by Inman Hebert
The task of preparing for college auditions can seem daunting to any student. These auditions hold the power to alter a student’s immediate and long-term futures. Regardless of the stakes, taking a calculated approach makes the audition process more manageable.
Start early. That simple phrase can save immense hassle. At the beginning of September, students should already have a list of schools and an idea of what to play for each audition. For students not yet decided, see the Horn and More student column Deciding Where to Audition for College, published September 2023. Students who still need to finalize their audition material should review the institution’s requirements and follow the listed guidelines, which often require contrasting selections. Creating a chart will highlight potential overlap to narrow audition lists and focus preparation. Choose music that showcases your current strengths as a musician and stretches your potential but does not exceed your ability to polish each selection. With these ideas in mind, students have four to five months to prepare their lists fully.
The first part of college audition preparation involves working up each piece's basic notes and rhythms. As simple as it sounds, many students go into auditions rhythmically imprecise. Practicing with a metronome is paramount to rhythmic accuracy during the audition. The tempo of every audition piece needs to be checked metronomically on a near-daily basis to ensure that poor rhythmic habits never emerge. Slowing down the music can help students work on technical accuracy. Students can significantly improve their precision by practicing correctly at slower tempos and gradually increasing the tempo as capable. Paying careful attention to rhythmic and technical details of pieces creates a solid foundation on which to build.
Audition preparation requires dedication, consistency, and thoughtful practice. Attention to detail from the beginning will prevent mindless, repeated playing of the same music without improvement. Record and listen to yourself. Is the sound solid? Is the music in tune? Are the breaths being incorporated as marked? Break apart the different components of the music and put it together step by step.
When feeling overwhelmed, a student may be tempted to neglect fundamentals; however, some challenges in repertoire preparation may occur due to gaps in ability. For example, a student with struggles in the high range should address this issue daily with high-range exercises. Trying repeatedly to hit high B-flats in a Mozart concerto will be useless if the note is not achievable in fundamental sessions. The same concept applies to articulation, stopped horn, low horn, and many other fundamental areas of horn playing.
Another major challenge of college auditions can be knowing how to divide practice time to prepare all music to the same standard. Many professors recommend dividing pieces into three categories grouped by proficiency. In a week, most preparation time should be spent on the weakest of the three categories, with progressively less time on the more prepared categories. At the end of the week, reevaluate preparation levels and regroup the music. Then, “rinse and repeat.”
After a certain level of technical preparation, focus on musicality. College audition repertoire can generally be divided into three major categories: etudes, solo repertoire, and excerpts. Each category holds its musical challenges which require different styles of preparation.
Etude preparation is often seen as a battle for technical accuracy. However, even the most straightforward Kopprasch etude contains musical phrases that can be brought out. Preparing technical etudes as lyrical pieces brings out their musicality and makes the piece's technical challenges seem less daunting. Rather than focusing on each note of the piece, focus on creating longer musical phrases; this actually assists overall accuracy.
For solo repertoire, listen to recordings to understand their musicality. Listening to performers’ musical interpretations can help shape the way you perform. In practice, after having reasonable technical control over the repertoire, work on the phrasing of the music. Create broad musical phrases which convey your musical self in performance.
Most orchestral excerpts, on the other hand, offer less musical freedom. Orchestral excerpts require an extraordinary amount of attention to detail. In addition to practicing the correct notes and rhythms, preparing excerpts involves comprehending their context. By listening to the orchestra parts, one can learn to play the excerpt in an appropriate style.
Students worried about college audition day might want to reference Be Yourself: A Constructive Approach to College Auditions in the January 2024 Horn and More Student Column; however, do not neglect performance before auditioning. Play audition selections for anyone willing to listen, from band directors to music teachers to parents. Practicing the art of performing for others can help assuage the nerves of audition day. With repetition and simulation of audition day conditions, one can maximize their chances of success.
