Audition Workshops

what is an audition workshop?

A positive, encouraging opportunity to get your nerves out and practice your audition piece. Gain feedback and confidence in our Audition Workshop.
For Accompanist nights, bring appropriate sheet music with a 16-32 measure cut marked. Or, if you're working on a piece for WSMA, you are more than welcome to work on that!
For Track/A Cappella nights, please bring your backing track saved offline on a device that can be plugged in via AUX cord.
We believe it is important for singers and actors to encourage their fellow performers and have a support system. The entire group (and parents, if singers are kids!) is present during the workshop, as each individual presents and receives constructive advice from knowledgeable instructors and their peers.

Why go to audition workshops?

Observing others builds the skills needed to recognize areas needing change and helps them learn to self-correct. The performers get to know each other and become invested in not only their own success, but also the success of their peers. This is a great way to make friends who have similar interests, and to become more comfortable with audition pieces.
Audition Workshops are appropriate for ALL ages and for ALL experience levels. Having a mixed group setting offers the best opportunity for learning and growth.

How it Works

Participants ($20 for Accompanist; $15 for Track/A Cappella):

Accompanist Nights: Bring your sheet music with cuts marked, and a bottle of water with you.
Track/A Cappella Nights: Bring your backing track saved offline on a device that can plug in via AUX cord, and also a bottle of water.

Observers (FREE):

Show up and see what this is all about.
You may come as an observer at no cost.

Please Note

We require a minimum of 5 Participants, otherwise the date will be canceled (though usually these workshops fill up very fast!)
End time varies, depending on the number of Participants. If you have scheduling concerns, or need to leave at a specific time, email us the details so we can coordinate your one-on-one time.
You are encouraged to come to more than one Audition Workshop! Remember that every time can build upon the last, and you'll receive new feedback and get more practice each time!

Make Your Accompanist Happy

Your accompanist is your audition partner. Set them up for success by checking this list.

If you're using music from a book, make sure it lies FLAT. It probably doesn't. You're better off using...
Double-sided paper copies of sheet music. This is BEST. Double-sided means fewer page turns. If you can't get your book page to fit when you make a copy, reduce the output setting to 93% and you should be fine!
Hole punch your sheet music, then put it in a binder. This will ensure the pages will stay in order and on the piano. You don't want your accompanist playing from a sheet that has fallen on the floor.
Option: put your pages in plastic sheets in your binder. Some pianists LOVE this because it makes page turns easier! Keep in mind though, some pianists can't stand the glare from the plastic, so if you do this, keep those pages hole punched so they can be easily removed and put on the rings after asking the accompanist's preference.
Sheet music should have the melody line on top and the left hand piano part on the bottom. If yours only has a vocal line and chord symbols, you do not have sheet music - you have lead sheet. This is not good for your audition! This doesn't give the pianist anything to play and they essentially have to make it up on the fly and that could result in a near-unrecognizable rendition of whatever it is you are singing.
Communicate your tempo to the pianist quietly before you get ready to sing. (Sing the first line at the speed you will go.) Let them ask questions if they have any, and give them any special notes that will help them HELP you - such as - an area you slow down or need time for a breath, in which case...
Mark it on your sheet music. At the very least, clearly mark your START and STOP. Also helpful is to mark your breaths (a vertical line is fine), and any places you intend to slow down, speed up, take more time, etc. Mark it. Mark it. Mark it.
While you're singing, if something feels off, keep singing. YOU are leading. A great accompanist is trained to follow you, so the more confident you can be, the better! Don't wait for them to go on, they are adjusting to you and your choices. If you're used to singing with tracks or a capella, it can be hard to get used to. If it sounds weird, you just haven't practiced enough with a pianist. The more you can practice putting your vocal and the piano together, the better and easier it will be!
Always thank your accompanist. :-)

"Group audition workshop was beyond amazing. The beautiful energy and feedback from their peers and coaches is truly an experience that will leave a forever imprint. We are so thankful for the experience, for the friendships and for the growth that results from the magic they share with adults and children alike."

"My daughter is already preparing her song for the next session. It was incredible! Thank you Jes and Jacob Sudbrink for committing to and growing our kids."

"It was such a wonderful experience. Thank you for offering this! I also loved seeing kids encouraging each other and humbly accepting improvement."

Get a spot in our next Audition Workshop!
Because we hire a professional accompanist for each Audition Workshop (Accompanist), we appreciate early registration to provide a head count in advance. We require a minimum of 5 Participants per Audition Workshop.
Workshops typically last about 2 hours, though it varies depending on how many participants we have.

Location:
Sudbrink Performance Academy
271 W Main Street
Waukesha, WI 53186