Have you ever had to audition for a choir? If you did, you know how nerve-wracking it can be, especially if the choir has certain professional standards.
One of the most important tips in auditioning is to know what kind of choir you’re auditioning for. What is the group’s mission? What type of arrangements do they most often perform? Does your vocal quality match the group? Why do you want to join this group? As you honestly answer this questions to yourself, it will help calm your nerves and give you a sense of confidence.
Choirs usually post their audition requirements ahead of time. Make sure to follow them to the letter. When you give attention to details like that, it can give a sense of responsibility that auditioners can pick up.
Of course, you need to have a song ready. A song that showcases your vocal ability at its best. Memorize the lyrics if you can. Have a backup song, just in case. Work on sight-reading if you know it’s a weakness. Now some choirs take in people who may not know how to sight read well, but have good ears –you know the kind that can easily pick-up tunes.
Physical preparations also are a must like warming up, vocalization, and drinking lots of water for proper hydration. Many people would warn against drinking juices, dairy, or coffee on the day of the audition. There are many, many, many other tips, obviously. And if you want more of that, you can go to these sites:
Prepare Your Best Vocal Audition Yet
What’s more important is auditioning for the heavenly choir. Is it nerve wracking? It doesn’t have to be. Does this choir have audition requirements? You bet.
1. Learn your “notes”. Be thankful to God always. Praise Him for what He has done for you.
“Those who in heaven join with the angelic choir in their anthem of praise must learn on earth the song of heaven, the keynote of which is thanksgiving.” Faith I Live By, 242.
“Praise God. Let your conversation, your music, your songs all praise Him who has done so much for us. praise God here, and then you will be fitted to join the heavenly choir when you enter the city of God…” My Life Today, 91.2
2. Training the mind to delight in spiritual exercises is more important than mastery of music.
“Those who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual exercises are the ones who can be translated and not be overwhelmed with the purity and transcendent glory of heaven. You may have a good knowledge of the arts….you may excel in music…but what have these things to do with a preparation for heaven? What have they to do to prepare you to stand before the tribunal of God?” Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 2, 267.1
“They [many professed Christians] know not the language of heaven and are not educating their minds so as to be prepared to sing the songs of heaven or to delight in the spiritual exercises which will there engage the attention of all.” Voice in Speech and Song, 430.1
Hence as we prepare to sing with a choir here on earth, we must not forget that singing for God transcends all musical talent. But He looks at the heart and hears only the music of those who live a life with Christ in God.
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