| Great question and a fair one, at that.
I think, first, that there should be a consultation with the instructor if the person is currently taking lessons and that there should be a blessing, of sorts, for that important first audition. The preparation of excerpts is less important than the student's ability to perform as an intelligent musician. Does this person know more than the excerpts, the Haydn/Hummel compulsories, and other niceties related specifically to the audition at hand? Are they able to take the audition without driving 500 miles overnight for a 10:00 am audition?
I like people to take auditions when they have a shot at winning. Looking forward gathering at the local watering hole after losing your 15th audition is not a good thing. Experience is a good thing but you should always go into something expecting to win. Disappointment is a great motivator to future success IF you don't have a habit of feeling sorry for yourself and are able to remember what you learned.
ML |