Freaking Out About Auditions | Guitar Practice Log 340
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- Опубликовано: 31 янв 2025
- Welcome to the RUclips Channel of Cameron Fernandez, BA in Music and Guitar Teacher.
Need some guitar lessons? Contact me here for questions and scheduling: cameronspracticeshow@gmail.com
Pricing: $60 for an hour lesson ($30 for half hour)
All skill levels welcome, including complete beginner. ;)
Available for new students as of this post: Yes
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And my thing, what's on the docket?
The Docket:
Morning:
BWV 1001
Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9
BWV 1009
Night:
Morel: Sonatina
Lamentos do Morro
BWV 997
Villa-Lobos Preludes and Choros No. 1
#classicalguitar #practice #bach #music #guitar #classical #sor #musicjourney #classicalmusic #guitarra
You are very well prepared for an audition situation through these vlogs. Don't get hung up on playing perfectly, they will get an impression of your technical level either way. Focus on playing expressively. You got this!
I'm really amazed by how much your playing has improved. There's a lot of character and dynamic range, very interesting playing now, really musical.
After these auditions everything will be a lot easier :) I love the emotional beginning!
you are very prepared for this audition. It makes sense to be nervous because auditions are just like that but you've got this.
You got this bro! 💪
I have every faith that your audition will go well.
Performance jitters brother. Just prepare like you know you can. You got this
Relax and just focus on your love of the music. Don’t give any mind to the nervous BS.
Pepe Romero had a great tidbit about nerves. Nervousness and excitement are very similar feelings. They are both anticipatory. One is positive and one is negative. Turn your anxiousness into excitement to play music that is near to your heart. Have fun and stay focused.
Two days ago I had a very small panic attack and I lost control over half of my hand. Maybe your hand coldness is anxiety. Try tensing your hands up really really tight and then slowly relaxing them
this
you’re going to crush the auditions , I believe in you ☺️
😘
I use a massage gun with a foam ball attachment at a medium setting, cup the ball lightly in your hand for about one minute or so, repeat on other hand. This both loosens any muscular tightness and warms the hands at the same time. I also 'get in the zone' by playing repeated patterns on my tongue drum with mallets. It usually only takes a minute or two to relax and lower the heart rate and blood pressure - it is essentially a form of self-hypnosis. There is a reason that most suites and sets of etudes start with a repetitious opening consisting mainly simple patterning. Wish you every success.
We all put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and we are typically our own worst critics. Putting aside 5 minutes a day to lay down and try to let go of all expectations has helped a lot for me. It almost feels silly because, of course, there are expectations, but the constant mental pressure without relief is brutal. I hope you start feeling better about your playing (though i can relate to how you're feeling). You seem like a good dude.
Thanks man!
I study a Computers Engineering major, so they don't even teach music majors at my university. Last year we got invited to play in their amphitheater. I just had to play one piece as a soloist, but I was extremely nervous just because of we playing in my College. While I was waiting for my presentation, I had my hands in between my legs and stomach, like trying to put my stomach on top of them, just to keep them warm just before playing. This did work for me. Another advice is to believe in yourself, even if you don't, try to fake being confident, speak to yourself saying stuff like "I gonna impress them with my playing". This last thing sounds super dumb, but as long as you can start believing 1% of it, it will help you play better
Usually the professor will ask you to skip a head to hear just parts of the audition piece as well.
You're going to get in, you're doing great, keep going. The departments need the students, you're going to get in! Just keep up the deliberate focused slow practice. Wish I had a tip on the cold hands, it never ends. I've seen the Assads complain (from the stage they're performing live on, in between songs) about temps in the recital halls as they rub their hands together in exhale into them to warm them more. However, in their case, it did not take away from the playing :) Where are you applying to anyway??
See if you can audition at the end of a day. When I’m playing for a concert or audition, I will play all the tough stuff at at least half speed for 2-3 hours… then do a run and see if I need to add any mistakes to the hard part list… another hour of slow practice of the hardest bits then I feel connected to the instrument and can just relax, listen, feel the music, AND I’ve always got warm hands by then.
I certainly understand being anxious about auditions--I can't even get a clean recording of pieces I know. But you're an excellent guitarist, and everyone will expect some nerves. And if you were a PERFECT guitarist, why would you need an advanced degree?
