Ever feel like you’re putting in all the effort but still not performing at your best in auditions?
You’re practising your pieces, putting in the hours, and doing everything you think you’re supposed to...
But when it’s time to step into the audition room, it feels like your nerves take over, your freedom to express yourself disappears, and you leave wishing you’d shown what you’re truly capable of.
Maybe you’ve told yourself “I just need to practise more” or “If I nail every technical detail, everything else will fall into place”...
But it hasn’t worked.
What many musicians aren't told is that audition prep isn’t just about practising until you can’t make a mistake. It’s about preparing in the right way — mentally, musically, and practically — to make sure you’re ready for the whole experience.
After working with so many musicians struggling with auditions, I’ve noticed three mistakes that crop up time and again. They’re mistakes I’ve made myself too, so I know exactly how frustrating it is to feel stuck.
Let’s talk about these common mistakes so you can stop sabotaging your auditions and start stepping into the room feeling ready, calm, and capable.
Mistake 1:
Focusing Only on Technique and Ignoring Musicality
This one is so easy to fall into. When you’re auditioning, you want to prove your skills, right? So, we drill the notes, rhythms, and technical details over and over.
But in the process, we forget one critical thing: Music is about emotion, connection, and expression.
Audition panels aren’t just listening for perfect scales or clean runs. They’re looking for musicians who can tell a story, move their audience, and bring something unique to their performance.
Why it’s a problem:
When you focus solely on technical precision, your playing can end up feeling rigid and mechanical. You might hit every note, but you’ll miss out on the freedom and flow that makes your performance truly memorable.
How to fix it:
Start with the emotion: Before practising a piece, ask yourself: What story am I trying to tell here? How do I want people to feel when they hear this? Let that guide how you shape the music.
Add freedom into your practice: Once you’ve got the basics down, experiment. Play with dynamics, phrasing, or tempos to find new ways of expressing yourself.
Record and reflect: Record yourself and listen back. Are you just playing the notes, or are you saying something with your music? Use this to refine your performance.
Mistake 2:
Not Having a Solid Practice Plan
We’ve all been there... the audition date looms, and suddenly it’s a mad scramble to pull everything together. Or maybe you’ve been practising regularly but without much structure, so you’re never quite sure if you’re actually making progress.
Why it’s a problem:
Without a plan, it’s easy to either overdo it (and burn out) or under-prepare (and feel unready). Leaving things until the last minute just piles on extra pressure and makes everything feel harder.
How to fix it:
Break it down: Divide your prep into smaller, manageable chunks. For example: Week 1 — focus on technical details. Week 2 — add expression. Week 3 — full run-throughs and mock auditions.
Set daily priorities: Each day, pick 2–3 specific things to work on. Maybe it’s cleaning up tricky sections or practising dynamics. Stay focused, and don’t try to do everything at once.
Review regularly: At the end of each week, reflect on what’s working and what’s not. Adjust your plan if needed.
Start early: Even if your audition feels far away, beginning prep early means you can approach it steadily and calmly, rather than cramming.
Mistake 3:
Not Practising with Performance Nerves in Mind
This one’s a biggie: Most musicians practise in calm, controlled settings, where they feel safe and comfortable. But auditions aren’t like that. Suddenly, you’re in a high-pressure situation, and all those nerves you didn’t prepare for hit you like a freight train.
Why it’s a problem:
If you’ve never practised managing nerves, your first experience of them will be during the audition itself. That can lead to shaky hands, a racing mind, and feeling completely thrown off.
How to fix it:
Simulate the nerves: Create mock auditions where you perform in front of friends, family, or even a camera. The goal isn’t to eliminate nerves but to learn how to work with them.
Get comfortable with the physical symptoms: Practise performing while intentionally recreating some of the sensations of nerves. For example, do a quick burst of physical activity (like jumping jacks) to get your heart racing, then play. This helps you get used to playing with that adrenaline.
Focus your attention: During a performance, your mind can run wild with critical thoughts. Practise redirecting your focus to something tangible, like the music or your breathing.
Shift your mindset: Instead of trying to get rid of nerves, reframe them as energy that you can channel into your performance.
Wrapping It Up
If you’ve been making these mistakes in your audition prep, you’re not alone.
There’s so much advice out there that focuses only on technical practice or suggests you “just relax”... but that doesn’t prepare you for the reality of an audition.
But once you’re aware of these mistakes, you can start making the changes you need to feel confident, composed, and ready to perform at your best.
In fact, by reading this post, you’ve already taken the first step :)
And if you want to conquer performance nerves that make auditioning a nightmare once and for all...
If you’re ready to take control of your audition prep and perform with confidence, check out my masterclass CONQUER: Performance Anxiety.
In this step-by-step program, I’ll show you how to:
Practise with nerves in mind so they don’t derail you in the moment
Own the stage and perform with confidence
Share your music without fear or self-doubt
This evidence-based approach is designed specifically for musicians like you, so you can show the true extent of your abilities and enjoy performing again.
