Helpful Tips
TOP TEN MOST COMMON MISTAKES ON AUDITIONS
As you begin to audition your students, the choir committee would like to give you some helpful hints about problems we have encountered during auditions in the past. We want students to be as successful as possible, and we are here to help you in any way we can.
10 Teacher gives new pitches for each part of the Harmonic Section instead of just one starting pitch at the beginning
9 Teacher does not submit all sections of the audition
8 Teacher begins the singer at the incorrect tempo (too fast or too slow according to the markings in the audition instructions)
7 Teacher stops or edits the recording within a section. (It may only be stopped between sections, not in the middle or within a section)
6 Teacher submits student information incorrectly (singer’s name misspelled, incorrect email address, incorrect voice part)
5 Teacher does not submit recording as an mp3 file or as one combined track
4 Teacher submits audition after submission deadline
3 Teacher gives incorrect starting pitches for the auditioned voice part
2 Teacher plays the chord instead of/in addition to starting pitches
1 Teacher gives starting pitches several times with both voice and piano
We are trying to ensure the success of all students when they arrive at the rehearsals in March. If the students and teachers have followed directions correctly in this initial stage, they will have even greater success with the national conductors. Making sure that all students are well-prepared helps ensure the success of all of our choirs.
HAPPY AUDITIONING!
AUDITION RUBRICS
The choir committee is sharing the rubrics used for scoring auditions. The committee recently spent time clarifying points on the rubrics to better unify scores across judges. The committee is hopeful that reviewing the rubrics will help teachers make informed decisions regarding the audition process. Knowing what musical criteria the judges are listening for will guide teachers to prepare the best recordings possible. The ultimate goal is to ensure students are given the best chance possible to earn a spot in one of the OAKE national choirs.
Examples:
National Children’s Choir Audition Adjudication Form
National Youth Treble Choir Audition Adjudication Form
National Concert Treble and Chamber Choir Audition Adjudication Form
AUDITION GUIDES
Below are the links to audition videos for each choir. Whether you are a teacher sponsoring singers for the first time or a veteran sponsor, these videos were created to share a step-by-step guide to making your audition recordings. You will find a video for the Children’s Choir, a video for the Youth Treble Choir, and a video for the High School Concert Treble / Chamber Choirs. Please feel free to peruse these videos, in the hopes they will answer questions as you begin auditioning your students.
Questions may be directed to [email protected] if there is any confusion. Our hope is that you will find these helpful and your students more successful!
PLEASE NOTE: These videos are from last year. The technical steps and audition process are the same, but pricing, logos, and conference dates may be different. Find current conference details on the main choir page here: oake.org/choirs
Audition Guide for Children’s Choir
Audition Guide for Youth Treble Choir
Audition Guide for Treble and Chamber Choirs