Don’t be afraid, be bold and confident. But there are some things you might need to be prepared for. Think about it from the conductors/directors point of view. The choir / choral group needs members but they don’t want sour notes either.
You must be able to sing something or you would not have been interested in joining a choir. So, prepare a song or two. Prepare something that you are able to perform well. Get something that demonstrates your comfortable range and abilities. Do you know a foreign language? Choose something similar to what the choir / choral group sings.
You should also be familiar with key signatures. If you need help, look them up on the internet. Memorize the sharps and flats in the order they appear in a key signature. Flats are B, E, A, D, G, C, F and Sharps are F, C, G, D, A, E, B. Notice that the flats begin by spelling the word “bead”. So really all you need to memorize is that the first three sharps are F, C, and G, because then the sharps are the word “bead” spelled backwards. And the last three flats are the same as the first three sharps, only backwards.
Once you know the order of the sharps and flats all you need next is “how many” are in each key. Start with the key of “C” which has no sharps or flats. Then if you go up a perfect fifth you find your next key and it has only one sharp, go up another fifth to the next key which has two sharps and continue until you get seven sharps.
For flats go the opposite direction but only go a perfect fourth down. From “C” you come to “F” so “F” is your first flat key and it has one flat. Be careful since your first flat is “B” then B flat occurs in every key signature from now on; which means that the next key a perfect fourth down from “F” is “B♭. So your new key is named “B Flat”.
All of this is not extremely important but it might be good if you could sing a major scale. Using solfege that would be do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do. Plus if you could sing any of the minor scales that would be good too.
Most reputable choirs and choral groups will give you some music to prepare and bring to the rehearsal. Always be on the look out for the diminished fifth / augmented fourth. This interval is hard to sing so make sure you practice. Both intervals sound the same but the spelling may be different. For instance, “C” to “F sharp” is an augmented fourth but “C” to “G flat” is a diminished fifth. Both “F sharp” and “G flat” are the same note. It is not likely that both will appear but one or the other is very possible. Being able to sing this interval could very easily impress the conductor enough to let you into the choir.
All auditions are not the same but the goal is generally the same:
1. Can this person sing or play their instrument?
a. Having a piece prepared will answer this
2. How high or low can they sing?
a. They will have you sing up and down the scale, probably with a piano to see what your range is.
3. Are they good a rhythm?
a. This will be checked by the music they gave you to prepare and any sight reading exercises they will give you during the audition.
4. Are they good at melody?
a. This will be demonstrated through out all the audition.
5. Are they good at Harmony?
a. To check this they may have you sing with others or just with the piano.
6. Can they sing the difficult intervals?
a. Hopefully they give you time to practice and prepare but when they hand you something to sight sing, be sure to check for the diminished fifth or augmented fourth.
b. Check for other difficult intervals also, like the sevenths, sixths, and minor seconds.
7. Do they know their key signatures and scales?
Know your competition:
Are you competing against professionals or amateurs?
Be prepared and apply at to an organization at your skill level.
Be honest, if you don’t know then say so!
Victor King has a B.S.in Bible and a B.Mus. from Philadelphia College of Bible and has studied conducting at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaching at The Kodaly Musical Training Institute. Victor has personally studied with Betty Bertaux of the Children’s Chorus of Maryland, has twenty plus years of teaching experience and is an expert at teaching people to sight read music. Through a variety of media including sight singing lessons online, video tutorials and live webinars, he seeks to further the kingdom of God by promoting good Christian music and encouraging Christians to sing His praises. To sign upfor a mini course on musical literacy go to singing instructions.
