A singing audition can be undeniably daunting and stressful for parents of aspiring young singers. The thought of having to prepare for an opportunity among other talented children who are vying for the same spot can be overwhelming. In addition to that, kids who audition must be able to nail the piece in front of a panel of professional judges and try not to cry from the intimidation.
When it comes to auditioning for a musical or a singing contest, keep in mind that the anxiety you and your child feels is pretty much normal. Even seasoned performers find it difficult to perform in front of strangers sometimes, so do know that it all boils down to managing your anxiety and being able to focus on your child’s task instead.
To minimize any mistake your child might do like forgetting the lyrics, singing off the beat, getting out of tune, or completely blacking out during the actual song performance, professionals have given out helpful tips. On this list, you will find a compilation of those tips and how your child can apply them for their upcoming singing audition.
Singing Audition Tips for Children
1. Prepare your child well.
Being well prepared is probably something you have heard before. But there is a reason professionals keep reminding aspiring singers on the importance of doing so. Preparation is practically the key to being able to showcase talent. Merely being aware of your child’s skills is not enough.
As someone who wants a place for their child in the industry, you must know that there are millions of children with the same talent and aspirations as your kid, so you’re going to have to find your child’s edge above others.
Regularly exercising with your child, providing healthy foods, and making sure they’re properly hydrated all the time are just a few things you can do as a parent. Avoid sweets and carbonated drinks and stick to water instead. You also have to ensure they take a good eight-hour sleep every day, especially the night before the audition day, to condition their voice.
Have them practice again and again, but make sure they don’t strain their voice before the actual singing audition. Performing numerous times will give them an opportunity to familiarize their talent and learn how to restrain themselves when they are pushing their voice too far. Remember, the better prepared they are, the less chances they have of being anxious when the singing audition day comes. Don’t take any chances and keep practicing with them!
2. Find a song that will match the audition’s theme and your child’s voice.
For your child’s singing audition piece, pick a song that can best highlight their voice, and make sure that you try letting them perform before a non-biased audience first so you can receive an honest opinion on what aspect of their performance needs to be worked on. But deciding which song itself may come off as a rather difficult task. See the three tips below that will help you find the best song that will suit your child’s voice:
- Familiarize your child’s voice. A crucial skill for every singer is being able to familiarize their own voice. This does not only mean that the singer can assess their capabilities when it comes to hitting high and low notes but it also identifies the singer’s limits as well. Many singers make the mistake of idolizing then emulating performers in the industry. This is because they are often made to believe that sounding like their idols will take them to places, especially winning singing auditions. But in reality, forcing your child to do so will just make them come off as a copycat performer. They wouldn’t be able to stand out in a crowd. Aim for a strong voice out of your child instead. Find your child’s own singing style by having them singing a song and performing it like it’s their own. Instead of becoming the next Mariah Carey, find your child’s own voice.
- Know your child’s range. Vocal range or tessitura is a musical term that refers to a comfortable vocal range for a musical instrument—and in this case, your child’s voice. This is how you can assess your child’s singing voice and prevent it from cracking. Do not strain your child’s voice by pushing them too far. The only way to expand their vocal range is to undergo voice lessons, and it is also a good method if you want to find out what tones suit their voice best.
- Use the right singing technique. Singing isn’t just about being able to open your mouth and performing a song in high notes. There are many technical skills that a singer needs to apply when performing. So for your child to be familiar with this the simple way, tell them these three steps: maintain a good posture, breathe from the diaphragm, and articulate vowels well.
3. Make it fun!
This does not mean they prepare their voice by laughing a lot. Try to incorporate some games. There are a lot of indoor games through which kids learn to identify and match pitches. A good example is the famous Korean game Cleopatra, which is basically a song but sung in different pitches. The first to sing does it in a lower pitch, the next would use a regular one, then the next will have to sing it in a higher pitch. The one who can pull off the highest pitch wins the game.
Another is musical telephone. This game will have you sing a tune into someone’s ear, then that player will have to relay the same tune to the person next to them, and the last one will sing it out loud. Challenge lies in whether the last person can carry out the exact same tune.
4. Always warm up their voice.
Think of it this way: you check your car to make sure that the oil is changed regularly and that the engines are in tip-top shape before using it. It does not matter how expensive this car is; if its components are not functioning well, then you will find no use for it. The same thing goes for your child’s singing voice. Their voice is their most important asset for this singing audition. If you keep on forgetting to warm up their voice, the sudden strain might damage their voice. God forbid, they might even lose it for life.
Look up vocal exercises to help maintain their voice and reduce the risk of vocal damage. Numerous amateur singers often wake up to strained voices when they also forget to cool down. Technically, singing is similar to exercising as this also involves muscle stretching. Here are simple warm-ups.
5. Be courteous and polite at all costs as a parent.
In every part of the singing audition process, the panel judges your child. From the time they enter the room to the moment they finally stand before the panel, their actions are observed. So make sure that as a parent, you maintain professionalism throughout the process. Do not scold your child in front of everyone or make excuses for them to the panel. Here are more don’ts to keep in mind.
When it comes to the actual singing audition process, train your child to maintain eye contact with the judges. Every part of the audition counts. This means you and your child’s good conduct is also judged. Keep a good attitude and don’t forget to always wear your best smile!