1. EYSO Audition workshop 2019

2. Your audition will include:
solo
Scales
Excerpts (all but Youth Symphony)
sightreading

3. Study the audition info sheet at eyso.org.
be prepared.
Study the audition info sheet at eyso.org.

4. What are the judges listening for?
Tone (your basic sound)
Technical facility
Intonation (how well you play in tune)
Rhythm
Correct rhythms
Internal time (keeping a steady pulse)
Interpretation (expression)
Attention to detail

5. 1. solo Your most polished and well-prepared piece (to date)
Strings: One solo piece (2-3 minutes)
Winds/brass/YS Strings: 2 contrasting selections
(one faster, more technical, the other slower & lyrical)
Etude, concerto movement, orchestral excerpts (especially upper level winds)

6. to consider Work with your private teacher to choose your solo(s)
Don’t wait until May to choose it.
Don’t choose a piece that’s too hard. Better to play something easier that you can play well.
Memorization optional.
No accompanist needed.
Bring 2 copies for the judges.

7. 2. Excerpts Excerpts come from standard orchestral repertoire.
Find the excerpt for your instrument at eyso.org.
This is required (not optional).
Find the excerpt on a recording (YouTube, spotify, etc.) and listen to it in its context. This is important.
Pay attention to every detail.
Work with your teacher.

8. 3. SCALES This is very important (and something you can control)
Work on these every day (don’t wait).
ASK your teacher to work with you.
Any bowing pattern or articulation is okay.
Practice consistent fingering.
We are listening for more than the right notes:
consistent and beautiful tone, bow placement, bow changes, vibrato, intonation

9. 4. SIGHTREADING
The only music you don’t’ know ahead of time (but you can still prepare)
The audition: 1 or 2 examples
Sightreadingfactory.com
Practice this regularly (you can get better at it!)
Ask your teacher for sightreading practice.

10. Sightreading strategies
Take about 20 seconds to look over the sightreading.
Have a sightreading checklist. Practice going through it.
“STAR”
Signatures (Key & Time)
Tempo
Accidentals
Rhythms (look for difficult rhythms, rests, relationships between note values, dotted rhythms, etc.

11. What you can control Everything (except the sightreading example)
Think about it: there will be no surprises in your audition, if you prepare thoughtfully, patiently, (and early).
It’s really about putting in the time.

12. HOW TO PREpare 1 Start earlier than you think.
The way you practice matters
If you feel like you’re not progressing, it’s all about practice.
Ask your teacher “How should I practice this section?”
Work every day, even just a little. Don’t’ try to cram.
Work for “good reps”. If you can only play a passage well 70% of the time, the odds are against you that you’ll play it well in the audition. You must be playing more “good reps” than “bad Reps” by the time of the audition.
Set goals & dates for yourself
“By this date I will know ___ scales.”
”By this day, I will have my solo memorized.”

13. HOW TO PREPARE 2 Practice slower. Chunk.
Notice details. Study every measure of your piece.
Practice sightreading. Focus on rhythm.

14. HOW TO PREPARE 3 Record yourself (use a cell phone)
The more you do it, the easier it becomes
Really listen closely to what you hear
Stay positive. Notice what’s getting better!
Play some ”practice auditions”
Most students have little experience “playing while nervous”. It just takes practice. Play for your family, a friend, your Dog.
Actually practice the entire audition, step by step, including walking into the room, smiling at the judge, announcing your piece, etc.

15. HOW TO PREPARE 4 Mentally walk through your audition, ahead of time.
Picture yourself walking in.
Will you say hello?
Will you check your tuning?
Imagine setting up: will you sit or stand?
Imagine what order you’ll have your music in
If the judge says, ‘what scale would you like to start with?”, do you have an answer prepared?

16. The day of your audition
Get a good night’s sleep.
Consider your “presentation”
This matters, not just for the judges but for you.
Dress up, but be comfortable
Avoid clothes that make it harder to play (short dresses, bare shoulders, high heels)
This is not a day to try new clothes or shoes.
Dark trousers, dress shirts, longer dresses and skirts
Arrive in plenty of time to check in & warm up (20-30 minutes).
Check your tuning (or ask a judge to help you).

17. In the audition Greet the judges with a Smile. Make eye contact.
Breathe.
Take your time

18. We want you to succeed! No tricks or surprises.
Everyone is pulling for you!
We know you’re nervous. We can see past the “nervous sounds” (and don’t count those against you).
This is not like American idol (all the judges will be friendly, but they won’t comment much on your playing--you’ll get written feedback with your audition results).
This is not a math test. We are evaluating lots of little things, but we’re really looking more at the big picture—not just what your did, but what you are capable of doing.

19. Audition mindset
Auditioning takes practice: you’ll get better over time.
It truly is a learning experience. Treat it that way.
One shaky audition does not mean “game over.”
In the EYSO, we expect you will probably play in the same orchestra at least 2 years before moving on.
Your 2nd or 3rd years are your chance to show leadership.

20. After the audition Reflect on your playing.
How did you do? What specifically did you do well?
No regrets. But What can you learn?
Talk about it with your teacher.
Make a plan for future auditions. What will you do differently?

21. Placement decisions placement based on: Your audition
Your playing throughout the season
Your attendance and rehearsal work ethic
Balance in sections • need for certain instruments
Years of playing in the EYSO

22. Audition results Audition results sent out by mid-june.
No results will be given over the phone.
Send back your letter of agreement as soon as possible to reserve your spot!