Auditon Packets
A flute player asked a similar question but I’m a cellist so it’s a little different
When provided music for excerpts, there is often bowings and fingerings. But the audition is behind a screen for most of these places… anyone have experience changing these things and just making sure you achieve the goal of the fingerings and bowings or should I follow them precisely?
246 Views
There are exceptions, but for the most part, you don’t need to follow their bowings or fingerings unless it specifies that you must (and I’ve only seen that demanded upfront with a few very regional orchestras or schools). Much more common is something along the lines of “you may use your own music, but be prepared to use our parts,” so you should always practice their bowings just in case, though I’ve never seen that applied to fingerings. General rule of thumb is to play how you sound your best and be ready to adapt if they ask you to do something different. If they like your playing but want to hear it a certain way, they’ll ask.
Almost every packet I’ve ever received has either been totally clean or just a photocopy from the part they have in the library. Those markings are generally how the orchestra played the piece last, which might be how they still play it. Or it could have been from 20 years ago with a different conductor/principal/concertmaster. 🤷