How do I prepare for a cold orchestra audition?

Question

Hi everyone. A question for you guys...

My orchestra teacher does these "auditions" to see where you stand in the orchestra. I'm trying out for 2nd violin, first chair. I was this before last year for quite some time because I was recommended by my middle school teacher. I was first chair until someone else took my place. Now, I'm going for it again. But this time...it's cold. Meaning that you go into a room, sit down and play music you have never seen before, with no one conducting you, and only 1 minute to look it over.

How do you prepare for something like this? I just get nervous and tense up. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Answer 1

1st - check the time signiture

2nd - check the key signiture c# Bb etc

3rd - accidentals

4th - work some of the finger pattern out

5th - work the bowings out

most of all play the best you can

good luck

p.s dont be nervous but butterflies are good.

PPS also there is a book you can buy which might help you with your violin grade start at grade 1 and work through.spend 5 minutes looking at the music and 5 minutes playing do a different one everyday.

it is ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading tests for violin heres what the book looks like

http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/014442...

hope you use this advice

ciaraxx

Answer 2

I'm a professional violinist in a symphony orchestra.  Sight reading is a skill that is important and can be developed.  I would recommend you incorporate some sight reading into your daily practice schedule.  You might want to get one of the violin orchestra excerpt books (I have some left over from my college days-they're published by International Music).  The excerpt books include excerpts commonly requested in orchestral auditions.  Every day spend at least 30 minutes doing nothing but sight reading.  The best technique for sight reading is to take the minute you're allotted to look over the music to try and find the passages that are difficult (so you don't choose a tempo that's so fast you find yourself slowing down to accommodate a hard passage) and places where you might have intonation problems so you can think about how you'll finger that passage.  If you have a private teacher ask him/her to help you with sight reading.  If possible, ask to play mock auditions in front of friends so you get used to playing in front of people.  Do some research on relaxation techniques so you can compensate for the inevitable nerves (I always tend to go much faster than usual in an audition).  Finally, in the audition, before you play make sure you take several deep breaths to calm yourself before playing.  Good luck to you!  Principal 2nd Violin is a great position to have in the orchestra-I hope you get it!

Answer 3

Sight reading is developed by sight reading. Practice music you have never seen.

Be sure you check the time signature also.

Good luck.

Do some sight reading daily and next time you will nock em dead.