DWCWO Audition: Jan Michael Bourgeois – Salvation Is Created
Jan 27, 2012 Music
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A step by step comprehensive guide to preparing for an orchestra audition, New 2011 version
The Orchestra Audition.
Tags: audition preparation, excerpts, orchestra audition, orchestra auditions, symphony
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
what instrument do you play
violin: spring by vivaldi
Viola: cannon in D
cello: Behtovans 5th 2nd movement
bass: brandenburg concerto # 5
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Hi. How good do you have to be to get onto a high school orchestra? What is a good song to play at an audition, and can you give me a link to the shhet music? Also, can you give me an example of a song thats played in chamber orchestra? Thanks
~bobo
for violin
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m about to graduate from music school with my masters in trombone performance and would like to pursue an orchestral career. I want to know how many trombone players typically audition for an orchestral opening? To specify how many would show up for an audition for a large major symphony (NY philharmonic, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc) and how many would show up for an audition for a smaller, lesser known but still professional orchestra.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
For the top orchestras, they’ll usually get a few hundred resumes and the committee will invite as many of those as they think they can reasonably listen to. That varies with the orchestra – some will only invite the top 30-40 candidates, some will invite more. You don’t just show up for an audition, you send in your resume and probably a recording, then they’ll decide whether or not they want to hear you in person.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
i am auditioning for OYP thats oklahoma youth philharmonic
what are some good songs i can play for my audition
oh by the way i play violin
and are there any tricks i can use to improve my playing and do well in my audition
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I heard a good story once about either Jasha Heifitz or Yehudi Menuin (I’m sure I’m off on the spelling…).
Can’t remember which guy, but what he would do, is have a stack of ten pennies.
Each time he played the piece 100% correctly, he would take one penny off the stack, and make a new stack.
If he flubbed, he had to start over.
That way, only when he could play it 10 times through with no mistakes, did he know he really had the piece down.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I am going to try out for a local orchestra soon. I am a good violin player, but when it comes to audition time, I get extremely nervous. I usually freeze up, my knees buckle, and my whole body shakes. Any ideas on how to calm my nerves?
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
1. Know your music inside and out.
This comes from “doing your homework”–aka practising, listening to recordings, score study, all that stuff. Have rebound spots marked in your music–spots that you know where you can get everything back together in case something goes askew. Sometimes, the rebound may be worth almost as much playing the piece/part very cleanly.
2. Perform the piece in front of an audience several times before you audition. If possible, ask for constructive feedback to help improve your performance.
3. Be kind to yourself. As funny as it sounds, don’t shoot for a “perfect performance” as they honestly don’t exist. Instead, shoot for playing very well. Very few auditions and performances are perfect (if ever), so although it’s much easier said than done, don’t dwell over mistakes that you may make.
4. Practice picturing yourself playing in front of the judges and practice while being in the outfit you will be auditioning in.
- If you find yourself getting nervous–that is actually a good thing. Picture them writing things down as you’re playing, or even smiling during your performance. If you’re doing a blind audition (where you won’t see the judges faces), pretend that you’re doing the audition in that manner. Use this opportunity to play through the WHOLE piece several times in a row with NO stops, starting at least a few days before the audition. This will help with your “rebounding” skills and build endurance for the audition. Auditions are tiring and you will need the endurance to play through them without completely tiring out 1/2 way through. Practising in your audition clothes will also give you a better feel of what may happen as a result of being in the clothes. This especially holds true for dress shoes.
5. Be kind to yourself. Take breaks to do activities that you enjoy or play some pieces that you have fun with. Try to eat a balanced diet, but don’t totally deny yourself either. You’ll also want enough sleep. On the day of the audition, try to avoid caffiene or unnecessary sugars. You definitely don’t want a caffiene or sugar rush on top of your nerves. Meal wise, I prefer to have something fairly light before I perform so that I do have some energy in my system. However, this is just a personal thing.
6. Accept your nerves. It’s natural to be nervous when performing in front of an audience. Embrace the nerves, but don’t allow those nerves to overtake your performance. The audience and judges WANT you to do well and for you to sound your best. Use this audition as a learning experience because what we learn makes us that much better in the long run.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m auditioning for WV all-state orchestra as Violin II tomorrow morning and while I’m not really nervous now, I’m sure I will be when I’m in front of the judges. Of course, we get warm up time right before we audition. Any extra tips on how to nail my audition? Thanks so much
.
