Newpark Auditions

Fusion251

Hey just a note if anyones thinking of applying the closing date for the auditions is the 6th of may.

Cheers
Fusion

Velvet Vocals

I'm so keen I've had my application in since the beginning of April

Alkali

Hey, thankx Fusion, I applied a few weeks ago. I got mine on the 26th. Hopefully it will all go well.

I got to stop playing Tribal Tech stuff and learn some standards...

I'm so keen I've had my application in since the beginning of April

Hey Saint, what are you auditioning for?

Velvet Vocals

I'm going for the PMTC, I'm a singer so voice as my first instrument. I got my letter on Tuesday and my audition is on 29th of May... my stomach churns every time I think about it

What about you?

Alkali

Saint Something wrote:

I'm going for the PMTC, I'm a singer so voice as my first instrument. I got my letter on Tuesday and my audition is on 29th of May... my stomach churns every time I think about it

What about you?

Cool, good luck on it!. Yeah me too.. , auditions are always a bit dodgy!

Im auditioning for the LGSM year 1(Piano), but if I dont get that, I hope ill get the PMTC.. :cool:

How long have you been singing? and jazz singing?

Velvet Vocals

Good luck to you too!


I've been singing since I could talk! But professionally about 11ish years, since I was in school I guess. I've always chosen American song book stuff, I was in to Ella and Billie before anything else, when I was teenager I digressed into rock and other stuff but in the last 6 or so years I've come back to Jazz... aint nothin better

What about you? how long have you been playing piano?

Alkali

Thankx , cool, so you must be quite good, you should have no problem with the audition, Ella and bilie are great, I didnt really have much of a singing voice but I did end up in the National Children's Choir when I was in primary school , I think everyone gets into that rock phase for few years..

Ive been playing piano for about 8 years, with no piano grades, Ive only really started playing jazz about a year ago. Im thinking going to audition for both piano and drums, just in case i dont get in on one, i might get in on the other

Velvet Vocals

Sounds good! I know a few people who did the course with Drums as first instrument and found it great.

I only started playing piano last year, I'm learning but slowly. I really like it thought, I'm currently learning Hill Street Blues Morto, but it's great!

Alkali

Cool!, I cant wait to do it, should be fun, ill prob see you in there!. Im currently writting a few jazz tunes at the moe..

Kennington

Alkali wrote:

Cool!, I cant wait to do it, should be fun, ill prob see you in there!. Im currently writting a few jazz tunes at the moe..

How much does this cost? Im thinkin of applying next year!

Alkali

They havent said anything about that yet, but i heard its about 2500 E, for the first year and then 2000 E for the next years. Could be wrong though...

Kennington

Cheers! Gonna try for this next year, I think I could get in, been playin a lot of Jazz stuff on the bass lately especially the almighty Jaco!

Alkali

Cool, good luck , Have you heard of Gary Willis?, I recommend listening to some Tribal Tech...

Velvet Vocals

Kennington wrote:

Cheers! Gonna try for this next year, I think I could get in, been playin a lot of Jazz stuff on the bass lately especially the almighty Jaco!

Jaco just blows me away. Check out Shadows and light - Joni Mitchell. Jaco on bass and Pat Metheny on guitar... Legendary! The live version is the best!

Kennington

Saint Something wrote:

Jaco just blows me away. Check out Shadows and light - Joni Mitchell. Jaco on bass and Pat Metheny on guitar... Legendary! The live version is the best!

Oh yea thats some amazing stuff alright! Im also a HUGE fan of the mighty Victor Wooten, any of you people like the band hes in? Béla Fleck and the Flecktones?

Velvet Vocals

Kennington wrote:

Oh yea that's some amazing stuff alright! Im also a HUGE fan of the mighty Victor Wooten, any of you people like the band hes in? Béla Fleck and the Flecktones?

FREAKY!!! As I'm reading this post I'm listening to Bella Fleck and the flecktones... I got turned on to Bella Fleck about 10 years ago when I was listening to the Maura O'Connell album Western Highway, it isn't that great, but the backing music was amasing and when I looked in to it, it turned out to be Bella... legend!!

