Preliminary
auditions usually run for three days. Schedule about 20 minutes
for the audition, including the wait. Sometimes we get backed
up, and wait times may run a bit longer than that, but we try
to speed things through as efficiently as possible. The best plan
is to come as near to the beginning of the preliminary auditions
period as possible. That will almost certainly get you in and
out in under 15 minutes.
For the preliminary
audition, prepare a short solo. It should be something that
you feel emphasizes the best aspects of your voice, but most
of all, it should be something you enjoy singing; something
with which you feel comfortable. That includes range comfort.
Don't bother to delve into uncomfortable areas of your range
in your solo, we'll be able to see how high or low you can go
when you sing scales. We also do a little something called "pitch
patterns," meaning we'll play a few notes on the piano
and have you sing them back to us. Nothing big. No sightreading.
Enjoyable. Stress-free. And you can eat our food.
Those who make
it past the preliminary rounds into the callback rounds will
get to learn and perform sections of Callbacks songs. Callback
rounds also bring more solos and more food. Best of all, we'll
get to know each other a little better. As cheesy as that may
sound, the social part of audition week, making new friends
and getting to know people, is what makes people say afterwards
that they're happy they did it, no matter what the results are.
Here's a little
word on those results to wrap things up. Every a cappella group
has a few people that tried out unsuccessfully a few times before
making it in, and the Callbacks are no exception. Auditions
are not a gauge of who does and who doesn't have a good voice.
At the end of the week, whoever makes it into the group will
be the person who best suits the needs of the group at the current
time. If we're short on high tenors, then we'll probably take
a good high tenor. If you don't make it this time, try out again!
With the exception of a few hours you could have spent surfing
the net, there's nothing to lose. And if nothing else, at least
you can eat our food.
Our next auditions
will be in the fall of 2004. See you there!
