How To Prepare for a Singing Audition
GET STARTEDAfter spending time practicing, taking music lessons, networking, and looking for the ideal opportunities, you may have successfully landed a singing audition. Congratulations on this achievement! However, excitement about this opportunity is often met with anxiety about how to prepare for it. Auditions actually entail considerably more than merely singing a song. There are many aspects that go into singing auditions that singers need to think about to get them prepared for the big day.
If you want to perform your best and impress the judges, there are several steps to take as you get ready for your audition. Here we’ll review what these steps are and help ensure you go into your audition with both confidence and preparedness.
Select the Right Song for You
The song you choose has to be right for you based on your vocal ability and comfort level. The ideal audition song will be something you know you can perform and will reflect your talents. Specifically, you should choose a song that you have previously sung publicly and that falls within your individual vocal range. With the right song, you’ll be able to keep your performance smooth without running into any unexpected issues while singing.
Some people may attempt to sing an unfamiliar song to showcase their talents to judges, but this is often counterproductive. You’ll likely already be anxious about your performance, and if a song touches unfamiliar vocal territory, you may end up cracking. In the end, this could cost you the audition.
Choose the Most Appropriate Song for the Role
While the song you select should be right for you, it should also be right for the role for which you’re auditioning. Everything from the genre to the specific vocal style will depend on the role you want to land.
For example, when auditioning for a rock-and-roll-type role, try to avoid singing an aria. If you’re auditioning for a play with a more somber and serious mood, it would also be inappropriate to perform a more upbeat piece like Annie‘s “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” Instead, make sure the song you choose is compatible with the part, which will help the judges better match your performance to the desired role.
Create a Presentable Image
Your voice may be your ultimate selling point, but appearances also matter to the people judging the performance. The panel will likely want someone who perfectly matches the vocal part in both looks and voice. To help sell your image, you may want to schedule a haircut and make sure you’re well-dressed for the performance.
When the day of your audition arrives, you should have both your look and voice ready to win the audition. If all goes well, you’ll have a much better chance of winning the judges over with a solid first impression.
Show Up on Time
You also need to give yourself plenty of time to get ready for the audition. When the day comes, make sure you wake up early enough to clean up, get dressed, and engage in some vocal warm-up activities. Ideally, around three hours before the audition or more will give you the ability to sufficiently prepare. When performing vocal warm-ups, be sure to do them at home, as you may not have a chance to do so once you arrive at the location where you intend to audition.
Eat Foods That Promote Good Vocal Health
There are certain foods and beverages that are better than others if you want to preserve your voice ahead of the audition. The key rule is to drink plenty of water and steer clear of foods or beverages that could cause irritation to your vocal cords.
Keep in mind that acidic foods and drinks are often the worst to consume, which include tomatoes, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, and others that cause acid reflux, as reflux can cause acid to hit the back of the throat and irritate or inflame it. Certain citrus fruits also contain acid content that could irritate your throat, including oranges, limes, lemons, and grapefruits.
Foods that lead to the buildup of mucus are also worth avoiding before your audition. This is because mucus can negatively impact your voice’s quality and tone. Dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and ice cream can contribute to excess mucus in the throat, along with foods containing processed sugar such as juice and candy.
Diuretics like soda, coffee, energy drinks, and certain types of chocolate could also contain caffeine that makes the throat dry.
In the days or even weeks leading up to your audition, try to stick to foods like ginger, berries, leafy greens, and cauliflower, all of which can help control mucus and prevent problems with acid reflux.
Carry Yourself Well on the Stage
With a well-prepared appearance and voice, you should try to own the stage by remaining confident and believing in yourself. You could look and sound your best, but if you don’t come off as someone who truly believes they’re worth the role, you may still lose the audition. In appearing confident and capable on stage, stand tall, flash a smile when appropriate, and use a strong, clear speaking voice when addressing the judges. If you go into your audition with the right attitude and demeanor, you’re much more likely to walk offstage with a win.
Always Show Your Appreciation
Regardless of how you think the audition went, always thank the judges for taking the time to consider you and hear your audition. This will make sure they’re left with one last positive impression of you, even if your performance didn’t win them over. It’s important to remember that if judges have to choose between two singers who are only slightly different in their abilities, they’ll be far more likely to choose the one who appears more personable and easier to work with than the other.
Whenever you get an audition, it always pays to stay prepared. You can be extremely confident in your abilities, but failure to prepare could set you back and ultimately lead to a missed opportunity. You can also benefit from having another skilled pair of ears identify any bad habits or problem areas in your performance that might otherwise affect your performance. To give you the help you need, consider working with a vocal coach at Grace Music School. We can provide voice lessons for both adults and children across a wide range of styles based on our students’ individual needs. We’ll help make sure you’re prepared for your next big audition.
We offer some of the best vocal lessons throughout the Huntington, Melville, and Northport areas through methods that are both innovative and fun. If you would like to find out more about vocal lessons or schedule an appointment with the professionals at Grace Music School, contact us online or call (631) 239-6169 to reach our Fort Salonga location, or call our Melville location at 631-470-9705.