Music Audition Tips and Suggestions

Getting Ready to Apply

If you have a quirky email address (wassupbro23@gmail.com, superfunmusicgirl@hotmail.com), consider creating an email address that contains your name in a clear and professional format (johnsmith1999@gmail.com).
If you have a quirky voicemail, consider creating a voicemail that clearly identifies you by name and politely asks people to leave a message.
Think about how your social media presence (FaceBook, Instagram, etc.) reflects you. If a program is interested in you, they will likely search your online presence.

The Application Process

Deadlines: Meet them! Better yet, beat them!
Carefully review the audition and application requirements. Much of the information that you’ll need is already listed on our website.
Pay attention to the order in which information is requested.
Don’t forget to list all of your extracurricular activities, Fine Arts and otherwise, on your music resume.

The Live Audition

The audition begins the moment you arrive on campus, and it ends when you leave campus.
Dress appropriately for your audition/interview. Even if your art is cutting-edge, you can still dress up for the interview or audition. Err on the side of modesty and professionalism.
Engage the whole body in the audition; don’t perform from the neck up. Embody the character and sing with intention!
Treat other students who are auditioning with respect; they might end up being your classmates and mentors for the next four years.
Treat student workers at the auditions with respect. The faculty value first impressions and input from their student workers.
Parents should not enter the audition room.
Assume that the faculty WILL know the opera/score/oratorio from which your pieces originate. There is no need to summarize the plot of the piece before you begin.
Arrive at your audition at least 15 minutes before your time slot. This gives a good impression to the faculty and is a good habit to form right now. Early is on time; on time is late.

Vocal Performance Preparation

If an accompanist is provided, treat that person with courtesy and thank her/him afterward. She/he may very well be one of the faculty members evaluating you for the program.
Have your sheet music hole-punched and neatly placed in a folder for the accompanist-- no loose sheets of music.
Sing a piece that shows you at your best. Don't choose a song that stretches you beyond your capabilities at your age. We would rather hear a simpler song done superbly.

Instrumental Preparation

If you would like to use one of our accompanists, please provide sheet music at least one week prior to your audition, and bring paper copies when you arrive for your audition.
If you use an accompanist, treat the musician with courtesy and thank them afterward. Remember to greet them properly and thank them for their time. They may very well be one of the faculty members evaluating you for the program.
Have your sheet music hole-punched and neatly placed in a folder for the accompanist-- no loose sheets of music.
Remember to always communicate formally with any music faculty, especially accompanists and program coordinators. When meeting them for your audition, greet them individually, firmly shake hands, and be confident!

Guitar Preparation

First and foremost, APPLY! Don’t be afraid to apply because you may feel you are not advanced enough. We are all here to learn!
Bring your sheet music to your audition. Keep in mind to print AT LEAST two more copies to give to the faculty. For online auditions, remember to submit your materials in a timely manner.
When meeting with the faculty, greet them with courtesy and respect. Remember to shake their hands firmly, and listen to what they say.

The Recorded Audition

Pay attention to digital details! Choose file names that are clear and concise. Using file names like “LastName_Firstname_Audition” is best.
Make sure that you upload the correct audition for the correct school. Don’t say, “Hi, Chapman!” when you’re uploading the video to Pepperdine. If you plan on recording one audition to send to multiple schools, please ensure that you do not show bias towards one by mentioning them specifically. Leave it as a short introduction on yourself, your piece, and your performance.
Dress appropriately and professionally. Just because this audition is recorded does not mean that gym shorts and a tank top are acceptable. Professional attire speaks volumes.
Select your filming location carefully. If you are filming in your bedroom or in your house, think about an area that has a neutral backdrop. You want the viewer to focus on you, not the poster or family photographs behind you.
Make sure you film in a location with clear lighting. Try to avoid areas with shadows, and avoid being lit from behind as this can make you look like a silhouette.
The camera doesn’t need to zoom in and out.
Allow the camera to capture your whole body, not just your face. Engage your whole body in the performance.
REMEMBER TO BREATHE!

