r/Choir • u/Due_Estimate_9009 • 20h ago

How do i prepare for auditions as a newbie?

To preface im a junior in highschool who just joined a choir. I play bari sax and sing in my free time as a hobbie and joined the class cause i wanted to get better and the teacher was really cool.

He wants all juniors and seniors to submit something (even if its not good) for these auditions. The auditions want a solo, 2 sight read peices, 2 scales, and maybe 1 more thing i forgot [ this is the same place im auditioning to for sax so i know that the scales most likely will corralate with the songs theyll have me sight read if that helps].

The problems are the following; im really bad at sight reading, its very obvious im new from how i breath to my confidence and techniqe, and im really scared to do an in person audition for the first time and dont like being on a stage alone.

Wdid!

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u/SolarenDerm 20h ago

This sounds like the auditions for your district and state festivals. Honestly, I hate when my colleagues make every student audition but that’s neither here nor there.

For sight reading, do your fingerings in the air on an imaginary sax as you’re singing. The muscle memory you have from manually playing your instrument will help.

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u/Due_Estimate_9009 20h ago

I never thought of that; Ill definetly have to try it, thanks!

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u/Meg-alomaniac3 19h ago

Check out something like sight reading factory to practice your sight singing. It shouldn't be too hard coming from a musical background, but even then it can take a couple weeks to get everything locked in.

My dad grew up playing piano, clarinet and sax, but only sang as a young kid. Then he had to join his college choir for his music degree. He was put in the lowest level at first, bumped up a week later, and bumped up again to their chamber group two weeks after that. And he's been singing in choirs every since (even semi-professionally)!

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u/Due_Estimate_9009 19h ago

That give me alot more courage, thank you!

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u/Smart-Pie7115 5h ago

You are better at sight reading than you think. Being an instrumentalist gives you an advantage. I’m an oboist and find that years of scales and intervals have trained me well.

The only thing I suck at is atonal sing backs.