Video transcript
@The Arts Unit Art Bites – Solo vocal workshop – 04. Audition tips part 2

CHARMAINE GIBBS: Good morning, everyone. It's so lovely to be here with you. Or, good afternoon, whatever time you might be watching this. Can you believe we're here at workshop number 4, our last workshop together? And, our Part 2 of audition tips, which I'll get to in a moment. But, of course, you guys know what it's time for. It's time for warm-up. Make sure you've got your water with you. I just happen to have it in my hands here. So, make sure you get a glass of water, or a bottle of water. Take a sip whenever you need one. Case in point. And, let's go.

Let's think about our posture, like we did on our very first workshop together. All right? Let's tilt our pelvis under. Just ever so slightly, engage the tummy muscles. We don't want them switched on too hard. We just want them just engaged. OK? There's lots of different techniques, but that's the one that I subscribe to. So, just ever so gently. More importantly, drop those shoulder blades into the back, and let's do our siren on the word 'sing' - the NG part. Let's go, and, 'sing'. [Vocal warm-ups]

Oh, wow. Mine needs work today. Let's do that again. [Vocal warm-ups]

Let's do one more together. And ... [Vocal warm-ups]

Fantastic job, everyone. Let's now sing that together, all right? Still on our siren, still warming up, still thinking about our posture, our shoulder blades. Let's go. And ... [Vocal warm-ups]

Just really gently, guys. [Vocal warm-ups]

Keep gliding. [Vocal warm-ups]

Last one. [Vocal warm-ups]

OK? Now, we're going to do the same exercise on 'I'. We're going to go up and we're going to come down on the same thing, yeah? Come with me, and-- (SINGING) 'I'.

Check with that posture. (SINGING) I I I I.

How we doing? (SINGING) I

Just nice and light. (SINGING) I I.

Back down. (SINGING) I I I.

Take your time. (SINGING) I I I I.

Last one. (SINGING) I.

Now, today I would like to do the next scale, as looking at all our vowel sounds together. So, phonetically, which I explained in the very first video, so we're going to do rather than, A E I O U, we're going to do ah, eh, ee, oh oo. And, we're just going to do them on one note at a time, just for about 8 notes, OK? Just to look at our vowel construction. Ready, and ...

[Vocal warm-ups]

Remember our surprised breath. [Vocal warm-ups]

Let's go back down. [Vocal warm-ups]

Think about our posture. [Vocal warm-ups]

Last one. [Vocal warm-ups]

Very good, very good. OK?

Let's now do what I call our running 5, all right? And we're going to do these on - let's do these on 'eh'. All right? So, let's go. And ...

[Vocal warm-ups]

Last one.

Now, something you always want to also check on - on agility day. Not agility day, on audition day, is the voice agility. So, you want to do scales that take time, and then you want to just test how fast-moving you can get your voice going, so it has the energy, but without interrupting the integrity of the notes. So, as in the form of the notes, and how important and lovely and formed they are. So we're actually going to do now - we're going to do one that goes 'vee veh vee veh va,' but we're going to do it twice through. So, going to do, 'vee veh vee veh vee veh vee veh va.' All right? Let's go. Come with me. And ...

[Vocal warm-ups]

Oh, this is testing me today. [Vocal warm-ups]

Stay with me. [Vocal warm-ups]

And, now down. [Vocal warm-ups]

Why did I choose that one today? OK? Now, we're just going to do one last one. This might give you a hint of what our first song is going to be. 'Oh, oh, oh, oh,, oh.' That's not the right key. But, 'oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.' So, we're going to just try, not quite staccatos, but just similar, similar short and detached. So, we're just going to do 'oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,' just for a few. OK? And ...

[Vocal warm-ups]

Well done. OK? Let's just talk very, very quickly about a couple of extra audition tips. Now, you know how I've talked about this trusty scarf. Once you've got into your room, where you're going to audition, take that scarf off. OK? So, you want to make sure that you've got nothing encumbering you here, all right? I'm nice and warm now. I'll be OK for my audition time without my scarf.

