So, I woke up at about 5:45 and some how didn't really leave
technically until about 7:30 (gas and breakfast). I got to the Woodruf
Arts Center in HOTlanta at about 9:20...walked around and there were NO
signs of where to go for my audition. I asked a secuirty guard and he
led me outside, and down some steps on the side of the building,
unlocked a door, and i had to walk down more steps...it was pretty
sketchy. I go to the area where the auditions were taking place about
9:30. Sat down and waited my turn. Some lady from admissions asked me
some questions. I answered her questions with confidence and a
smile...because that's my style. Then it was time for me to "warm
up"...they gave me 15 minutes to warm up and look over the sight
reading...after about the 3rd sight reading example, I realized that it
was the EXACT same stuff as last year. Nothing to worry about. I played
through my tune "Syeeda's Flute Song" a couple of times until one of
the Berklee kids came and got me. I picked up my chord chart and walked
down some more stairs into some big room. I was probably half a mile
underground at that point...I looked around for a bass amp and saw some
big OLD fender amp that was SO bad. I asked the judges if they could
play the changes on the piano so I could play my song...One played
bass, one played soprano sax, both were white. The bass player said he
would, so I explained what I needed to him to do. We got about 2
measures into it before it started to fall apart. Homee, couldn't
count...He told me to skip the tune, and he would just play the changes
without rhythm while I walked and soloed over the tune...I did really
well on that part...we got back around to the tune and I yelled
"tune"...homee stopped playing and said not to play the tune. Then it
was time for some blues...walking and soloing...out of all the 12 bar
blues I've played in auditions I think that was definately my best
one...I played soem really "hip" stuff that sounded SO jazzy...Then it
was sight reading time...I read the first 3 things on the first
page...and he said I could pick anything else to read, but I told him
he should pick. He chose some really SLOW R&B example that we
played over and over TOO many times. I was so SOULFUL though. Finally,
it came time for the "Call and response" where the SOPRANO SAX player
played something and I was supposed to play it back...I did the first
three things fine...then the fourht I just couldn't figure it out...it
was RETARDED...the worst thing I've ever heard...NO ONE would ever play
what he played in a song EVER. Oh well. They didn't really say I was
good or bad, they just said that they heard enough to know I can play.
I've never really had compliments before, so I definately wasn't
expecting any. They asked me what I wanted to major in at Berklee and I
gave them an elaborate answer about my indesiveness between Music
Production/Engineering and Music Business...I should their hands...kind
of a formal introduction...as I was leaving which is backwards from
what I should have done, but I don't think it's a big deal. I felt
really confident, and I think it showed. Hopefully the soprano sax
player with the mustache, and the bass player with the weight, both
white, enjoyed my audition and give me BIG money.