http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/06/boston-symphony-orchestra-audition/print/
(This article is a little long but its really interesting!)
What do you think about the differing experiences of Mike Tetreault and Lee Vinson? Do you think the mindset that they share is common among musicians? Should it be common?
Do you think that the audition process has evolved into something much more stressful and traumatizing that it should be?
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ReplyDeleteThis article hits home for so many people. Nerves are such a real part of being a performer, and every person struggles with them. As someone with particularly bad stage fright, I relate to the idea that the most fundamental skills disappear when nerves set in. For Vinson, it was his timing; for me, it is breath support (a singer's most basic skill and the root of accurate tuning and beautiful expression). I certainly think that the audition process has evolved to something more stressful than it should be. Once, there were enough spots in orchestras and chamber ensembles that worked enough that if you missed any given audition, there would be another shot. Today, no one gets another chance. There are so few spots, and so many people competing for them, that it isn't just the desire to play with a great symphony that is on the line. It is any job security. It is the ability to have a family. It is the ability to continue in your art from at all. All of that is a lot of pressure to put on anyone. No one can talk themselves out of thinking that it doesn't matter. And the practice hours, which are necessary to do well, only add to that thinking. After spending so many hours, I can't mess up now! These performers face these struggles and more as they try to compete. What is lost is the love of the art and the artistry of the music. These things are choked out of many professional musicians at a fairly young age now. Perhaps, though, they are the most important aspects of all.
ReplyDeleteWhen audition for anything, it is so easy to let the nerves get the best of you. Since the music world is so competitive nowadays, who wouldn’t get nervous while auditioning? A player can be extremely prepared for their audition, but then when it is time to play for one, nerves can hit and then everything goes askew. Part of this dilemma is due to people not being used to playing in front of others. The way to combat this problem is to rehearse in front of people every once and a while, and to take as many performance opportunities as you can (atleast that's how I deal with it).
ReplyDeleteWhen audition for anything, it is so easy to let the nerves get the best of you. Since the music world is so competitive nowadays, who wouldn’t get nervous while auditioning? A player can be extremely prepared for their audition, but then when it is time to play for one, nerves can hit and then everything goes askew. Part of this dilemma is due to people not being used to playing in front of others. The way to combat this problem is to rehearse in front of people every once and a while, and to take as many performance opportunities as you can (atleast that's how I deal with it).
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