Now, that leads me to talking about clothing. Clothing is really, really important in audition settings. It is important to look at what you are auditioning for. Now, obviously, again, I'm going to use Schools Spectacular as an example. OK? So, you don't need to come in your best ball gown, you know, or your tux, or your suit, because we still want to see you as you, you know, so what you'd be out wearing, say, to a nice lunch on the weekend.

If you're gonna wear jeans, I know that the fashion is lots of ripped jeans style at the moment, and that's OK. But, make sure they still look really cool, with a nice top, and maybe not necessarily a jacket. I actually know that a lot of the - this is for the older guys who might be going on to audition for some colleges. I actually know that some of them don't like you wearing jackets and things like that, because they feel, again, it encumbers you, just like I spoke about the scarf. So, they want to see you in just a nice shirt, like T-shirt or something like that. Long sleeve t-shirt. That's for the WAPA's, VCA's, NIDA's - all that sort of stuff. That's from what I've been told and advised, OK? So, that might be different sometimes. But, that's the general rule I've heard.

So, for Schools Spectacular, sure, nice pair of jeans, you know, nice shirt, something nice and colourful, if you've got something like this. But it doesn't have to be. All right? Just make sure it's tidy. Make sure it's ironed, OK? Make sure that you look really presentable, because it immediately tells us that you care. All right? So, don't go in with no shoes. That's a big no-no. Don't go in with thongs. Big no-no. Think about how you want your panel to view you. All right?

Now, yes, we are absolutely all individuals, and I embrace that, and encourage that. But, we have to be mindful of what it is that we're auditioning for, and where this is going to end up. Right? Now, on national television and Schools Spectacular, we wouldn't see you in, you know, unironed shirts, pants, thongs, no shoes, unless you're in a segment that actually requires that. Obviously our dancers dance a lot without shoes, but that's not what we're about, OK? We're singers, so we are a little bit different in that way, in what we have to wear. So, please be mindful of that.

Girls, I'd like to see really, no midriffs and things like that. It doesn't actually look great in an audition room. So, make sure that you just look really presentable. Hair wise, I would have it, if you're going to have it curled, guys and girls who want to curl their hair, make sure you've got a little bit off your face or slightly up or back. Very light makeup. We don't need to see you all completely done.

And again, I'm saying this entirely for the guys too. OK? There's lots of guys who come along and have their faces made, and it's beautiful. I can think of a couple of auditionees and people who've got into Spec who are really into that style. That's awesome. Bring it with you. But, just tone it down for the audition room, OK? We embrace that so much. So, you be you. Absolutely be you, but care about what you're doing.

Also, I just want to say about going back to songs that we talked about last time and contrasting, can you please think of songs you relate to as well? It's really important that you can connect with your song. Yeah, that you really think about your lyrics, and we've talked about this a number of times over the workshop. Think about your lyrics and go, 'Can I relate to that? What is this song really saying?' All right?

So, our first song that we're going to do today was actually again, a Spec one a few years ago, but I love it. I love it for the juniors, who sang this in I think some backup stars, but actually, some of our older Spec students sang this too, from memory. So yeah, so please embrace lots of different things. Soundtracks from movies are great. Your Disneys, your Pixars, lots of other things like that, I'm sorry, Dreamworks. Some things like that are great. They always have really great things, great messages. But, just make sure you can relate to everything.

Anyway, enough from me. I reckon you guys are going to know this song. It's from - actually was sung by Shakira for this movie - 'Zootopia', am I correct? I reckon you're all going to know it. OK? Sing along with me. Here's where our staccatos are gonna come in. Kind of.

(SINGING) Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

I messed up tonight. I lost another fight. I still mess up but I'll just start again. I keep falling down. I keep on hitting the ground. I always get up now to see what's next.

Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up. Nobody learns without getting it wrong.

