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This is something that every young singer will go through and it is the start of a very long and tiresome career of auditioning and anxiety. To read more about tackling performance anxiety, check out this blog. These tips will go with you for many years as you audition for roles, master’s programs, competitions, and even young artist positions.
1. It’s Kind of Like Blind Dating - the departments and the individual teachers want somebody that they can train and that can benefit from their training. Sometimes that may not be you, even if you are an amazing singer. A lot of times, the teachers don’t know how they could help you because they see that you might already know a lot of the technique they teach. Do the best that you know you can do that day and the rest will fall into place. 9 out of 10 times they will love your commitment to your art above anything else. They want to teach students who want to learn and make a career out of singing.
2. Don’t Try to Please the Panel, Do What You Love - Nobody really wants a cookie-cutter singer. They want somebody who has passion and who can express what the music makes them feel. The panel (which consists of the teachers of the voice department) can get over whether or not you messed up the rhythm or your voice cracked when it shouldn’t have. A lot of times, they will be writing things down or whispering amongst each other while you’re singing. This is how they can decide if they want to admit you, so don’t get too intimidated by it. Make sure to walk in tall and with confidence. State your name loudly so that everybody can hear your name and what you’re singing in the back of the room. Do what you love, enjoy yourself, and have fun! (And remember, look above their heads so you don’t have to make eye contact).
3. “You have a lot of potential” - A lot of people will probably tell you that this is bad feedback. This just isn’t true for auditions at an undergraduate level. This is actually great feedback because it means that the professors see your commitment and passion for singing and know exactly how to help you. Either way, any sort of criticism is just that - criticism. It is one person’s opinion and just because they feel a certain way about something, doesn’t mean that another person will. You will find the perfect fit throughout this grueling process even if it seems unlikely at first.
4. Trial Lessons - before you even audition, have a few trial lessons with some of the teachers! If you don’t connect with any of them, there isn’t a point in putting yourself through the stress of that audition. Who you study with matters way more than where you study because your teacher shapes your voice. Trial lessons are probably the most important thing to do for audition season. A lot of people will read a teacher’s profile and decide who they want to study with based off of a short bio quip. There is no way to really know if this is the right teacher for you. Some professionals that have extensive performing careers may not be the best suited for shaping young voices. You have to test each instructor out, like you would when you are looking for a car.
5. Musicality and Stage Presence Weigh More Than Technique - Technique can be taught. You can always go back to the basics and relearn how to use your instrument. But, musicality and stage presence can determine your admission to the program more than the previously mentioned having everything perfect. I know that it is hard to remember this because most musicians are perfectionists and Type A personalities; however, if there is any advice you will take away from this blog, take this: Focus on connecting to the text and the music when you’re prepping for any performance. It will go a long way for you. The successful singers are not necessarily the best sounding ones, they are the ones that audiences can connect with the most. So, find a way to dive deeper into the text and the piece to show your true colors and expression when you are performing.
Read my blog on learning music if you need some help figuring out how to understand the text and connect to the music more!
6. Record Yourself - DO THIS! You aren’t technically allowed to blatantly record yourself during an audition, but you can hide your phone in a pocket, purse, or even under your dress in your tights. Recording yourself during an audition is so important for development and personal feedback. You might go into an audition completely scared and feel that you messed up a big section or that your technique wasn’t quite adequate; however, when you listen to that recording, you will usually realize that all of the fear and panicking was in your head and that you actually sounded great! Also, for those of you that are like me, that completely blackout after an audition and do not remember a single thing that happened, having a recording (even if it’s muzzled and low-quality) is a lifesaver, especially if you have more auditions to go to later.
7. Pick Repertoire That Fits Your Level Now - A lot of time, the people auditioning, bring in repertoire that their voice is not quite ready for yet. Even if they sound great singing the aria or song, their age, and vocal development has not gotten to the place it needs to be for this material to be used for auditions to show off the great capabilities of the singer’s voice. For example, I used to adore singing the Habanera from Carmen when I was in high school, but it will most likely not be ready for performance until my late 20’s because of natural vocal development and maturity as we get older. Make sure to consult with your teacher and to sing something that feels good in your body and that you have been working on for a while.
Read my tips on tackling performance anxiety before your audition (even if it's online) so you can be extra prepared!
8. Be Ready to Sleep, Breathe, and Eat Music - This probably applies more to
students attending a conservatory setting for school, but a lot of music students at university programs have had similar feedback. There is music playing at every moment of the day. Walking through a hall of practice rooms is walking through an orchestra getting ready to play and singers warming up in different keys. While you’re doing theory homework, somebody is practicing their scales on a guitar. Every class you take is related to music in one way or another. For a lot of people (like me), this sounds like the dream! I never felt overworked or overwhelmed with how much there is to do because it was all music; however, burnout is real. There are many students that will not make it all the way to graduation because this life can suck out the love of music and it might become a chore. Before you decide to go to a music-intensive program (like a conservatory), ask yourself the question - Are you ready to sleep, breathe, and eat music?
For those of you considering studying at a conservatory of music, here is a sneak peek of what life might be like!! Happy Singing!