"My 11-year-old son auditioned at Juilliard, and we both learned a lot about how top performers practice" |
| "To borrow from Cole Porter, Tchaikovsky did it. Beethoven did it. Even Robert Johnson and Ray Charles did it. Creative masters all, they each appropriated music from others in their works and were borrowed from in turn. James Boyle and Jennifer Jenkins’ new scholarly comic book is a celebration of these and other musicians and composers who crossed barriers and built the playlist of extraordinary Western music from ancient Greece to classical to hip-hop. Published by the Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain, “Theft: A History of Music,” brings these artists’ musical borrowings to the forefront, saying that instead of stifling creativity, such “thefts” were essential to musical cross-fertilization and creation of new genres... Recent changes in copyright law and the culture of the music business directly attack the essential role of musical borrowing in producing new music." - Geoffrey Mock |
2) Practice in front of peersWhen you audition, you will be playing in front of a panel of 2-4 adjudicators. The best way to practice playing in front of people is simply by playing in front of people. Perform your excerpts to your peers, your family, or even complete strangers. Get in the habit of putting yourself outside of your comfort zone. |
3) Dress for Success...at HomeDress clothes can be uncomfortable and unwieldy, especially if you have to readjust your positioning for the first time when performing a piece. Therefore, practice your excerpts in your formal attire, so that your body adapts to your restrictive clothing. When your audition comes around, you won't have to worry about unaccounted-for restrictions. |
4) Simulate your auditionEven though it may seem weird, you can build your confidence by recreating an audition at home. 1) Walk in to your practice room with instrument and music in hand 2) Simulate greeting your auditioners 3) Sit down and run through your scales 4) Run through your orchestral excerpts 5) Stand up and say your thank you's and exit the room |
"A bodybuilder wouldn’t dream of walking into the gym without a specific plan for the day. Instead he looks at last week’s workouts and builds the current week based on them. He makes sure that by the end of the week, every part of the body has gotten its due." -Nathan Cole, Violinist at the Los Angeles Philharmonic http://www.natesviolin.com/practice-like-bodybuilder-slow-steady-super-strong/ |
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