Five Do's/Don'ts For Your Upcoming Musical Audition
by José Simbulan, UPTA accompanist
- DO have a good copy of your sheet music. It can be in a book, three-ring binder (with or without sheet protectors), or taped/glued/stapled to a file folder so that it will stay on the piano. And, yes, page turns are acceptable.
DON'T put your music on the piano and say, “I'm sorry this is hard to read.” If I'm not able to read it, I won't be able to play it. And no loose sheets of paper - it's too easy for them to fall off the piano. The same goes for “accordion folds” over three pages - if one piece of paper starts to fall, the rest will follow.
- DO practice your music at least once with a pianist before your audition. Or, at the very least, have a pianist read through your music to make sure it's readable and clearly marked.
DON'T find out while you're auditioning that your sheet music is in the wrong key, and/or not correctly marked.
- DO sing a song (or songs) that you like to sing.
DON'T sing something that you think you have to sing - or should sing. A good performance of a “bad” song is better than a “bad” performance of a good song.
- DO know what you want for your intro: a note, a couple of notes, a measure or two of music.
DON'T decide on-the-fly where and how you want to start.
- DO give me a “complete” piece of sheet music to read - a vocal line and a piano accompaniment, or a lead sheet with chords, melody and lyrics.
DON'T provide me with a copy of the “Vocal Book” to play from. A “Vocal Book” is just that - it will only have the melody with no piano part/accompaniment.
And a Bonus DO!
- DO remember that I like playing auditions. I want to play well for you. I want you to have a good audition. I want you get a callback. If you and your music are prepared, then I will be prepared.
See you in Memphis!
-Jose
