Welcome!
Looking to audition for one of the 15+ Michigan A Cappella groups? You're in the right place!
On this website, you will find a compilation of resources needed to learn, improve, and hone the skills you might need to audition for and succeed in an a cappella group.
The Anatomy of An Audition
Pre-Audition:
Before fall auditions, you may choose to attend the annual AcaRush event, where all a cappella groups perform a song with the intention of showing possible new members their group! There will be many opportunities to speak to group members at the beginning of the year, including during AcaRush and at Festifall, the university-wide activity fair. Groups will have a sign-up sheet where you can select the audition time you'd like.
Introduction:
At the start of your audition time, groups will ask you to introduce yourself! Besides your name, this will often include your intended major, your hometown, your voice part (if you want to identify yourself as a specific one), and sometimes a fun fact or other icebreaker-type question.
Range Check:
The first part of your audition may be a range check. For this, one of the group members will play increasingly high, and then increasingly low notes on a piano for you to sing a warm-up to. They'll guide you through it, so try not to be too nervous in order to be able to showcase your range! This is just for groups to get a general idea of what voice part(s) and notes you'll have the ability to healthily sing.
Sight Reading:
Auditions will commonly include sight-reading. This may involve the groups providing you with a short (typically only four to eight measures long) sequence of notes. A group member will play the starting note and give you a short amount of time to think the sequence through. Once you think you've got the hang of it, you'll sing the sequence for them. This can commonly be a source of stress for auditionees but don't worry too much. Groups aren't looking for perfection, they just want to get a sense of your pre-existent abilities. Also, this website will dive further into sightreading tips and tricks.
Tonal Memory:
Groups will also often want to get a sense of your tonal memory. This is your ability to repeat a short sequence of notes after they have been played on the piano. That exercise helps groups gauge your familiarity with pitch accuracy and relativity. Groups may have you complete a couple of these exercises, increasing in difficulty. Don't be worried about small mistakes, just try your best!
Solo Song:
You will likely be asked to prepare one minute (typically a verse and chorus) of a song. This should be a song that you believe showcases your range well. If you have any unique vocal talents, try to incorporate those too. Your performance of this song will help groups see your range, your energy while singing, and even get a glimpse at your music taste! Because of this, make sure it's a song you're comfortable with singing in front of people, so you can best showcase your abilities.
Note: All groups will handle auditions differently. The breakdown of specific groups' auditions is often on their websites or social media. This is a generalized collection of the most common characteristics of an audition.
An Important Reminder:
It's hard to showcase all of your abilities during the short amount of time that an audition provides. Also, groups often have specific voice parts and skills that they're looking for. This can make it tough for groups to accept talented singers who simply don't fit into the categories they were missing.
If you are not accepted into a group that you wanted to be a part of, you are encouraged to reach out to them to get feedback! Many groups will be happy to provide you some constructive feedback on what you may improve. Also, many groups hold more auditions in the winter, so look out for that information around January!
