All State Auditions can be particularly nerve wracking. There are endless thoughts that race through your head, but keep one thing in mind – if you were chosen to be in an audition, it’s because you are entirely capable of doing well.

Here are some tips to ACE your audition – because we can all do it!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Although it may sound obvious, you must dedicate time to practicing audition material. Whether it’s chunking parts in the music that are hard or practicing the audition process from beginning to end, setting aside mindful time to practice is key. Meaning, don’t just practice “when you have time.”

Understand the Musical Context

To play any piece of music well, you must work to incorporate meaning into your piece. Etudes can be boring, so work to incorporate dynamics, mood, and style into the piece as well as you can. A powerful musician can make boring notes sing!

Express Yourself

Your audition is an opportunity to showcase your musicality and expressiveness. Experiment with different nuances, articulations, and dynamics to add depth to your interpretation. No interpretation is wrong (as long as you don’t go too far), so try a few different ones out and choose what feels right for you.

Final Thoughts

As always, luck is also a factor. However, following these tips and making the most of your time can help you increase your chances of a good audition significantly.

Before you go on stage, take a deep breath. Acing an audition is not just about technical proficiency but also about evoking emotion in your judge. Enjoy the process and let your passion for music shine through in your performance.

You got this! I am rooting for you.