So this blog will not be on the typical orchestral audition. No, today I am going to talk about College Auditions. You see, there I believe is not much more of an inexact science than the college audition. Typically a student comes in and plays for about 10 minutes for the faculty. This will be music they have worked on forever. There may be some sight reading. Then a short little interview in which the student says all the right things to hopefully impress the committee. In a lot of ways I almost feel like using a Magic 8 ball could be as accurate as the typical audition.

Here is what I want to know from an incoming student (but am not always allowed to ask):

Are you self-motivated?

Are you capable of getting yourself out of bed to go to class in the morning? Did you buy your alarm clock at that special store that sells (only to students - they must refuse service to teachers) alarms that never go off?

Do you consider it to be OK to miss rehearsals?

Can you picture yourself doing anything besides music the rest of your life?

If you had to choose between going out with your friends and practicing which would you choose?

If you do poorly in school will your parents cut off your funding or make you go to work and quit wasting their money (and our time)?

Do you consider Bluetooth wireless or your own instrument to be the more important purchase? How about having your cell phone versus buying sheet music?

Do you consider your health to be important? Do you sleep regularly, but not ALL the time? Do you eat healthy (at least healthy for a college student)? Are you sick a lot (without having any actual known illness)? If you wake up in the morning with a runny nose, slight headache etc. do you immediately consider yourself to sick to do anything the rest of the day?

Can you spend more time practicing than you do on Facebook and Myspace?

Does your life feel empty and meaningless if you have not practiced daily? Do you think your teacher is at least smart enough to tell that you haven't practiced all semester?

From a playing stand point I want a student who has the fundamentals down. I also want one who can adjust easily to changes I ask them to make. I prefer students with a background in choir, piano or theory (all of the above is even better). Showing some sight reading ability is important as they can't have memorized or been taught that by rote.

To start getting a feel for some of these things I actually prefer them to schedule auditions on regular school days here so we can have a lesson and lunch also. This way I get to know them a little more than the perfect appearance they put on for the audition. I also think it is important to give them the theory placement test at the audition. That test combined with their audition, grades and school test scores can maybe help give us a better idea at making the right choices of who to accept and give money.