As a musician, it is essential to have in possession a recording device. Devices, such as cameras, cell phones, and portable audio recorders, are used by the every day musician in order to hear oneself perform. It can be used in practice, for self-critique, for others to critique, and of course, to form and shape the final performance or audition.
Audio recordings are essential for the musician auditioning for orchestras, broadway pit orchestras, and other ensembles that hire musicians. Naxos Music Library, which is available through many universities, such as Montclair State, or even public library databases, such as through Bergen County, is one of many online audio databases that helps the everyday musician out with what they need to listen to for any upcoming audition or performance. YouTube is also a good reference to use for listening to music. With the help of websites, such as IMSLP.org, or hornexcerpts.org, that have many audition excerpts and even whole pieces old enough to not be under copyright law, musicians can even follow along with music they listen to online in PDF form.
Phil Smith, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, told me that when preparing for an audition, it is important to listen to audio recordings of an excerpt over and over again to the point where one can just mimic exactly what is heard. His advice was a big help for me when I was preparing for my summer festival audition with National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, and this will also be a huge help for me in continual preparation for my senior recital next month. Being able to listen to audio recordings has helped me grow and improve as a musician, and I am very grateful for the innovations made to recording technology and that audio databases exist for rising musicians to access at their will.
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