Sounds like you have Sor hands.
I remember playing this in my exams (in the late 90s...I am old). Difficult piece. A few things if you don't mind an opinion.
You played the slow movements very musicaly, which is the highest achievement. I think you were relaxed there.
Get the faster parts a little slower, so you can also showcase your musicality (it was lost there as you fought to keep with the fast pace).
Try though to get a stronger more round sound in the finale.
I think if you practice these 2 things your performance will be very musical and satisfying for the listener.
Take care
Maybe try a different warm-up routine? I personally don’t find scales that useful for warm up, I’d rather spend the 20mins on arpeggios and slurs. Also great to start with just open strings to focus on tone production and getting a feel for finger contact.
Idk how u can sound so positive
Get some reusable hand warmers
Here’s the big tip. Auditions aren’t about a performance 99 percent of the time. They are more about: 1) how prepared you are, 2) how flexible and malleable you are to instruction and changes a teacher will suggest, 3) and being a normal person.
What do you mean by "being a normal person"? Can you elaborate on that? Do you mean, on a basic level, someone likeable who they can imagine successfully doing the course?
@@Jonathan-dm3pt somebody they can get along. Has good character. Trustworthy. Honest. Hard working. Consistent.
@@Jonathan-dm3pt somebody they can get along. Has good character. Trustworthy. Honest. Hard working. Consistent.
@@jayshepherdguitar is there an interview alongside the performance then?
@ any scholarship or assistantship I ever won included one.
Please don't take my remarks as bad intention, I'm just older and have more experience, I really would like to help, I'm following your channel since you started.
Study the variation from beginning SLOWLY and with a METRONOME, this kind of music is easy to study in blocks because it's already divided in variations.
Consider looking more into the musical phrase of the theme, you are putting strong accents on the resolutions of the tensions (when the melody goes up chromatically).
You are also putting strong accents at the end of musical phrases like the passage around 3:53, this also happens when you are playing the accompaniment (the pull offs in the theme), this is a general problem during the whole performance.
Listen again to your video and MARK all the stuff that you don't like directly on the score, and study with it, this is basic stuff to correct, you probably need 1 day if you want to, I strongly believe you can manage it.
Why all these change of colors ? on the bridge and then on the hole and then back in 3,4 seconds, what is your idea exactly ?
Leave behind this idea that the guitar has to sound cello, and after 3 seconds trumpets and after other 3 like something else, it sounds just chaotic and comes from an inferiority complex of the Segovia's generation, it is already a wonderful instrument, you can be subtle.
yay!! Sor hands!! always look forward to the daily vid! even though I'm a trumpet player/cellist. how is that guitar working out? btw you gotta hear this Luthier from Netherlands his guitars sound amazing! he is like the next Dammann!. omg listen to the sound of this: ruclips.net/video/JU0-R_iwYO8/видео.html
I really like it! And wow, that’s quite the guitar
@@Sorhands crazy amazing sound right!? almost makes me want to play again. :)
You played the Mozart variations too fast I guess but they will see big potential in you at the audition I think ,
You’re right, I need to play it slower
@ If I can make a comment about your interpretation? You played the piece fine, sure there are a couple areas that might need some tweaking. But, I wouldn't play so much of the piece near the bridge. I like that you do that, I love how Parkening(master at colours) does that, but he only uses it to accentuate certain key areas of the piece, I would still use it for this piece but maybe just less, i.e. less is more in some cases. Also my instinct would be to use a bit more attack and slow the piece down slightly. You have the technique, So use a bit more aggression when you play? of course I actually know shit, so I'm just seeing if i can offer some input, but don't be too hard on your playing, you play excellent, and performance is the bane of all of our existence in music. Its an acquired skill just like every other technique. all the university people probably want to see, (unless its a crazy difficult to get into school like Curtis et al) that you can play proficiently. remember that the whole reason you are going is to get better. if you were perfect already you wouldn't want to go. the Joy is in the Journey!
@@CanadianDivergentthanks for the advice, and I pretty much agree with everything you said. I address all the comments in a podcast coming out tomorrow but I missed this one because it’s a reply. Thanks man!
@@Sorhands keep up the awesome work. Your channel is growing and I think it will continue. Where can I see the podcast?
GAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!