The pianist cannot
read your mind.

A shared starting point

You know the version of the song in your head. The pianist has the material in front of them. Preparation means making the relationship between those two things clear.

Start with the actual audition instructions. Mark the beginning and end of the selection, check the key, and make cuts and transitions readable. If another musician must guess what happens next, the sheet is not doing its job yet.

Try this before the audition

1. Give your music to a pianist who has not heard your intended version.
2. Explain the start, finish and tempo in the way you intend to use in the room.
3. Try the opening together. Ask which instruction or marking required interpretation.
4. Revise the music or your explanation. Run it again.

Write your opening conversation

What must be communicated before you begin? Note the start, the beat you are counting, any cut or repeat, and the ending. Rehearse saying only what is useful.

Keep the distinction

Clear preparation helps you collaborate. It cannot guarantee a particular audition result. After the audition, record what happened separately from what you think the panel felt.