College Audition Help and thoughts...

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!

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?

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.

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!!!

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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.

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.

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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!

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.

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!!

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

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