 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amy
Date: 1999-01-21 23:11
In two weeks I will be auditioning for the TMEA all-state band/orchestra and there will be 63 clarinets trying out. We will be in the audition at once as a group and we will probably be in the room for several hours. If I don't try to relax by doing something while everyone is playing I really get tense and I sometimes have trouble performing. I've tried reading and and some other things to pass the time but it never works. Does anyone have any tips on how to pass the time during such a long audition?
Thanks, Amy
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-01-21 23:58
WELL,
When me and my friends tried out(sorry, I don't feel like using proper grammar), some of us had like 3-6 hours to wait, there were that many people. What we did was first go over our scales, terms, solo, etc.(stuff like that). That took about 30 min. 'cause we were all jittery. Then, we'd just mess around. Playing with the highschoolers. Playing Pep Rally songs. 'Course, we also accompanied the person to their room and waited until their audition was over. This is the one aspect of All-State that I was really proud of, everyone supported everyone else. Hope this helps, but I don't think it does really.
Nicole Y.
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-01-21 23:58
WELL,
When me and my friends tried out(sorry, I don't feel like using proper grammar), some of us had like 3-6 hours to wait, there were that many people. What we did was first go over our scales, terms, solo, etc.(stuff like that). That took about 30 min. 'cause we were all jittery. Then, we'd just mess around. Playing with the highschoolers. Playing Pep Rally songs. 'Course, we also accompanied the person to their room and waited until their audition was over. This is the one aspect of All-State that I was really proud of, everyone supported everyone else. Hope this helps, but I don't think it does really.
Nicole Y.
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Author: Justice
Date: 1999-01-22 00:32
Well,
There are a few factors that you need to play out while you are waiting and so forth. When executed properly, they will make all the difference in the world.
FIRST: is the confidence factor. YOU have to believe that you are going to make it. You have to be satisfied with the practice time that you put in. You have to be satisfied with the amout of preparation that you made with you teacher. You have to be confident that you can play the same way under pressure (because there will be pressure) that you do when you are in your lessons, or in the wood shed.
SECOND: is the blinding factor. EVERYONE else must not know what you can and cannot do. When you are waiting, do not talk about how you can play this lick or that, or can not play this lick or that. Do not talk to anyone that you do not know. Talk with your friends (but not about the audition music). You must not let the other people know anything that they do not need to know. If THEY ask you what you name is, you may tell them. If THEY ask you what school you are from, you may tell them. If they ask you about how well you can play the music, change the subject, shrug, do somethime to avoid answering the question. If THEY say that they can not play the music very well, tell them "that's too bad". Or, "I guess you should have practiced more". Or something.
the Last (and my personal favorite) is the intimidation factor: you must intimidate all the other players. You can do this any, preferablly all of several ways. First, dress up, preferably in black, or some other dark colors. Wear something that looks expensive, like what a mafia hit man would wear. If you can get away with wearing sun glasses, do it. Second, Do not smile (smirking is okay, but only if you can do it really well), or look like you are "having fun" you must be very profesional. You are there to do a job and do it well. Third, Walk slowly. Do not look like you are rushed. Plan acordingly. Leave the warm up area three minutes earlier so you do not have to run to the audition room. Take long, slow, broad steps.
You must let everyone else there know that YOU are the bad-ass and that you couldn't care less about how they play. All-State auditions are competitions, not social get togethers and should be treated as such. One last point, do not think about your audition, if you do, you will inevitably get nervous, and that leads to mistakes in playing.
BTW, I did make All-State.
Justice
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Author: Jason C
Date: 1999-01-22 21:09
I seriously hope that you ( Justice ) are joking. I've noticed that musicians, especially clarinetists, can be some of the friendliest people around. The more people you talk to at the audition, the more people you'll know when you make the band ( or the orchestra ). It sounds like you're trying to turn this girl into a snob that no one would want to talk to anyways. Amy, I hope you choose to have a positive attitude do good on your audition
BTW, I too have made All-State
Jason
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Author: Christine
Date: 1999-01-22 23:54
I know all-state can be really hard to handle, especially when you play later in the day. What I usually do is go with every one of my friends to their audition room and cheer them on, quietly of course. It passes the time really quickly. Also, we goof off and joke and talk, as long as we don't disturb everybody else. I mean, it's not a matter of making the band, it's making sure you have a successful audition and the only way you can do that (at this point) is to be relaxed.Take you auditions seriously, but have fun to pass the time quickly.
Christine
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Author: Justice
Date: 1999-01-23 15:35
Seriuosly, the way the have a succesful audtion and/or make the ensemble is to have complete confidence in what you are doing. In order to have complete confidence in what you are doing, you must actually believe that you are the best player there. You do that by getting your self into the right "mind-set", a sort of self brainwashing.
When I auditioned for my All-Region band, I was not so confident. I had just found out about two weeks earlier that one of the people that I was competeing against was taking lessons from my teacher. Since this person was a better player than me any way, I felt that he had the advantage, and not me. I was nervous and I did not play as well as I should have.
For All-State, I had complete control over myself. I was not nervous. I had convinced myself that I would do good. And, I did.
Justice
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Author: brian
Date: 1999-01-23 16:45
I would have to agree with Jason. There is no need to show off and intimidate everyone else. All you are accomplishing by this is pissing people off. Also, the people who will actually be intimidated are usually not the ones who are serious competition anyway. You should be confident and feel prepared enough that you shouldn't feel a need to intimidate and show off. While you're warming up, etc, people will here you and be impressed or maybe intimidated, or not. You don't have to go out of your way.
I also think it is helpful to be around a group of friends before the audition, to talk and goof around--it helps me relax a little. I usually warm up a little, maybe play a few scales and isolated spots or whatever. When you get nervous, sometimes you just want to keep playing and playing, but you don't want your embouchure shot by the time you go in. For me, I usually go off by myself a few minutes before my actual time and focus on what I need to do. I guess everyone has their own ways of doing it.
Sometimes excersize helps to relieve tension,too, if you're nervous. Like maybe taking a walk outside if you have a long time to wait.
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