CKYO Ensemble Auditions for the 2025-2026 school year will be via video for all participants, except percussion. Your Ensemble Audition video will serve to assign you to a CKYO Ensemble for the 2025-2026 School Year.

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We know that auditioning in general can be a new experience for many of our students and that doing an audition via video may feel very different. Auditioning via recorded video shouldn't be scary, so we have put together some helpful tips to help you prepare.
 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR VIDEO AUDITION:

• Quiet Space

• Video recording device (can be a phone, tablet, computer)

• Your instrument!

• Music Stand/something to securely hold your music

• The music/excerpts, etc. you plan to perform in the recording

• Consider copying this script with the info about your audition and having it on your music stand as you record so you are sure to include all the info we need and in the order we require.​​

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RECORDING DEVICES

You can record yourself using a wide range of devices - video camera, laptop, or webcam on

your desktop computer. The simplest, though, is a smartphone. Many phones have excellent video and audio quality that are more than acceptable for your video audition. No need to get fancy – the judges aren’t expecting the highest video quality video, just a decent recording of your playing. 

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WHERE TO RECORD

An important part of recording a good audition video is preparing your recording space. Some

things to keep in mind when picking a space to record:

• Try to pick the largest space available to you, like a living room or dining room.

• Choose a time when the space will be quiet for about 30 minutes to an hour. Since you’ll most likely be recording your video at home, it’s a good idea to talk with your family ahead of time and pick a time when things will be relatively quiet.

• Consider making a sign to remind your family that you’re recording so that they don’t interrupt. This will help remind them that you are doing important work!

• Ensure that the room is properly lit. You need to see your music and the judges need to see you! Turn on lamps; avoid back-lighting (when a bright light source behind you turns you into a silhouette on camera) by placing bright lights or windows behind the camera, not behind YOU.

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SET UP THE RECORDING DEVICE

Once you’ve settled on a time and place to record, you need to set up your recording device.

• Make sure that your camera/phone is resting on a stable surface – you don’t want to ruin a great take with a falling camera! If you don’t have a phone tripod, don’t worry – most people don’t. Just get creative! You can use books, pillows, or another music stand to make sure you’re getting the right shot.

• Try to place your recording device at least 8ft away for better audio quality. It that’s not possible in your space, place it as far away from you as you can.

• If you are using a phone, remember to record in LANDSCAPE (wide) orientation and use the forward facing camera (not the selfie camera).

• Whether you are sitting or standing, your entire body should be included in the shot. This helps the judges assess your technique and posture. For the purposes of the audition, you want to make sure that the judges can see everything that you are doing while you play.

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TEST IT OUT

Before doing your official recording, you’ll want to do a test to make sure that everything is

working.

• Record a short video of you playing a section of your music, preferably a louder section, then watch the video back, checking to make sure everything looks good and – more importantly – sounds good!

• Depending on what device you are using, you may be able to adjust audio or video settings to best suit the recording environment.

• Try moving the device around the room to see if a certain spot or distance from the camera sounds better.​

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SOME FINAL ADVICE

• As you prepare for a video audition, pretend that you are preparing for a live audition and as you record your video, do so with the attitude that the judges are in the room with you.

• While dressing up is not required, sometimes wearing a specific outfit (similar to what you might wear for a recital) will help you feel more like you are performing even though you are in your own home in front of a phone or camera.

• Like a live audition, give yourself the space to make a mistake. The recording does not have to be perfect. The judges aren’t looking for perfection - they are looking for musicality, preparation, and potential for success in each given ensemble and are rooting for you to play your best!

• Getting the right recording takes time, and you likely won’t get it on the first try.

• When you feel like you’ve gotten enough takes of the audition, take a break before coming back to watch your videos. It’ll give your mind some time to reset and you’ll be able to listen for different things.

• Make sure to watch the video you submit in its ENTIRETY before submitting to make sure it is the correct take and all parts of the audition are present.

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Ready to Record and Upload Your Video to YouTube? Click HERE