Posted by also withheld on December 15, 2003 at 18:21:22:
In Reply to: Auditioners posted by KH on December 15, 2003 at 12:31:14:
play the ink!! play the rhythms, pitches, dynamics and articulations printed on the page! Also, know the right tempos and phrases. So few people do this, although so many think they do.
I talked with some players involved after the last time I helped judge an audition. They were not aware of certain rhythmic and musical idiosyncrasies which they had made a permanent part of their interpretation, and those unconciously practiced issues held them back. If they had just taped themselves those problems would have come across clearly in playback and they could easily have fixed them.
so... CHECK YOUR MUSICAL BASICS at every possible turn. you may not be playing something the way you think you are. I know instrumentalists in major and minor orchestras and the DC bands who swear taping themselves and deeply analyzing the playback was key to being prepared enough to win.