wiseone2

Wilmer taking the bait answers.........." When you play so well that top pros listen to you on the phone"........When major symphonies call you to to play principal on Mahler recording.
When you have numerous acclaimed recordings......You are a killer
Wilmer

B15M

Romey,

I've missed you! Where have you been?
I don't agree with most of what you write but you do stir things up. The last post I saw was when Manny put you in your place on the Monette thing.

Manny Laureano

... which nobody really wants to see start up again, right?

ML

robertwhite

I'd like to try to take the middle ground here.

B15M, after reading your "bio" in Manny's forum, it's clear that you've come into this game a bit late. I'm not saying TOO late, OK? But it's clear from your bafflement at the size of the list that you're relatively new to this. (Again, no offense, just telling it like it is).

Don't let that phase you, though. Practice your ass off, listen to everything on the list hundreds of times, and send a tape for the prelims. Whaddya got to lose, right?

Wilmer, it almost seems like you're offended that someone like B15M would even dream of trying out for the NYP. I guess I don't get it. It's not a sign of disrespect. Maybe it's ill-advised, but it's certainly not disrespectful. We all have dreams, you know? I didn't get into Juilliard, but I still worked hard, and now I'm fortunate enough to have an orchestra job. Who really knows what B15M could be capable of?

trickg

I decided to toss my hat in the ring for a Military Band audition in July, and that very thing happened - I played badly (and I mean REALLY badly) and did not get the job. My audition was not behind a screen either since all of the candidates were the same race and gender.

However, the worst was not that I didn't get the job - the worst is that it completely zapped my desire to play at all for a few weeks. I had spent considerable time and effort in my preparation for the thing only to see it all go down the tubes in less than 10 minutes. It was very disheartening for me and a real blow to my ego, and in some ways, mentally, I'm still not completely recovered. I wanted the job so bad I could taste it, but I just wasn't up to the task of taking the audition.

But back to the subject, Wilmer has given some good advice by saying the if you aren't just killing the repertoire, don't bother. I think that my biggest hinderance was the fact that when I walked in the door that day, I wasn't killing the repertoire, and I knew it. That knowledge erroded my level of confidence, and I fell apart in a massive bundle of nerves. I couldn't even subdivide and count to 4! It was truly a pathetic example of trumpet playing.

Sadly, that didn't, and still doesn't, describe me.

wiseone2

I feel like the kid in "The Emperor's New Clothes" or Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men."
It's about truth. If you can play in the league with some of the very best players of the trumpet in the world.......go for it. If not, then practice and get the skills required to compete with the very best. Only the best is good enough.

Wilmer

trickg

Wilmer hit the nail on the head regarding "truth". Unfortunately for some, their personal truth does not reflect the truth of the rest of the world, and they put themselves in certain situations (like auditioning for a job that they have no prayer of winning) because they honestly believe themselves to be much better than they are.

I recounted a bit about the audition I took in July - trust me, I was pretty realistic about the fact that I probably wasn't going to get the gig, but I wanted it, and there was no way I could get it if I didn't at least try. The difference, however, is that I went in understanding that I was behind the curveball with my playing, but also knowing that I had some other qualities that were desireable from a military standpoint. IF I could play well enough.

At the end of the day, it really boiled down to the fact that I wasn't prepared - the topic of this thread - and had not taken the necessary steps to become competetive as a player - steps I should have taken long before deciding to toss my hat in the ring for the audition that I took.

This is a great thread Wilmer - it really brings into sharp relief the importance of being prepared.

romey1

Yeah, but all is forgiven.

I've been busy "hacking away" on my trumpets.

BTW, Bob is right the NY list couldn't be more standard. If you aren't comfortable with it, don't go, whether you play Bach, Monette, or Bundy. You may want to start auditioning for summer festivals first, where the rep lists are considerably smaller. It is a long process learning the standard rep well enough so that you can deliver under pressure and in any given order. The fact that NY gives you the rep order for the first 2 rounds is a "gift."

Still hacking,

romey

B15M

No offense taken.

A friend of mine came over yesterday and we were talking about the audition and what people on here were saying. He looked at the list and said " Joe, There's nothing on here that you can't play" He told me he decided not to be a professional trumpet player when he was up on stage and was terrified about all those people judging him. I don't get that way, I just love to play. If I don't make it past the first round it's an obstacle to get by for the next time.

On a little different note,
For a come back player like my self at age 47 time is running out. I am playing better then I ever have and there might not be many more shots for me. People say to start small and I have been trying for years to do the small stuff. I have found that the bigger the name the nicer and more humble the people are and the smaller the name the more they think they are great. This is another thread and maybe I will start it but in New York they are willing to listen to me and I'm glad to play for them because I know I am a good player weather I blow it that day or not. In Bridgeport they won't even acknowledge that I live one town over and am a musician.

romey1

Didn't realize you were a comeback player. Auditioning there will be an "enlightening" experience for you. Good luck!

romey