Sitting on the Other Side of the Screen Would Rock Your World
I wish I could sneak you behind the curtain at the next LA Phil audition so you could hear exactly what happens at a professional orchestra audition. The actual experience is COMPLETELY different from what you expect. For most people, it changes their whole perspective. Let me explain…
As a musician, auditioning for an orchestra can be one of the most terrifying experiences you’ll ever face. The pressure to perform flawlessly is intense, and the competition is fierce.
As if that weren’t bad enough, it gets worse—the experience is so nerve-wracking, most people can’t hear or remember how they actually played. They go from audition to audition, not really understanding why they never win.
So what can we do about this? I have a pretty simple suggestion.
Imagine a world where every music conservatory student had the opportunity to sit on the other side of the audition screen at least once during their time in school. They would hear dozens of players on their instrument make the same mistakes as everyone else, and they would gain invaluable insights into the audition process.
The benefits would be HUGE.
For one thing, it would help every candidate:
· develop a more realistic and accurate view of the audition process
· see firsthand what the judges are looking for
· gain a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of everyone else in the room
This would help them to develop a more objective approach to their own auditions and to focus on the kinds of practice and work that actually make a difference. (News flash—most aspiring musicians don’t know what productive audition practicing looks like.)
If musicians listened to “real” auditions, they would be exposed to a wide range of playing styles and techniques. They would learn to recognize the subtle differences that distinguish great players from good ones.
But here’s the main thing—sitting on the other side of the audition screen would help musicians understand the judges’ perspective. They would finally understand why solid rhythms, clear articulations, and musical character matter so much. Not only would they play better auditions, they would improve as artists.
So why aren’t we doing this already?
At large institutions, it’s complicated. Orchestras and universities would have real issues around privacy, confidentiality, and fairness. However, I think it’s worth changing how we do things to give students this kind of knowledge.
In the Audition Accelerator, this exact experience is baked in to the program. My participants get to listen to their colleagues as often as they want to. During formal mock auditions and individual recordings, they have frequent opportunities to listen to advanced musicians playing audition material.
After a short time, they start to see things differently. No matter how great the player, they notice when a musician isn’t communicating the right style. No matter how musical the phrasing, they can’t help but notice when the tempo drags.
Years and years of teachers saying, “your time has to be rock solid” finally starts to make sense. Audition Accelerator participants start to understand what stands out (for better and for worse) to an audition committee, and they change their practice routines to deliver better performances.
If you’re an educator, I encourage you to think about ways to give your students this perspective. And if you’re an aspiring musician, I encourage you to find ways to give this to YOURSELF.
Remember that I’m available to chat. We can see if Audition Accelerator is right for you, or we can brainstorm ways you can find this information in your own environment.
Want to connect? You can book a (totally free) 20-minute discovery call right HERE with me. Don’t see times that work? Shoot me a message at chris@honestypill.com and I will find a time for you.
Happy practicing,
Chris @ Honesty Pill
P.S. If you want to take your own sneak peek at what happens behind the audition screen, check out my 16 week course, “The Audition Accelerator” at this link right here.