Speaking of - I won't give up, no I won't give in 'till I reach the end, and then I'll start again. No, I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

Let's do that again. I won't give up, no, I won't give in, 'till I reach the end, and then I'll start again. No, I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

You got oh-oh-oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Look how far you've come, you've filled your heart with love. Baby, you've done enough, take a deep breath. Don't beat yourself up, don't need to run so fast. Sometimes we come last, but we did our best.

I won't give up, no, I won't give in 'till I reach the end and then I'll start again. Oh, I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

Let's go. I won't give up, no, I won't give in 'till I reach the end, then I'll start again. No, I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

That is such a great audition song, and it's got an awesome message. Look at me. I started up without our trusty mic that we would have in the audition room. Just picked it up and did it. OK? That's OK. Things happen. I don't know why I'm still talking into it, because it's actually not connected to anything. But, you know what? Get a microphone in a singer's hand, I'll tell you, we love it.

All right? Now, we're actually going to come back to that song again, and we're going to do one more verse and chorus of that song to finish up, because it's such a great song, with such a great message. But, those of you who saw the first video - see, I'm still talking with it. What am I doing?

Those who saw the first video saw when we did 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' Now, this is another great audition song, really good for just having an energy. It's got a great message. OK? So again, let's think about, well, how would I relate to this song? So, let's sing this together. But, as we're singing, have a think about, 'OK, well, what does this song mean to me?' Let's go. Remember, bring lots of energy. Yeah? Make sure it's always energy in the audition room.

(SINGING) Listen, babe, ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough, baby. If you need me, call me no matter where you are, no matter how far. But don't worry, baby, just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry.

'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you.

Remember the day I set you free, I told you you could always count on me, darling. From that day on, I made a vow. I'll be there when you want me, some way, somehow. 'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you, babe.

OK? So, that is a great one for you guys, yeah? And, it's a great one actually for all ages. So, you know, those of you who feel happy to tackle it - look, still talking into my microphone that is not connected to anything. Those of you who feel confident to go with that, go for it. Yeah? It's got a lot of energy. It shows us what you can do. It's such a good audition song. Look for things like this.

Now, it's almost time for me to say goodbye to you, and thank you so, so much for joining with me in this. It's been so lovely to be with you and to have you there with me. And, I've got a couple of things I need to show you. Two seconds.

Every time I've been videoing, I've had my little puppy here the whole time. Oh, look now, he's being camera shy. He's not camera shy. This is Zacky. Zacky has literally laid on the lounge behind me every single time we have recorded. And, another person who you don't get to see in these videos, but who is always here, is my musical director here, and also helping me out with playing the piano and loading tracks and everything, is Mr. Peter Sampson. So, we have to say a very big thank you to him too.

Aw, look at Zacky. He's very, very touched about his time on camera. And, I also just really want to thank everyone at The Arts Unit who also do a lot behind the scenes here in putting all this work together. You guys have done an amazing job, and I just want to thank you as well for working on these vocal workshops.

So, all right, Zacky, let's sing 'Try Everything' one more time. We're going to do one more verse and chorus. I might even, as a special guest, have Zacky with me. Let's see how it goes. I don't know how it's going to go. Let's try it. We're gonna do this, Zacky. Doesn't he look thrilled?

(SINGING) Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. I messed up tonight. I lost another fight. I still mess up, but I'll just start again. I keep falling down. I keep on hitting the ground. I always get up now to see what's next.

Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up. Nobody learns without getting it wrong.

Let's go. I won't give up, no, I won't give in 'till I reach the end, and then I'll start again. I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

Let's go. What did I say? Don't work with animals. Won't give up, no, I won't give in, 'till I reach the end and then I'll start again. No, I won't leave, I want to try everything, I want to try even though I could fail.

All right? That's a farewell from me. Good luck with everything, guys. It's been so lovely to be with you. I wish you all the best in your singing journey, and I can't wait to work with you again one day. See you later.