Posted by Gary Press on April 15, 2003 at 21:48:06:
In Reply to: Re: Euphonium Auditions posted by Rod Mathews on April 15, 2003 at 19:44:20:
Great comments, Rod! Ya took all my good things to say!
I have noticed that the students that make All-State invariably begin the school year with most of the basic notes and rhythms worked out through diligent practice. This leaves plenty of time for technical refinement and, most importantly, discussion of musical interpretation.
When learning the music be sure to target problem passages and work them out slowly rather than rehashing those passages you can play easily. Students that are well-prepared often play with more confidence and experience fewer problems with nerves.
As Rod suggested, record yourself. We are our own worst critics and you will learn so much about your playing habits and tendencies this way. This is a great tool for learning how to teach yourself.
Be sure NOT to neglect your fundamentals in order to spend maximum time on the etudes. Everything technical challenge is always related to a fundamental aspect of your playing. Keep up on your scales, arpeggios, flexibilities, low register studies, etc.
Treat an audition like a performance. Assuming you have done the work in the practice room, this is the time to trust that your work paid off and to concentrate on being the best musician you can be. If two players perform at an equally high level, musicianship is often the deciding factor. As Mr. Jacobs would have said, "be a singer in your brain" and just play along with that voice.
Best of luck next year and remember to set the bar high when setting your goals.