My audition for AIMS
Its taken me a few days to get to writing about the audition. My audition was at 1245 at NEC. I got there with plenty of time to warm up. It amazes me that every time I go to NEC I cringe at the aura of the place. IT just seems that the place is so arrogant and stuck up. No one holds doors for you, in fact, if you open it to go in they will cut in front of you to get in first. Beyond that, if you are right behind them they dont even pretend to try to hold the door. They are all arrogant, and I really hate being in there. All in all I need to learn to control my nerves better at the auditions. Mozart is almost impossible when you are crazy nervous!
I found my warm up room and had it to myself for my entire warm up (BONUS! I hate warm ups with others in the room.) I played for a while but I was playing really badly and thought it best to just go in. (my tanglewood warm up stunk too!) I changed to Saint Saen's concerto 1 week before the audition (I was more comfortable with the possiblilty of playing the entire first movment) and I'd been studying the score like crazy for the play through with an accompanist that I'd never met or played with before. When I got to the door she was there and the audition guy for AIMS was not. We had a few minutes to do a play through! She told me that she usually accompanied singers (and I said "oh! than you can follow ANYTHING") and she was a little nervous about working with an instrumentalist. I don't think she realized how fast Saint seans went (actually I know...she said so) and she was all over the place for the play through. I"m Really glad I switched concertos..that would have messed with me in Dvorak but I have Saint seans so memorized I could actually pay attention to where she was. F**ked up for an audition-to have to pay attention to the pianist so much, but what should I have expected? The guy walked in about five minutes later and spent some time adjusting everything. He was pretty late.. like 20 minutes late. I played my concerto and I would say that went pretty well. R was outside and said it sounded very good. I was asked to play Mozart Figaro overture and Haffner. I am NOT a mozart player. The mozart scares me. I'm happier with Romantic crap. I was asked to re play the Figaro and I'm pretty sure my Tempo for Haffner was really slow. I'm not sure the first sixtheeths in the haffner were even. I also was asked to play Brahms 2 (more my kind of excerpt) but I felt that it wasn't as strong as I can do it. I was asked for Beethoven 5 the third movment. My opening was nice and pp and even and clean and in tune. My trio was a bit bumpy...my bow wasn't as even as I'd have hoped it to be. I should have practiced it more. DUH.
I also was asked to play donny. Don and I have a tumultuous relationship. Don doesn't seem to like me playing the first 2 measures clean. After that its usually fine. I was bound and determined to get them out this time, which I did (YAY) but my sound was a little small and the final note of the first run stopped abruptly. I wasn't asked to play the second don excerpt.
After I finished I asked for comments and I was told he could not discuss it in the audition but would be happy to give them out after April 15th when the decisions would be made. This was the same info that my friend who went last year, who plays horn, was given. Its a long time to wait for results, but frankly its already out of my mind. I have NWS and Springfield coming up, and I really really want someone to not go to tanglewood so I get a chance. I think if given the choice I'd choose tanglewood hands down over austria. Either would be faboo though! I'm wondering if I should find one more summer program to audition for just as a back up-if any live auditions are still open. I have no recordings at the moment and can not do tape auditions.
I have a lesson on Monday. I was really questioning if I should have one,(NWS if very near-and my lessons are crap shoots if they help or hinder) but I have questions about the Schertzo (mehn.) and Tchaik 4, and I need some hints about evening out Haffner and he's the man to ask. I also need help with my transitions in Dvorak. It has to be done. I look forward to haveing more time in the future to prepare for auditions. These little 2-3 week bursts are really hyperfocused and draining.
I guess with NWS they choose to deny you, make you an substitute, or make you a finalist. ITs the finalists that realy get called to play with them. (at least according to the horn player I know). I'm not sure what the point of subs is then. I think I have way too many gigs between now and my NWS audition. I think I'm goign to cancel the NBsymphony children's concert(mon through Thursday afternoon). Its the week before the NWS audition and I have another rehearsal at night for brahms requiem.
Is it possible to trash your bow hair in 1 month?
Ok, thats it.
I found my warm up room and had it to myself for my entire warm up (BONUS! I hate warm ups with others in the room.) I played for a while but I was playing really badly and thought it best to just go in. (my tanglewood warm up stunk too!) I changed to Saint Saen's concerto 1 week before the audition (I was more comfortable with the possiblilty of playing the entire first movment) and I'd been studying the score like crazy for the play through with an accompanist that I'd never met or played with before. When I got to the door she was there and the audition guy for AIMS was not. We had a few minutes to do a play through! She told me that she usually accompanied singers (and I said "oh! than you can follow ANYTHING") and she was a little nervous about working with an instrumentalist. I don't think she realized how fast Saint seans went (actually I know...she said so) and she was all over the place for the play through. I"m Really glad I switched concertos..that would have messed with me in Dvorak but I have Saint seans so memorized I could actually pay attention to where she was. F**ked up for an audition-to have to pay attention to the pianist so much, but what should I have expected? The guy walked in about five minutes later and spent some time adjusting everything. He was pretty late.. like 20 minutes late. I played my concerto and I would say that went pretty well. R was outside and said it sounded very good. I was asked to play Mozart Figaro overture and Haffner. I am NOT a mozart player. The mozart scares me. I'm happier with Romantic crap. I was asked to re play the Figaro and I'm pretty sure my Tempo for Haffner was really slow. I'm not sure the first sixtheeths in the haffner were even. I also was asked to play Brahms 2 (more my kind of excerpt) but I felt that it wasn't as strong as I can do it. I was asked for Beethoven 5 the third movment. My opening was nice and pp and even and clean and in tune. My trio was a bit bumpy...my bow wasn't as even as I'd have hoped it to be. I should have practiced it more. DUH.
I also was asked to play donny. Don and I have a tumultuous relationship. Don doesn't seem to like me playing the first 2 measures clean. After that its usually fine. I was bound and determined to get them out this time, which I did (YAY) but my sound was a little small and the final note of the first run stopped abruptly. I wasn't asked to play the second don excerpt.
After I finished I asked for comments and I was told he could not discuss it in the audition but would be happy to give them out after April 15th when the decisions would be made. This was the same info that my friend who went last year, who plays horn, was given. Its a long time to wait for results, but frankly its already out of my mind. I have NWS and Springfield coming up, and I really really want someone to not go to tanglewood so I get a chance. I think if given the choice I'd choose tanglewood hands down over austria. Either would be faboo though! I'm wondering if I should find one more summer program to audition for just as a back up-if any live auditions are still open. I have no recordings at the moment and can not do tape auditions.
I have a lesson on Monday. I was really questioning if I should have one,(NWS if very near-and my lessons are crap shoots if they help or hinder) but I have questions about the Schertzo (mehn.) and Tchaik 4, and I need some hints about evening out Haffner and he's the man to ask. I also need help with my transitions in Dvorak. It has to be done. I look forward to haveing more time in the future to prepare for auditions. These little 2-3 week bursts are really hyperfocused and draining.
I guess with NWS they choose to deny you, make you an substitute, or make you a finalist. ITs the finalists that realy get called to play with them. (at least according to the horn player I know). I'm not sure what the point of subs is then. I think I have way too many gigs between now and my NWS audition. I think I'm goign to cancel the NBsymphony children's concert(mon through Thursday afternoon). Its the week before the NWS audition and I have another rehearsal at night for brahms requiem.
Is it possible to trash your bow hair in 1 month?
Ok, thats it.