no matter the outcome!
Continue to practice using the methods from the General Tips and Techniques page, but start implementing a couple of run-throughs each day in your practice sessions.
Take 2-3 opportunities during your practice sessions to run through your études and excerpts. Do mock auditions for yourself - do not stop once you start (play one étude/excerpt after another), and do not restart any sections or notes.
Record your run-throughs with your computer, phone, or other audio recorder (such as a Zoom). Video recording is also helpful as you may notice correlations between having difficulty with a section and a physical issue (i.e. elbow too low, violin drooping, bow hold stiff). Listen to your recordings and make notes about what needs work. Pretend you are one of the All-State judges and critique yourself.
Play for as many audiences as you can. The All-State audition may only be for an audio recorder and not in front of judges, but the effect on your nerves will be the same. Play for your stuffed animals, your pets, your friends, your family, your neighbors or anyone you can think of! Just make sure you treat each run-through/mock audition as seriously as you would the actual audition. The more you play for audiences, the more comfortable you will become with performing, and the less your nerves will affect your playing.
If you notice that caffeine makes you jittery, try cutting out caffeinated sodas, coffees and teas a couple of days to a week before the audition.
The last couple of nights before the audition, read through your études and excerpts in bed and visualize playing the most perfect audition. Notice how your hands, arms and fingers feel. Take deep breaths and associate playing the music with a very calm sensation. For best results, have your music memorized and do this exercise with your eyes closed.
Get a good night's rest the night before the audition and each a healthy breakfast in the morning. If your stomach doesn't feel like it can handle food, eat something simple like a banana or a piece of toast. If your blood sugar drops too much you might be shaky.
Dress nicely for your audition/recording. It doesn't matter if you are playing for an audience or not, the simple act of dressing up will make you take the audition more seriously. If you are dressed for success you will play with confidence.
Take a couple of deep breaths before you begin your audition/recording. Play a little slower than you think you need to - adrenaline will make you play everything slightly faster. Take your time in between the études and excerpts and only begin playing when you feel comfortable.
Do your best not to back up and repeat something if you make a mistake. Just keep going - that's what counts!
Most of all, have fun! Prove to yourself what you can do with your instrument and be proud of yourself no matter the outcome!