Navel Gazing

Navel gazing. Yikes! Is that lint in there?

Sometimes when we look closely at ourselves, we see things we don’t expect. Have you ever listened to a recording of yourself speaking and thought, “Is that really what I sound like?”

In the world of orchestra auditions, that kind of critical self awareness is crucial. The performance we think we’re giving may not be what the panel is actually hearing.

One of the very best tools you can use to prepare for an audition is to record yourself. What it provides is an accurate reflection of what you actually sound like. I know! I hate it, too, because suddenly you can really hear what is happening while you play. Seeing all that musical lint can be demoralizing, but hearing yourself clearly and (hopefully) dispassionately can be an important step along the way to playing your best.

Navel gazing. Maybe not a bad idea after all.