"Staging" your music audition: benefits of the music portfolio.(Forum Focus: College Faculty)

Changes in today's graduate school music audition process require new ways of thinking about how to prepare for the audition. Additionally, getting accepted into a good graduate music program and the ability to secure a graduate assistantship has become highly competitive, as colleges increasingly seek applicants who not only demonstrate excellent musical skills but also show other professional skills that will help them succeed in the already saturated music field. Some colleges request writing samples and include interviews as part of the graduate audition process, much like applying for a professional position. It may be wise to advise students to prepare a showcase of their work and other professional skills, such as a music portfolio, that may give them a competitive edge. In the real estate market, particularly for home sellers, the competitive edge comes from "staging" the home. Staging is professionally preparing a home by cleaning, painting, and decorating the home to attract potential buyers. In the same vein, the music portfolio can set the stage to impress the audition committee in graduate school music auditions. For the music student, musical talent and skill are important, but the music portfolio can be used to set oneself apart as a professional.

Graduate students who are interested in performance or pedagogy degrees should consider developing and compiling for audition purposes, a music portfolio that consists of performance and teaching components. A successful portfolio demonstrates the applicant's organizational skills, thoughtful career planning, writing skills and overall professionalism. The portfolio, as the compilation of the applicant's best and most recent work, may reveal skills the audition committee deems advantageous to the applicant. For example an applicant that has considerable documented teaching success may have more chances of receiving a teaching assistantship. An applicant that submits an online portfolio demonstrates her creative skills in technology.

Besides helping students create professional looking, organized and continually updated portfolios, applied music professors should also advise students in career planning, teaching and performing activities that will build a strong portfolio. It is desirable for professors to start the mentoring and career planning process as soon as students begin studying with them.

The performance component of a music portfolio can include:

1. Complete and updated resume

2. Sample concert programs: solo, chamber, concerto appearance, accompanying

3. Repertoire list