Fusion251

Yeah Vic Wooten is amazing, I have a version of him playin Giant Steps with ethir Mike Stern or John Schofield, amazing stuff :d

Fusion
:cool:

Kennington

We should all meet up sometime and go to a Jazz gig or something!

Alkali

Kennington wrote:

We should all meet up sometime and go to a Jazz gig or something!

That would be cool! :cool:

Fusion251

We should....or you could all come along to the Open Jam on Thursday in The Pale...and bring your instruments....


:cool:

Velvet Vocals

Yea, I think The Pale is a great idea, I was actually thinking about heading in this week if anyone's up for it?

Alkali

Sounds great, I would be up for it, do you know if they have a drumkit there?

Velvet Vocals

As the audition looms ever closer I'm starting feel a slight pain in my chest and those horrible butterfly’s in the pit of my stomach! God, I wish it was over!!!

Alkali

Dont worry saint about it, im sure you will pass , I actually cant wait for my audition! its this saturday :eek:

Velvet Vocals

Alkali wrote:

Dont worry saint about it, im sure you will pass , I actually cant wait for my audition! its this saturday :eek:

Yea, I know what you mean, I am looking forward to it, but with a kind of sick trepidation. Mine is on Sunday at 9.45.... post up on Saturday night and let me know how it went and what they asked you.
I got some really good tips from someone who did the course a few years ago about questions that they usually ask. Let me know if you want me to post them up for you.

Cheers!!!

Alkali

Cool good luck, thats early I would never be up at that time :rolleyes: mines at 12:00, sure ill post it up. That would be great any tips would be helpful , I know a few people that did it too, they said it wasnt too difficult to get in..

Velvet Vocals

Right, well here are the prep questions that I have :

1. Why do you want to do the course?

2. What are you doing/working at currently?

3. What is your musical experience?

4. What is your musical education?

5. What do you know about the course?

6. What do you think about it and what do you think you'll gain from it

7. How do you plan to finance your self for the year?

Then he said that they usually play some rhythms and ask you to clap them back. Play some major and minor chords and ask you identify them. Ask about augmented and diminished scales/chords. What is a dominant scale, what do you know about modes, that kind of thing.
And then for singers (me) they play a note and ask you to sing the 3rd or the fifth or the octave or arpeggio or whatever....

Alkali

Oh you leg-end, good work , I didnt know they would ask you about the course and stuff like that, ive been working on my diminished and augmented chords/scales, by clapping out rhythms do you mean, 4/4, 3/4, 7/4, 5/4. Do you know chords well saint?

Velvet Vocals

Well yea, but I don't think they'll say this is 4/4 or what time sig it is, they might just play a sequence on piano or guitar and then ask you to clap it back.
I know chords pretty well... I'm no expert!


These are all just maybes..... but it can't hurt to go over your stuff...

Alkali

Ah thats cool, im fairly good with rhythms, chords im ok... but as you said im not expert , I wonder is there anyone else on boards doing these auditions?, come on people post! :cool:

Velvet Vocals

Ah, I don't think they're looking for experts... well hopefully not

Alkali

Have to wait till saturday to find out! , What kind of stuff are you doing to prepare your self for your audition?

Velvet Vocals

I'm going over diminished and augmented chords and scales. I'm going over all my ear training stuff.... you know like regonising chords and their inversions.
I'm also going over modes - just mode types really
And I've got a few songs prepared, I know they're only looking for two but I have about 5 I can choose from in case they ask for different genre's or anything.
I was at piano last night and my teacher was very reassuring so I'm feeling a lot less stressed out today!

DrummerBoy

Val in all honesty your the very type of voice they're looking for! I don't think you'll have any problems at all. Start saving!!

A

Velvet Vocals

Scarlet!

Thanks!

Alkali

You seem to have it sorted Saint!, 2 days to go!

Velvet Vocals

1 DAY TO GO FOR YOU.... :eek:

2 FOR ME..... :eek: :eek:

Alkali

Lol, your right, one day left for me!

It actually wasnt too hard, clapping back rhythms was tuff enouf though, I played, standard swing, latin,

And a fusion groove, this one..

