Audition Tips and Tricks

Song Tips:

  • Some examples of contrasting songs are fast tempo vs slow tempo, sustained melodic singing vs speech-like singing, dramatic vs comedic, belt vs head/falsetto mix.
  • Many accompaniment tracks are available on YouTube and other websites. If you do not have a way to work with a live accompanist or don’t have access to a recorded track of your music, consider using an app that will play the piano part for you. Harmony Helper is one such app that allows you to take photos of your sheet music, upload them to the app and then generate a piano track that you can use.
 
 

Monologue Tips:

  • It is recommended to choose monologues that are age-appropriate (generally within 5-10 years of your actual age) and that feel authentic to your culture, background, and lived experience.
  • Active monologues are often better for auditions; an active monologue takes place in real time and focuses on what you want and puts you in direct communication with an imaginary scene partner. This is often more successful in an audition situation than pieces that are a story or remembrance. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid monologues that rely on extreme emotions as it can be hard to believably justify those responses in a short piece.

Dance Tips:

  • Make sure you can execute all the choreography well. It is to your advantage to choose steps and movement that highlight your strengths instead of your weaknesses.
  • You may use recent videos of you from a show or concert, but it must just be you in the frame.
  • Dance sample should be in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles.
  • Dance media can be “self-choreographed”, but it must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
  • Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. Fully move your body to the best of your ability.
  • To assist applicants with the dance prescreen, several institutions provided the following resource videos for applicants who do not have access to a choreographed combo for the prescreen process. You may submit this choreography (or a combination of it) to any of the schools you are applying to that ask for a dance prescreen. This list will be updated as more institutions share resources, so be sure to check back.
    – Abilene Christian University Dance Combo Resource
    –     Emerson College Dance Combo Resource
    – Nazareth University Dance Combo Resource
    – Texas State University Dance Combo Resource

Nervous about recording your video audition? Don’t be! You can record your audition using your smart phone. We’ve broken it down into three easy steps. See our Audition Tips and Tricks playlist on Youtube!

For additional detailed guidance on how to prepare your audition videos, follow this link to the Musical Theater Common Pre-screen.

Step 1: Set up your shot

  • Find a quiet space with little to no noise.
  • Clear away anything that could distract from your performance. Take down pictures to create a blank wall behind you and clear away any small items that clutter the space. 
  • Once you’ve cleared your space, set up your smartphone on a tripod, a stack of books, or a music stand. Remember to film in landscape mode.
  • Make sure you are within the audio pickup range of your microphone.
  • If your audition is being held on videoconference, make sure you have a strong, reliable internet connection.

Step 2: Record your audition

  • Don’t wear bright patterns, hats, or dark glasses.
  • Make sure you aren’t backlit – don’t film in front of a window or a lamp.
  • Start your video by introducing yourself and the piece you are about to perform. You can introduce each piece separately or list them all at the beginning – whichever you prefer.
  • If you’re having trouble choosing contrasting material, here are some tips:
    • You could choose a dramatic monologue and a comedic one, or something classical and something contemporary.
    • Don’t learn new material if you don’t have to. Choose something that you know and love.

Step 3: Save and submit

  • Make sure the video is no longer than 10 minutes!
  • Once you’ve finished your video, upload it to YouTube as an unlisted link.
  • Songs, movement, and monologues can be sent separately, or as a compilation.
  • Submit the link(s) to your video(s) with your audition package by email (registrar@ccpacanada.com).
  • If you cannot upload to Youtube, save your video as a .MP4 file and upload to a file sharing site like DropBox or OneDrive.  
  • If we have any issues accessing your video our Registrar will contact you.
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View Photo Credits

The Weight of Ants, 2023| director Jovanni Sy | photo credit Peter Pokorny