P.S. Our audition excerpts are Glinka overture to Russlan and Ludmilla and Les Preludes by Liszt if anyone was simply curious
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
No caffeine at all before the audition. I usually have a couple cups of chamomile tea before playing a solo. Magnesium calms the nervous system, so have some nuts and whole grains with breakfast.
Greet the adjudicator, then forget that he or she is there. Take a deep breath and pull your focus in. Focus on your music. Pretend you’re back in your practice room at home.
If there’s sight reading, concentrate on rhythmic accuracy over getting every note right.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m already in the orchestra; it’s a school class, but we’re vying for seating now. My violin teacher is on a summer trip, so any audition tips are welcome. I have to play exerpts from the following pieces: ‘Think of Me’ from Phantom of the Opera, the fast off-the-string detache parts from Prometheus Overture (Beethoven), and a watered-down version of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor, 3rd movement (first page only).
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Get recordings of those pieces and practice playing them at the proper tempos and with the proper dynamics and expression. If you play beautifully but out of rhythm you’ll get put in the back where your rhythm problems won’t throw anyone else off. Focusing on good dynamics, rhythmic accuracy and intonation will get you further than anything else.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Im a junior in high school and I want to move in orchestra levels. I play violin. I need a high school intermediate solo piece. I used to have a teacher, but unfortunately we can’t afford to see the teacher anymore. Any suggestions would help. Nothing too difficult and something that is fun XD
Thanks
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Mozart:
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 I. Allegro
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 II. Romanze: Andante
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 IV. Rondo: Allegro
Vivaldi:
Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, “La primavera” (Spring) Allegro
Kriesler:
Schon Rosmarin
Tango
Syncopation
Beethoven:
Romance No. 1 in G Major Op. 40
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I play the violin, and I think that I have a pretty good chance of getting a high chair this year, but the problem is, I get so nervous that my hands start shaking and I can barely move in auditions! How can I get rid of this problem, or just ease the symptoms so I can play better and more focused?
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
You must focus on the music, not on (Will I get a good chair? What if he doesn’t like me? etc.)
If you only think about the music in practice and performance including audition, you will do great. If you start thinking about judge or audience or others, then the shakes may start up.
Good Luck
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m playing solo. My private violin teacher said that I’d pass and my pieces are fine but I need to work on my intonation on my scales. So yeah. I’m nervous. The only advice I received so far is to eat a banana 30 minutes beforehand. Anything else I should know?
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Nutrition is definitely important. And, it is OK to feel nervous. Just take lots of deep breaths before going in.
Try to be as prepared as possible, but don’t overpractice. I always practice a lot in the weeks leading up to an audition, but then stop completely for about 24 – 30 hours prior. I recommend this, because it’s possible to have your best performance during your practice session, if you are practicing non-stop right before you go in.
The night before, make sure you have everything together you’ll need. Your music, a music stand, your instrument and bow (of course), shoulder rest, rosin, dust cloth, and a tuner (if you have one). If you have extra strings, those are helpful too. You’ll never know when a string will break. And, it’s nice to have all of this stuff together and ready, so you aren’t rushing around right when you need to be leaving.
If it would help your intunation (and if your teacher doesn’t mind), you can use clear scotch tape to mark the correct location of the notes on your fingerboard, like the strips of colored tape you probably had when you were first learning. This way, you can feel more confident of your intunation, without it being visible to the judges.
When you’re warming up, try to play something that you feel extremely confident with and that you really enjoy playing, even if it’s not what you’re playing for your audition. It helps to have a confident and positive attitude when going in.
Remember that the judges are just people, and that they’re rooting for you to succeed.
Finally, when you’re done auditioning, treat yourself to something special. After every audition I’ve ever had, even as an adult, I’ve always treated myself to ice cream.
Good luck!
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
This is my first time auditioning for the Reno Philharmonic and I sent in my application. Is there anything that can calm nerves or anything I can do to impress judges
I’m playing Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven’s no. 9. Any suggestions for a 1-2 minute solo?
January 27th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Do one of Bach’s Sonatas/Partitas for solo violin to demonstrate technical prowess, you have 6 of them to choose from.