.jpg)
Recommended Reading
If you're looking to audition successfully for a Conservatoire in Britain today then there are some important points to think about whilst preparing.
Your choice of pieces could be crucial. You need to be able to show all of your strengths and abilities at their very best. You need to play something that you really love and enjoy performing to people, even under pressure. It doesn't have to be flashy, showy technical music. Most panels will be looking for your expressive, tonal and dynamic capabilities - anyone can go away for four years and learn how to play really, really quickly! Don't be afraid to move around and use your body to convey the emotions of the music (eyebrows are particularly useful for flute players!)
Remember that you are probably one of 30+ players the panel will see that day. Make sure you smile at the panel when you enter the room - be happy to be there and they will be happy to hear you! You also have to do something different that will strike them from the outset whether it be a beautiful tone, a huge range of dynamics, or maybe even playing from memory so you can communicate with them. So many players hide behind the stand without once looking up. Music is a communicative art where people pay money to not just listen, but to watch you perform.
Make sure your pieces are contrasting enough. There are a whole range of possibilities: Fast, slow, French, Russian, American, British, unaccompanied, accompanied, contemporary, baroque, classical, 20th century, romantic. Maybe think about doing a standard piece combined with a slightly more "out there" piece with more modern effects to make you stand out; flutter tonguing, multiphonics or singing and playing.
If you find yourself in the warm up room surrounded by other players hammering up and down their chromatic scales at the speed of light don't be intimidated. Most people have their party trick they do when warming up and while they're spending time showing off to everyone you can be focussing on your pieces and getting yourself in the right mindset for the audition.
One final thing. Music college is going to be four years of hard work on your instrument. The panel will be looking for potential as well as current standard so if you feel like you want to audition for a college but don't think you're good enough "yet" then go for it anyway because you'll regret it if you don't! All the best for you're auditions and I hope some of this might be useful for you.
Luke
