College Audition Help and thoughts...

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:58am

Ok, I sort of hate to repeat like the most commonly asked question on the board but....
I want some help with my college auditions.
I'm auditioning for NYU, Fordham, and UARTS in Feb. My prefrence is in that order. I was wondering if anyone has any advice or anything. I've been auditioning professionally for a loooong time but I was wondering if college auditions are any different. Plus, song selection...
I'm thinking of singing "STILL HURTING" and "EASY AS LIFE". Do you think they contrast enough?
Any thoughts would be wonderful...
Thanks!

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:16am

Dont do jason robert brown...as good as you are this piano is hard...as you are,im just repeating whats been on the board many a time.

if u like still hurting try something from john and jen

cheers
jeff

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:07pm

I always knew about JRB being very difficult on the piano for an accompinamist. But what if you were to be auditioning off of campus and they ask you to provide your own recorded accompinament and your pianist has certain JRB songs memorized and could easily record them for you? Would you still shun the idea of singing JRB because songs of his are typically overdone?

[matiboi]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:17pm

That's a different situation . . . if everything is DEFINITELY recorded accompaniment, go for it, why not.

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:25pm

Well, another audition question while I'm at it (might as well keep it all in one board). My friend sang "Astonishing" from Little Women for a showcase that we did. She's really not an amazing singer, but she does have a decent voice. The main thing with the song was that she could act it well. Both our Drama and head Vocal teacher told her that she should do that song for her auditions. I was wondering if it's still a good idea for her to sing since the show is so recent and well known, especially that it's currently touring? I was debating on this song as well to show off my belt, but being so known I thought that it would be too overdone.

[astonishing1985]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 4:31pm

I was thinking of songs from Little Women since they fit my voice perfectly but I decided it's too recent.

[Rumpleteazer]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:47am

Yeah don't do anything that is currently on broadway or recently off even. I know it's not an obvious thing but just think about it...it's a show that was just on broadway its just as much on everyones minds as most other musicals. Just steer clear of big songs you know obvious...and definitely sondheim and JRB for the pianists sake.
**Helpful hints that just might do it:::::
Be your nicest to the pianist...he/she can pretty much control your audition so think twice before snapping at him to set your tempo (there are more polite ways of doing that)
Just relax, whenever I go out of town to audition, I love bringing my laptop, I'm a total nerd and just play games on it until my audition. It keeps me relaxed and my mind off the audition.
Don't think to much of it, thousands and thousands and thousands of people have been rejected from places and if you do then so what? It's their loss.
NYU, Fordham and UArts are pretty competitive schools...make sure you have safety schools...I know you're probably an amazing singer, but just in case you come down with strep throat the week before all your auditions or something outrageous happens you gotta be prepared.
And most important of all make sure your song isn't just you standing there singing. Do your book work and find out why you are singing that little bit, what do you NEED to achieve from singing those words? Act!!! Not many people can do that in their song.

I know it was long and most of it was the obvious, but still it never hurts to be reminded. Good luck!! I'm going through all that too. College auditions are such a pain!!!

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:30pm

Does anyone know about "Someone Else's Story" from "Chess"? As in, does anyone know how overdone or not overdone it may be? Just been wondering about this song lately.

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:08pm

I was gonna do "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" and was told not to by the actual director at a school... so I would say it still applies to revivals.

[astonishing1985]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:39pm

Someone else's story is probably not overdone but I'm wondering if it is out of your age range?

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 8:20pm

i would absolutely NOT do "astonishing" for college auditions. think of how many girls willthink that song is 100% written about them and want to sing it.

i would also stray away from "still hurting." i think it's too popular of a song and the adjudicators would want to hear something a little more unique....just my thoughts.

[matiboi]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:54pm

I would stay away from songs from shows produced on Broadway in the last couple of years, revival or original. When I was changing my audition songs around, I was contemplating "Epiphany" from Altar Boyz, but decided against it, mainly because I realized it probably wouldn't be looked upon favorably, and I don't want to risk anything with these auditions.

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:15pm

yea that seems to be my problem with songs. I get very picky b/c I want to make sure I don't choose the wrong songs for my auditions. I constantly change my mind about a million times every single day!

[Jwei123]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:41pm

The "Don't sing a song from a show recently on broadway" usually holds true.

It isn't set in stone, however...

I sang an Avenue Q song as my uptempo contemporary and got into NYU and Emerson.

Make sure you also look at each school's specific requirements. In addition, make sure you ACT your songs...as others have said, that is THE most important thing.

And have fun and be yourself. Don't get TOO stressed!! Break a leg.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 3:50am

Yeah, at least from my experience Still Hurting is a bit overdone. Although I'm not really one to talk since I am singing a JRB song for my auditions. I know that that is mean to the pianist, but it is not overdone and it's perfect for me. So I have to. I say that if something really does fit you very well and you can sing and act the crap out of it, do it whether its overdone or not.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 10:24am

The 'don't rule is generally, no shows which are currently running or have been on Broadway in the past five years, and yes, that includes revivals. There will always be exceptions and people who risk it but with the selectivity of these programs, I wouldn't advise it. Also, to the OP, I hope you have other schools that you're applying and auditioning for, as three is really not enough when the acceptance rates at MT programs rival those of the Ivies. You're risking real disappointment if you've only got three.

Posted: 1/5/06 at 4:39pm

Thanks everybody for your feedback. And yes I know they're hard schools to get into. And yes I do have safety schools. I'm not stupid...
I really appreciate all the advice.
Thanks again!!

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 6:15pm

when i was playing this game, i auditioned for 7 schools and UArts WAS my safety. either times have changed or i could have potentially been very screwed. oops! anyway i'm at NYU so hopefully i can give you some advice.

can you get in with 'still hurting'? sure, probably. is there a chance that the auditors will form an opinion about you before you open your mouth? yeah. that's the reason to not do overdone songs. if you think you can shatter their opinion, then great, go for it. but if you're just going to do what every other teenager who comes in singing 'still hurting' is going to do with the song, it lowers your chances, amazing voice or not.

what does singing an obscure piece do..? if they haven't heard it, they will immediately perk up and it becomes not a 'job' to sit through the audition, but personal, because they really WANT to hear your song. same if you sing something that they haven't heard in a while. it makes you seem very versed in musical theater, and shows them that you aren't just into the 'fad shows' ( JRB stuff, wild party, current bway stuff, anything that is very popular among high school kids).

i'm not sure how contrasting 'still hurting' and 'easy as life' are, but do whatever you have the most passion for, whatever sparks your creativity. and just be creative with it, if you really want to do these songs, you have to show them something different. you aren't up for a role here, you're up for the role of "i'm better and care about this more than the last 300 girls you just saw." so whatever can show them that, and only you know, give it to them!

[cindy013]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:37pm

As far as singing Astonishing- I auditioned at Carnegie Mellon and Point Park in November and there was someone singing it at both. I'm no pro with this stuff, but I'd say you'd be best picking something they won't be able to compare you as easily to other auditioners with, or be sick of hearing. Geez, college auditions are a pain, aren;t they:P