Well, I've made it to the other side! Two auditions down in the span of about a week. Whew.
I thought I might share some of the wisdom I've gained after completing this stressful stage of life so that future youngins may benefit.
1. It's good to ask other people about what their audition experiences were like, but take what they say with a grain of salt.
Before my major audition, I was told by one girl that the panel was really mean, that the acoustics were terrible, and that I should basically prepare myself for failure. Turns out that the acoustics weren't bad at all, and that my panel was very nice. Experiences vary widely - don't psyche yourself out.
2. If you can, play for an audience beforehand!
Three days before my audition, I was up being a teacher's assistant at a music retreat. The retreat had a small concert on the last day, so my teachers encouraged me to play for the kids. Doing so was a great experience as it helped me to overcome some nerves. If you can play for 100 people, you can play for two people sitting behind a table.
3. Realize what your body does when you're nervous
Playing a wind instrument requires you to be very in tune with your body, so it's a good idea to figure out what happens to you when you're nervous in order to overcome these idiosyncrasies. Do your hands get really sweaty? Bring a small towel to your warm up room. Does your mouth get dry? Bring a bottle of water.
4. Remember that stress is your body's way of preparing you to do something awesome
I listened to a really perspective changing TED talk a while ago which explained that when you see your stress in a positive light, you often are healthier and have more positive experiences.
5. Don't be too humble
Although humbleness is a virtuous trait the majority of the time, it's really not helpful during auditions. Stop comparing yourself to other people, smile, and play like you're the best.
Good luck for people who are still auditioning! There is light at the end of the tunnel!
Happy March Break,
E
