Posted by Mark Tetreault on January 30, 2003 at 18:16:23:
In Reply to: BSO posted by Chuck jackson on January 29, 2003 at 00:32:20:
Hello Chuck
Here is my 2 cents worth.
First an intro- I am the Principal Tubist in the
Toronto Symphony (since 1986) and have been a
semi-finalist or finalist at many major orchestra
auditions. I was in the semis at the recent Boston
audition.
The audition was extremely well-run from my point of
view. We were well informed and accomodated with
practice space and treated respectfully and
professionally. This has been my experience at every
major orch. audition that I can remember.
My top-ten pieces of advice:
1. Only worry about the things that you have control
over. There is nothing you can do about who is
invited, who is on the commitee, the repertoire
chosen, etc. Don't waste your time thinking about this
stuff. Do something useful and constructive instead.
2. Don't forget your fundementals. Spend plenty of
time on long tones, lip slurs, attacks, etc. Some
players seem to get too focused on the excerpts. They
are much easier to play if your basics are sound.
3. Use your tools. You paid good money for that
metronome, tuner and recorder. Put them to good use,
all of them.
4. Play for other musicians, including non-brass
players. Some of my best insights have come from
woodwind and string players and vocalists.
5. Develop a strategy for seriously dealing with your
nerves. I doesn't work to hope you won't be nervous,
you will be. Know what to do. Practice getting nervous
(doing #4 above helps).
6. Take the time to practice everything very slowly.
You'll be amazed at what flaws you discover. If you
can't play it slow, you can't play it fast either.
7. Develop a pre-excerpt routine for the audition
(like a golfer has a pre-swing routine). Your sense of
time on stage can be distorted and the routine can
keep you focused and prevent you from making errors
caused by rushing from one excerpt to another.
8. Go and see live performances of great musicians. It
is inspirational and educational. Again, not just
brass players.
9. You are not, and cannot be, over-prepared.
10. Treat the audition as an intense period of
self-improvement. That way you are a winner whether
you get the job or not.
Hope that is useful. Feel free to contact me off-line
if you like.
Congratulations to Mike. I'm sure that you will be a
valuable asset to a great orchestra.