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NYO auditions

Author: Richard
Date: 2001-05-15 11:54

Hey.I'm doing the auditions for the National Youth Orchestra (Britain) in a few months. I've never entered before, and I'm dead scared, so if anyone has done it before, I'd be really grateful if you could tell me anything about it, or give me any tips.
Thanks,
Richard

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RE: NYO auditions

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-15 18:28

Richard -

Don't panic. We've all been through this and come out alive.

Next, remember that you wouldn't be there at all if you weren't good. The people who nominated you believe in you and know you can and will do well. If they thought you were going to mess up, they would have told you to wait until next year. Believe it or not, teachers really *want* their students to ace the auditions.

So. Stand or sit up straight. Take a good breath beginning as deep down as you can. Let your lungs fill with air and let the air push out your abdomen and keep going until it raises your ribs and chest. With that much good air, you just have to let it out and don't have to push. Once you get going, it will be fine.

Play things in an audition a little slower than you practiced them. What counts is evenness and good sound. You get a much better score if you get through going slow than if you whiz through almost everything but have to stop when your fingers get scrambled. Count even harder during the rests than you do while you're playing.

If you get really tight anyway, imagine, in a really clear mental picture, that every one of the judges is sitting on the toilet. Nobody can be dignified in that position.

Finally, remember that all of us on the board want you to do well and are pulling for you. So do it for us, too, and let us know how it came out.

I'm not sure you need it, but good luck.

Ken Shaw

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RE: NYO auditions

Author: Juliet
Date: 2001-05-15 20:14

Richard,

I did the NYO audtions last year and the people auditioning were really friendly and tried to put you at your ease. Be confident and relax, if you're there you must be good. Just do your best, no one can ask for more than that.

Juliet

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