Instrumental Preparation

General Tips

A quick Google search with the keywords “college music audition preparation” will yield plenty of great resources.
- Check out The Musician’s Way – A guide to practice, performance and wellness by Gerald Klickstein – Oxford University Press.
Since you may be auditioning for multiple schools, be sure to study each school’s audition requirements carefully.
- Ideally, you should decide on your repertoire about a year ahead.
- Aim to finish learning the pieces about three months before your first audition.
Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinetist of the Houston Philharmonic wrote in an Audition Café blog post that “all contact with the orchestra is a part of the audition.”
- Before the application process, you can try reaching out to faculty members.
- They are sometimes interested in communicating with their applicants. You may use the opportunity to ask questions and express your interest in their music program.
- Sometimes, they may even connect you with their current students, so that you may learn more about studying with them from the students’ perspective, which is invaluable.
- If possible, schedule a trial lesson far in advance. On a case-by-case basis, Pepperdine offers free, half-hour trial lessons for you and our professors.
Discuss with your teacher and learn how the pieces you select can represent you in the best light.
- For instance, one of the selections can highlight your lyricism, and another can showcase your facile tonguing/bowing when playing loud in a certain register of your instrument.
- Knowing these will help you build confidence in the preparation process, and better allocate time in woodshedding sections that are yet to sound their best.

Practice Routine

Dr. Misha Galaganov at Texas Christian University believes that a habit of going through complete sections or pieces has to be cultivated before auditions. She advised in an article that “the amount of daily practice time dedicated to playing through complete portions of audition pieces should increase significantly the closer you get to your audition.”
- Of course, you should practice all of your audition pieces as many times as possible. It is also very important that you perform them as many times as you can before your audition.
- There are many ways to arrange a performance. Try scheduling a recital for friends and family, your church friends, or reach out to a retirement home to offer a musical performance.
- Don’t forget to invite their feedback – be open-minded.
- However, excessive negative criticism too close to your audition does not help either.
- It is important to embrace what you have worked on, and know that there will always be something to be worked on, even for working professionals. Do not be too harsh on yourself.
After all, Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Brant Taylor says in the Strad magazine that “solid, specific preparation is the best antidote for anxiety.”
- If you did your best in the practice room, you should be confident in yourself.
- Have faith that your subconscious mind will lead your intuition and guide you through the audition, even when you “pull a blank” or make minor mistakes.

Nerves

Dr. Annie Bosler, coauthor of the book College Prep for Musicians and co-creator of the College Prep for Musicians™ online course, writes about “audition jitters” in her article on college music auditions.
Practice performing in the audition outfit so that you may ensure flexibility in movement when you play and move in it.
- If you plan to wear heels, which is usually more applicable to singers, practice walking and playing in them. Your physical stamina like muscle tension and breathing might be altered when you are in shoes that you do not feel comfortable in.
- If you play an instrument that requires you to sit, check the length of your skirt before you sit down.

Consider other small things to reduce the chance for nerves to get in your way.
- Here is a small example: especially for woodwind and brass players, if you plan to bring water to sip in between pieces, make sure that it is in a container that you are familiar with. Sometimes, it is worth taking the time to set your instrument down before dealing with a tight cap on a water bottle, so you don’t risk dropping your instrument.
The “adrenaline rush” is sometimes used by professional musicians to enhance performance. In an article in the Strings magazine, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music cello professor Alan Rafferty recommends practicing with a racing heart:
- “He suggests running up and down the hall or around the house, then sitting down to play an excerpt. Ratcheting up your heart rate with exercise simulates the nervousness you’re bound to feel at an audition. Learn to deep-breathe your way into a calmer state of mind.”
Artistic Director of Cello Dreaming, Louise King, recommends in her website that “little code words like ‘sustained sound’ or ‘elbow up’ or ‘breathe’” to “create little mantras practiced into your music so you can relax and enjoy the performance and guide yourself along.”
Finally, it is important to remember that while you should try to perform your very best, remember that nobody is perfect.
- An audition aims to let you show your musical potential and passion.
- At Pepperdine music auditions, faculty members look for students who are good players with potential to grow as professionals.
- Show your musical passion, a determination to succeed, along with a willingness to work diligently. When you have these qualities, it makes improving your deficiencies or amending your mistakes easier for us in the future. The reverse is often not true.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at 310.506.4111, or via email at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu.