Where to look during a solo/audition?

[Masters2010]

Well, I've been videoing myself not only so I can hear what I sound like, but so I can see also. I just realized though that throughout almost all my pieces, I look down at the bow. For me, I think it's just a comfort thing and it's what I've gotten used to when I'm playing my solos. I have no problem looking at the conductor when in orchestra, so that isn't an issue. My solos are virtually memorized, though there are a few parts that I look at my music for.

For my upcoming audition, should I just keep on looking at my bow like I have been, or should I be looking up at the music? I'm not sure if this is a big issue or not, but I don't know if this is something my auditioners might look at.

[Clay_Bass]

From auditions Ive done and talking to teachers the best place to look is at the music. They want to see that you are actually reading. Also when looking at the music you should be able to see the conductor out of the corner of your eye which Id imagine you cant do looking at the bow.

[ispider6]

In my experience, it is better to look in front of you or out into the audience. If you're looking at the music or the bow the whole time, it can be construed as a "crutch" and most judges frown upon it. It's fine to check the music while you're playing but staring at it the whole time is just not good (unless it's a modern piece that's considered difficult to memorize).

Originally Posted by Masters2010

Well, I've been videoing myself not only so I can hear what I sound like, but so I can see also. I just realized though that throughout almost all my pieces, I look down at the bow. For me, I think it's just a comfort thing and it's what I've gotten used to when I'm playing my solos. I have no problem looking at the conductor when in orchestra, so that isn't an issue. My solos are virtually memorized, though there are a few parts that I look at my music for.

For my upcoming audition, should I just keep on looking at my bow like I have been, or should I be looking up at the music? I'm not sure if this is a big issue or not, but I don't know if this is something my auditioners might look at.

[sibass89]

In my opinion you're doing the perfect thing. It's much more professional at an audition to have all your music memorized so looking at the music shouldn't be a problem. Also you don't want to look into the audience.

Think about it...how many times have you've been sitting in the audience watching a soloist and all of a sudden the soloists eyes snap your way and scare you.

Mr. Levinson always told me - Look at the bow, it looks the most professional and it allows you to go into your own zone so you never get nervous from the audience or the judges watching you.

An audition judge will never think of you looking at the bow when you play a crutch. I do it and I've never been told that its unprofessional or is a crutch to my playing.



-Nick

[EFischer1]

Always at the bow. The more you look there the more you will see why.

Don't just stare at it. Analyze what you are doing. Thats just good life advice.

[ispider6]

I HAVE been told that it is not good to look at the bow or your left hand when playing. And when I say look into the audience, I don't mean look at the audience members themselves. Look over their heads to the back of the hall/room or at their feet... whatever.

Originally Posted by sibass89

In my opinion you're doing the perfect thing. It's much more professional at an audition to have all your music memorized so looking at the music shouldn't be a problem. Also you don't want to look into the audience.

Think about it...how many times have you've been sitting in the audience watching a soloist and all of a sudden the soloists eyes snap your way and scare you.

Mr. Levinson always told me - Look at the bow, it looks the most professional and it allows you to go into your own zone so you never get nervous from the audience or the judges watching you.

An audition judge will never think of you looking at the bow when you play a crutch. I do it and I've never been told that its unprofessional or is a crutch to my playing.



-Nick

[sibass89]

Think about a violinists eyes. Many times they are either looking right infront of them at the bow or their eyes are closed. Very little times into the audience and never look at your left hand.

Looking at your left hand creates two problems -

1. It looks unprofessional
2. It closes off your body. By turning your head towards the bass, you're throwing off the alignment of your shoulders which can have a negative affect on your bow arm. This is still something I am trying to get rid of. I like to practice with the lights off because it shows me that looking at my hand does nothing but have bad consequences (since I can't see it).

Everybody's opinion is different. But this is what I have picked up in my college audition experience last year.

ispider- If you're in an audition room and you play infront of the panel, and you're told to look over their heads at the wall behind them, don't you think they would think there is something really interesting behind them and that you aren't zoned into your playing? And with a peformance I would imagine the same thing? I would be thinking what is the guy looking at.

[Cory Palmer]

Usually when I'm playing I'm either watching the music or my bow or the conductor when I'm in orchestra. It really doesn't matter where you are looking during an audition as long as you can play the music. Looking out into the audience while you are playing can be distracting. Sometimes I have to make an effort to not get distracted by what's going on in my peripheral vision.

[ispider6]

I'm not saying you should exclusively look behind the judges. I'm saying you can look in a variety of different places (including your music and the bow) but you should not stare in any single place the entire time. If you are able to keep your head up while playing and to move your head around, it shows that you are loose (not to mention reduces the hunching that occurs when looking straight down at the bow). Let's not forget that this is not just an audition, it's a performance. Your audience likes to see your face from time to time. I think the time to stare at your bow is in the practice room when you're specifically working on your bow technique. In the end, to each his own but this is just my take on it from my experience and from what I've been told.

Originally Posted by sibass89

Think about a violinists eyes. Many times they are either looking right infront of them at the bow or their eyes are closed. Very little times into the audience and never look at your left hand.

Looking at your left hand creates two problems -

1. It looks unprofessional
2. It closes off your body. By turning your head towards the bass, you're throwing off the alignment of your shoulders which can have a negative affect on your bow arm. This is still something I am trying to get rid of. I like to practice with the lights off because it shows me that looking at my hand does nothing but have bad consequences (since I can't see it).

Everybody's opinion is different. But this is what I have picked up in my college audition experience last year.

ispider- If you're in an audition room and you play infront of the panel, and you're told to look over their heads at the wall behind them, don't you think they would think there is something really interesting behind them and that you aren't zoned into your playing? And with a peformance I would imagine the same thing? I would be thinking what is the guy looking at.

[bpclark]

I've noticed when I am playing that if I am focused, I don't "see" much of anything. I realized that this morning. I played two solos for two services in church, so the total amount of playing time was 15-20 minutes. I can recall checking the bow and my hand position on a few sections, but other than I have no visual recollection of anything during the performance(s). I have no idea what the audience thinks I was looking at.

[jdapodaca]

if you have your music memorized, looking at the music after you've been practicing without it will probably cause problems. so, don't do that.

eyes should be on your music, your bow, or your conductor. two of these things, you do while you are practicing. you don't practice in front of large audiences, or, at least i don't. staring "into" or "over" or "beyond" the audience doesn't work for me, and i dont know anybody who finds that it does.

it won't matter to the panel where you are looking, as long as you can play the music.