Here are some tips to remember when choosing a song to audition with:
1. When choosing your song to audition with, consider what you are auditioning for. This seems so obvious, but I am often surprised lack of appropriateness of the selections of some who are auditioning. If you are auditioning for show choir, your song should be a pop song, contemporary Christian song or a something from a musical. If you are auditioning for a musical, you should pick a song from a musical to sing. If you are auditioning for an opera, then you should pick an opera aria to audition with. Also, realize that songs with bad language or inappropriate provocative content are not appropriate, particularly if you are an adolescent. 2. When choosing a song to audition with, in most cases you should sing a song that was recorded by someone of the same gender as you. I say this because you should stay in your appropriate vocal range and girls should not sing a song that was designed for a tenor to sing. There are exceptions to this--baritones have such few songs to pick from that they sometimes need to sing a song that a female sings an octave lower. Most contemporary songs are in the alto/tenor range, so sopranos and baritones need to be very careful about the selections they choose.
3. Consider the time allotted for the audition. Many auditions are designated as one minute or two minutes. In this case, you should pick the part of the song that shows off your voice the best. In other words, maybe you shouldn't begin with a verse, if the chorus is where you really shine. Perhaps you should begin halfway through the song. Be aware that the judges will stop you at some point.
4. Think about the type of accompaniment you will use. If you sing a cappella, you will need to get your pitch from a piano, digital device or a pitch pipe. Nothing is worse than starting your song in a horribly wrong key. Many times the judges do not give you another chance to sing your song in the right key. If using a CD, be sure you know which track needs to be played and that it is cued up at the right place for you to begin.
Next, we need to talk about tips for making your audition great.
1. Stand up straight. This is so important for singing, but also makes you look confident and will help you present yourself well visually.
2. Don't stand completely stick stiff. This may seem to conflict with the above statement, but it doesn't, and this is why. What I mean here is that you don't want to seem stiff like a statue. In many songs, it is appropriate to gesture and/or move a little bit. You don't want to overdo it here, but consider the emotion of the song and add a few slight gestures with your hands, especially if you are doing a song from a musical or an opera. Your gestures should be intentional and practiced. Remember practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Do not fidget with your hands.
3. Be aware that nerves cause people to do certain things that take away from their performance. Looking down, fidgeting, etc. are all things you need to try not to do. It's perfectly normal to be nervous on the inside, however, you want to do your best not to show it on the outside.
4. Keep going if you mess up. This is so important and will show that you know how to perform in a professional manner. The judges may possibly give you a second chance to start over. Even if they don't, you should not stop singing or make a face if you mess up. This is hard to do, but it is what professionals do.
5. Smile and be expressive. The exception to this is if your song is exceptionally sad--then you don't want to smile once you begin your song. However, you do want to be expressive with your face and eyes no matter what the mood of the song is. Eyebrows can play a part in this. Practice your audition in front of a mirror or record it on your ipad or other digital device. Evaluate your performance. Were you convincing? Did you convey the emotion of the song to your audience? Commit to the mood of the song. Feel the emotion while you are singing. Internalize it.
6. Do not sing every note of the song with the same intensity. Many times, the chorus needs to be projected more strongly than the verses, although this is not always the case. Listen to someone else sing the song and listen for loudness and softness. Enunciate, especially if the song is fast or has a fast section.