Its the start of the song "Still Moanin"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/clipserve/B00005B86V001001/026-5237775-4462049

Velvet Vocals

Hey, Nice one. Glad you go on well.
So tell me what they asked you? Did they ask about chords or anything?

Alkali

Thanks Saint, They didnt ask me about chords actually... maybe because I auditioned for drums , they asked me basically what you said in that post, and a few other things.

bonzai bob

i was supposed to have an audition today but i just can't afford the course. I may go for it next year though.

Velvet Vocals

Alkali wrote:

Thanks Saint, They didnt ask me about chords actually... maybe because I auditioned for drums , they asked me basically what you said in that post, and a few other things.

Anything I should know, or was it just Drumming stuff, rudiments etc?
What kinda vibe was it? Chilled out or up tight?
This is a really girlie question to ask so I apologise in advance But do you think it’s cool to show up wearing jeans?

Velvet Vocals

bonzai bob wrote:

i was supposed to have an audition today but i just can't afford the course. I may go for it next year though.

Yea, I know it's pretty expensive. You should check out the ensemble course the do part time, its one night a week and excellent! It would be good preparation for next year.

crowbar188

Saint Something wrote:

This is a really girlie question to ask so I apologise in advance But do you think it’s cool to show up wearing jeans?

No, you cant wear jeans. They hate jeans. ..................

Seriously, youre reading way too deep into this stuff. They just wanna hear you play and see what you know about music. They dont give a crap about what you wear or look like.


Alkali, did you have Conor Guilfoyle for the audition?? How do you think it went??
When i did it, i thought id completely screwed it up but i guess i hadnt.
How old are you btw??

Alkali

Anything I should know, or was it just Drumming stuff, rudiments etc?
What kinda vibe was it? Chilled out or up tight?
This is a really girlie question to ask so I apologise in advance But do you think it’s cool to show up wearing jeans?

For me it was just rudiments and stuff, its really quite actually, not really uptight at all!, you could wear anything you like!, I went with a shirt and jeans.

One bit of advice Saint, show up 10 mins before your audition :rolleyes: ...

Are you doing the PTMC Saint?

Alkali, did you have Conor Guilfoyle for the audition?? How do you think it went??
When i did it, i thought id completely screwed it up but i guess i hadnt.
How old are you btw??

I had Ronan Guilfoyle and Mike Nielson, it went grand actually, just played some swing, latin and a fusion groove. And clapped out some rhytms, and asked my some tech.

When did you do yours crowbar188? Did you lose time?, im sure you will be fine.

crowbar188

No i did mine last year. i just completed the PMTC this year. what did you audition for??

crowbar188

course-wise i mean.

Velvet Vocals

crowbar188 wrote:

No, you cant wear jeans. They hate jeans. ..................

Seriously, youre reading way too deep into this stuff. They just wanna hear you play and see what you know about music. They dont give a crap about what you wear or look like.

Well I am a girl, and as such have a tendency to read way to deep into things... but thanks for the call back down to earth!

Alkali

Cool, are you doing another year?, what was your favourite part of the year? How was the composing part of the year? Are the Ensemble classes any good?

Sorry about all the questions!
:rolleyes:

I auditioned for drums, I would of liked to do Piano aswell.

crowbar188

Yeh im hoping to go on to the next year. Ill find out on tuesday.

The composing isnt that bad. Alot of people freak out about it cos they mightent have done it before but as i said before theyre not looking for a masterpiece, just a good effort. I mean, it is highly likely that the majority of people doing the PMTC will make at least one mistake when tryin to write out a composition (i know i did) cos they probly wont have done it very much before and the teachers know that. Theyre not gonna mark you really badly just cos you made a mistake.

The ensemble is good fun but can be frustrating at the start cos your put in a room with 4 or 5 other people who mightnt like the same music as you so it can be difficult to agree on what to play, but usually theres at least one common interest and people get along ok. The ensemble classes are as good as your group makes them. If you put in work then youll do well, if you dont you wont. All the ensembles have to play a gig at the end of the year to show what theyve done. That was really good fun. Probly my favourite bit of it...

Alkali

Cool, good work man for the info, cant wait to do it!, if I get in that is , ive written a few jazz tunes in a sort

what kind of stuff did you play for you audition?