Benefits to Preparing For Competitions, NATS Auditions, Masterclasses

 There are so many things that you can do with your singing to help you develop into the most confident and best singer that you can be.  Competitions, NATS Auditions, auditions for solos, auditions for shows, Studio Masterclasses, Studio Voice Recitals.  Summer Programs.  The list is long. Why should you do these and what should you do?  Your singing teacher can best guide you as to which opportunities you should participate in.

If you are a beginner, maybe stick with performing in your studio's recital. Or audition for a solo in your school's choral concert or talent show. Sing for your family and friends.  Maybe you aspire to be in the school musical theater productions.  Practice auditioning by singing for fellow students.

If you have been taking lessons for a while, maybe you should consider auditioning for a competition or participate in a Masterclass with another singing teacher or professional singer.  Take part in the local NATS auditions. If you are preparing college auditions or to attend a summer program, perform in many places.

Preparation for singing in front of others has many benefits. You can learn so much from performing for others. Yes, PERFORM.  Make that audition a performance and it may take you far.  You learn about yourself and how you react to real performance pressures.  Do you crumple under the pressure of nerves?  You learn from other master teachers and singing teachers when you participate in Maser Teacher Audition Workshops such as Master Teacher Workshop for NATS.

Make sure you are well prepared and go the next step.  Most areas have a local NATS or AMTA conference or audition workshop annually which you can compete or participate in and get adjudicated by other singing teachers and professionals.  Sing for your local Classical Singer Magazine auditions.  Like NATS, it has both a classical singing and musical theater competition. At the higher levels, you are competing to win both in name and monetary compensation.

Your teacher can help you prepare and decide if you are ready to do these competitions or advise on local scholarship competitions.  The idea is to get out there and sing.

What better way to get feedback about your singing and performance?  In your voice studio you get the input from your teacher which is so valuable, but doesn't add the performance dimension.  You get adjudication notes from others and it is another way to get comfortable singing in front of others. It prepares you better for that next step.

Master Teacher classes are also often offered at these events. These give you another performance experience and a chance to put feedback into action with another teacher or coach.  It is with an audience, but another chance to improve your next audition!  Do you research to see what is out there and your teacher can guide you as to which opportunities are best for you!

More Reasons Why?

Discipline and focused study.
Perfecting a piece, attention to detail.
Stage Presence.
Practice performing.
Learn how you react to performance pressure.
Accept constructive criticism.
Use it to improve your singing and stage presence.
The more you do something, the better you become.

Keep on singing!  Next up, why do that Summer Program?