Wisconsin School Music Association

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Your Guide to a Successful Audition

Auditions vs. Festival Performance

Unlike performances at WSMA Music Festivals, auditions are a unique challenge that often lead to prestigious opportunities, such as placement in state and national honors organizations, summer music camps, or collegiate ensembles. While not all students are selected, the audition process itself is a valuable learning experience.

 

Audition Performance Goals

A successful audition demonstrates technical skill and musical artistry that goes beyond the notes on the page. Use these three steps to achieve your best performance:

  • Practice Slowly: Master difficult passages with a metronome, increasing speed only when you are comfortable with all musical elements.
  • Practice Often: Record your performances and self-critique. Perform for friends, family, or your teacher to get comfortable performing under pressure.
  • Perform with Emotion: Put yourself into the music. What story do you want to tell? What emotions do you wish to communicate to the adjudicator?

 

The Foundational Skills: Scales, Vocalizing, & Ear Training

The solo is just one part of the audition. Scales (for instrumentalists) and vocalizing (for vocalists) should be practiced until they become second nature. Make sure your scales are memorized and performed accurately. Vocalizing and ear training should exhibit your best usable range.

 

Sight-Reading

Most auditions require sight-reading. To prepare, practice at least once a week with unfamiliar music. Before you begin, use the STARS acronym to evaluate the piece in the 30 seconds you are given:

  • S – Sharps or flats in the key signature
  • T – Time signature and tempo markings
  • A – Accidentals and Articulations
  • R – Rhythm (isolate difficult passages)
  • S – Signs (dynamics, repeats, etc.)

For a successful sight-reading session:

  1. Set a timer for thirty seconds to review the music.
  2. Identify the key and time signature, noting any accidentals.
  3. Mentally hum the notes and work through the rhythms silently.
  4. Resist the temptation to play during this time.

The STARS acronym is from Essential Elements Comprehensive Band Method. Copyright Hal Leonard Corporation Milwaukee, WI. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 

Specific Tips for Your Instrument/Voice

  • Winds, Percussion, Strings & Piano: Memorize all required scales (major, minor, chromatic, and/or modal). Be prepared to perform as many octaves as possible in even tempos, using the correct articulation pattern if provided.
  • Vocalists: Ask your teacher for coaching on language pronunciations, style, and phrasing. Schedule an accompanist for your audition or obtain a recorded accompaniment in the correct key and tempo.

 

Additional Resources

Nailed it? Go ahead and play through. And don’t forget to have fun!

Audition Timeline

At Least Three Months Before

  • Get the Audition Requirements:
  • Choose Your Solo & Etude:
    • Obtain a copy of your solo music. If it’s more than three minutes long, consider excluding repeats or performing two contrasting movements.
    • High School Instrumentalists only: Obtain a copy of the required etude.
  • Register for the Audition:
    • High School Honors: Audition registration opens November 1st and is due in early December.
    • Middle Level Honors: Audition registration opens in early December and is due in early February.
  • Create a Practice Schedule:
    • Build a schedule that allows you to meet all audition requirements, including scales, your etude, solo, and sight-reading.
  • Schedule Lessons:
    • Schedule several lessons with your music teacher now to ensure you are on track with your preparation.

One month before

  • Consult with your teacher: Ask for final assistance with all audition requirements and get feedback on your readiness.
  • Record your performances: Record yourself often and critically evaluate your own sound, technique, and musicality.
  • Get feedback from others: Invite friends, family, or other trusted musicians to hear you perform and provide constructive feedback.
  • Maintain your practice schedule: Continue practicing all audition components several times per week to ensure consistent and confident performance.

One week before

  • Prepare your music: Obtain an original copy of your solo music for the adjudicator to review.
  • Do a mock performance: Practice performing all components of your audition from start to finish without stopping, just as you will on the day.

Audition day

  • Dress professionally: Your appearance matters. Dressing appropriately shows respect for the adjudicator and the process.
  • Arrive early: Give yourself plenty of time to park, register, and find the warm-up area and your audition room.
  • Warm-up wisely: Warm-up in the way you’ve been taught. Remember, the performance that matters happens in the audition room, not during your preparation.
  • Be on time: You are required to arrive at your audition room at least ten minutes before your scheduled performance time.

Conduct in the audition room

  • Project confidence: Use positive body language and maintain a professional demeanor.
  • Take a moment: Breathe deeply to collect your thoughts and focus before you begin your performance.
  • Show your preparation: This is your opportunity to demonstrate all the hard work you have put in.
  • Remember, mistakes are okay: No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, do your best to move past it and continue with your performance.
  • Show gratitude: When the audition is over, be sure to thank the adjudicator and accompanist.

Evaluation and Confidentiality

All audition evaluations are confidential.

  • The evaluator will not provide feedback to students during or after the audition.
  • The evaluation form is for the use of the selection committee only.

Audition Results Timeline

  • High School Honors audition results are sent in mid-March.
  • Middle Level Honors audition results are sent in late May.

Congratulations on taking the initiative to practice and audition. Your hard work and dedication are a significant accomplishment!

New Edition Available Now!

An educational collaboration by WSMA and PBS Wisconsin Education

Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
In a state-wide survey and listening sessions with music educators, we learned about the need for current, authentic, culturally diverse resources, as well as support in teaching with and about music from different cultures. This multimedia collection for general music programs serving grades 4-8 includes video interviews with Wisconsin musicians, performances, audio files, and educator engagement guides designed to help activate the media with learners.

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