A guide to surviving Audition Season
Written by: Evan Whipple
Audition season can be one of the most exciting and challenging times for music students, especially at IAA. Whether applying for colleges or conservatories, students are faced with a whirlwind of responsibilities including preparing repertoire, navigating application requirements, and more, all while having to balance making up school work and the demands of being a senior. This process is a defining moment for artists—it’s the chance to showcase their talent and dedication, but it also requires careful planning, resilience, and support.
The season starts all the way at the beginning of the school year, first with getting through prescreens. Most schools have a December 1st deadline for this part of the process, and release prescreen results towards the middle of the month. It then leads to live auditions from the beginning of January through March. There are many unique challenges that test students’ time management, communication, financial resources, emotional resilience, and organization skills. Here’s a closer closer look at the hurdles a typical student auditioning may face, and some advice on how to get through it successfully.
Time Management
Balancing academics with audition preparation can feel overwhelming. Studying for tests, writing essays or lab reports, filling out other applications and the many other obligations a student has here makes finding the time to practice and prepare slightly daunting. Add this to long travel days for live auditions, requiring students to miss school days, and it’s easy to see why time management is such a crucial part of surviving audition season.
To use time most effectively, create a detailed schedule. Many students at IAA utilize digital tools like Google Calendar or Notion to map out daily and weekly commitments. Block out specific times to practice, do school work, and rest.
It is also important to get in the habit of communicating regularly with teachers in advance about upcoming audition travel. Request assignment extensions or alternative submission methods if needed, and develop a plan to complete work that’s missed before it becomes overwhelming.
Financial Considerations
The financial aspect of this time of year is significant. Application fees–which typically fall around $80-$120–add up, as do costs for booking flights and hotels, or hiring accompanists for live auditions. For families with a tighter budget, these expenses can be overwhelming. It’s extremely important to sit down with both family and faculty and talk about needs during this time. Clear, open dialogue with parents/guardians will set expectations appropriately and make everything go much smoother.
To ease this burden, research schools early and identify application fee waiver opportunities. Many colleges and conservatories will waive application fees for students that demonstrate financial need. Also, go to the annual college fair here at IAA! A lot of the time, schools will give a fee waiver or discount simply for showing up to their table at the fair.
In addition, some schools allow virtual auditions as an alternative to traveling and auditioning in person, significantly reducing costs. If these are an option, consider if they could work and not compromise the quality of the audition.
Emotional and Physical Stress
Auditioning is as much of an emotional journey as it is a logistical one. Whether struggling with performance anxiety, or the physical toll of traveling, all this can and will lead to burnout if self-care isn’t prioritized.
Physically, traveling multiple times in a short period is exhausting. Between long flights or car rides, irregular sleep schedules, or simply being away from the comfort of your own bed, unfamiliar environments can take a toll on overall energy and focus. Always prioritize rest whenever able—take short naps during travel or ensure that a full night’s sleep is had before an audition day. Staying hydrated and eating balanced meals are crucial now more than ever; pack healthy snacks for travel days to keep energy levels stable and prevent the fatigue that can often come from having to rely on fast food or airport meals. And consider investing in a neck pillow for your travels.
Just as important is to know when it’s time to take a break. It’s easy to overwork in an effort to make every detail perfect, but it will no doubt backfire when it leads to burnout. Take regular breaks when practicing, and relax when needed—watch a favorite show, spend time with your friends, or just take a walk. Recharge the mind and body however possible. It’s easy to feel some guilt whenever resting and not practicing; however, it’s important to remember that resting will enhance the ability to engrain what is practiced in addition to making future practice sessions feel fresh and focused.
Use the unique opportunity to learn valuable self-care skills even during hectic times and being under pressure.
Navigating Application Requirements
Each and every school will have their own unique set of requirements to apply—pre-screen recordings, specific repertoire, essays, recommendation letters, etc. Keeping track of this all is a lot to take on, and students must ensure that they meet deadlines while they juggle other commitments. A helpful tool would be to create a spreadsheet to track each deadline, pre-screen requirement, audition date, and travel logistics.
While it is undoubtedly challenging, there are many strategies and tools you can adopt to make the whole process smoother and more manageable.
Start EARLY and Plan Strategically
Preparation begins well before senior year. Many students start researching schools and decide what repertoire to play as early as sophomore or junior year. If repertoire is planned out effectively, it will overlap across several schools. This will save lots of time and effort during preparation. Also, choose pieces of music that will showcase YOU and YOUR best musicianship and technical ability. Communicate with teachers and ask their advice as they often know a plethora of music and can point students towards pieces that will make them look great in front of the panel.
Stick to a Consistent Practice Schedule
Consistency is the key to many things in life, and especially when preparing for auditions. Even during holiday breaks or the busiest weeks of school, maintaining a regular and effective practice schedule that works will help build confidence and stamina.
Plan Travel Early
Live auditions can often be scheduled back to back at schools that are across the country from each other (or in some cases, internationally). Travel planning is crucial. Book accommodations early and map out flight plans all while being prepared for plans to change.
Sometimes, certain conservatories or colleges will even partner with local hotels to offer a discount for students auditioning at their schools.
Conclusion
In all, auditioning and traveling to so many new places can be very exciting; many find it to be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding parts of their musical journeys. Between preparation, and when standing in front of the panel at your dream schools, remember you are as ready and prepared as you’ll ever be. Breathe, relax, and take extra care through it all. You’ll come out the other side feeling not only relieved for getting through it, but also accomplished and proud.