Do They Do That?

Question:You know, when you audition to go to this thing about instrumental music, part of the audition is sight reading. Do you know if they usually give you 5 minutes so you can look over the piece, and if they give you a pen or pencil so you could write stuff, like if you wanted to write in the notes?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You know, when you audition to go to this thing about instrumental music, part of the audition is sight reading. Do you know if they usually give you 5 minutes so you can look over the piece, and if they give you a pen or pencil so you could write stuff, like if you wanted to write in the notes?

I am a NYSSMA judge. Students get ONE minute to look over eight bars. NEVER are students allowed to write ANYTHING on the sight-reading. Either you have the sills when you walk in the door, or not. Even singers are expected to sing with a system like solfege or numbers - and therefore be able to audiate (hear it in your head, first).

Good luck on your upcoming audition - it sound like you need to work on sightreading.

If you're writing in the notes, you're not sightreading. I've seen both ways. It's not so much that they give you dedicated time to look it over, it's that they might give you the music when you come in, and you could look at it if you have to wait for your slot. Sometimes you have to give the music back, so I wouldn't scribble on it.

I doubt they give you five minutes...probably more like 30 seconds to a minute. That's been my experience, at least.
Also, you should always have your own pencil with you. ;) I wouldn't advise writing on it, though. You may have to return the music to them. And it looks really amateur if you actually have to write the note names on your music.