Vocal music majors sing a jury for their final exam. What is a jury? I’m so glad you asked. Typically, a student walks into a classroom or performance space with a list of repertoire that they give to their voice professors. The student goes to the piano and announces the song or aria they would like to sing first. Then, the faculty chooses one or two more selections from the provided list. The student sings the requested repertoire, says “thank you,” and leaves the room while the faculty each write down some constructive comments and assign a grade. The primary voice teacher adds these grades into their assessment rubric, completing the student’s semester’s work for private lessons.
This is the norm for every semester, unless the student has an academic recital or a faculty-approved project. As with most college finals, the jury is a cumulative test for the semester’s work—in this case, the assigned music. Typically, students do not present music they learned in a previous semester unless the teacher requests further study. By beginning the semester with planned repertoire, the jury doesn’t have to be a scary experience. It is a performance opportunity to showcase current repertoire and improved vocal techniques over the semester.
The Ten Commandments for Juries are here to serve as advice to young, nervous freshmen and seasoned students alike. Every semester, I have students who need some of these reminders, so I have compiled them for you.
1. Thou shalt rehearse with thy pianist.
Whether you hire a pianist or your school provides a pianist, it is your job as the singer to communicate, set up rehearsal times, provide payment, furnish clean copies of the music, and provide anything else your pianist requests, such as arranging to work in a room with a grand piano or providing translations. Without our pianists, we are in an a cappella one man Pitch Perfect situation—so be nice and thank them every time you rehearse.
Juries are a performance, but there is no need for you to bow. When entering the room, you walk in first and hand the paperwork to a monitor or the nearest professor. Your pianist walks straight to the piano to get situated, and you take your spot in the crook of the piano once the paperwork is passed out.
When each song is over, you graciously take a brief moment to look at your pianist and nod to indicate a public “thank you.” Your professors will indicate that the jury is over. This is the time to say “thank you” out loud and exit the room without further ado.
2. Thou shalt bring an extra copy of thy music in case of natural disaster.
Your pianist has a copy of your music because, of course, you have rehearsed. You have a published edition of your music that you own because you are following copyright laws, right? But, let’s just imagine that the pianist’s dog chewed up half of the binder, or a torrential downpour got that binder soaking wet and the pages are sticking together, or the unthinkable: someone forgets the music. Never fear, because you have an extra copy that is hole-punched and ready to go in a binder.
When five or more professors are gathered to listen to you sing, the last thing you want to do is waste their collective time by walking in without music. This is the simplest part of your preparation that can be done early and double-checked the night before your jury. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but juries are practice for your future auditions. In school, you sing a jury for a grade—but in life, you sing an audition for a job. Practice now for a top grade and later your skills will get you jobs and build your career.
3. Thou shalt memorize thy music.
Juries are to be sung memorized, unless your teacher specifically instructs you to use music for an oratorio aria or chamber music. This is standard practice, and there are few exceptions. Prepare early, work out your translations, and know what your texts mean—including English. Some of the old English art songs make zero sense in today’s vernacular, so take the time to understand the context of these words.
Write your texts down on notecards or in a small book that fits in your purse or murse (man bag). Glance at these cards instead of checking Instagram every hour. If a lack of memory plagues you, ask your teacher for memorization techniques. We all have different methods that work for our own memory—but no matter the process, it takes some time.
All singers, students and professionals alike, need time to commit words and music to memory. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, memorizing at the last minute is a stressful gamble. Give yourself enough time in the practice room to sing your songs from memory over and over and over!
4. Thou shalt sign up and show up early.
You are a music major and so you know you have a jury at the end of the semester. This jury is your final, so if someone doesn’t hold your hand and show you where the sign-up sheet is located, then ask and go sign up. Most universities assign a 7- or 10-minute slot over several days, which means we are listening to more singers than an open call for American Idol. Your professors want you to give a great jury performance for your grade and because it makes our time much more enjoyable.
If 17 students in a row show up a few minutes late or ask to be worked in, then the schedule is off and it is more difficult for you to concentrate and stay on your game. If you arrive early, you have time to get control of your nerves, make a quick run to the restroom, etc. On behalf of professors everywhere, we thank you for being prepared to go early if someone else is MIA.
5. Thou shalt smile at thy professors.
Terrified? Stressed? Annoyed? Over it? Your jury is not the place for anything other than a pleasant smile and your best performance. Your professional demeanor will set you at ease and garner more positive feedback from your professors. Science has proven that smiling helps us physically and mentally.
The study “Grin and Bear It” reported in the Atlantic asked participants to either smile, hold a neutral facial expression, or use chopsticks to manipulate their faces into a smile. The participants were then assigned tasks with a variety of stress levels. The study concludes, “When a situation has you feeling stressed or flustered, even the most forced of smiles can genuinely decrease your stress and make you happier.”1 When it is time for your jury, just smile and sing. Thank you! Next . . .
6. Thou shalt make no apologies or excuses.
Maybe you are slightly sick, you have cramps, or your voice is slightly compromised from overuse. You can e-mail your teacher to let them know you are not feeling 100 percent, but do not go on about your ailments during your jury time. If you are too sick to phonate, then ask your teacher if you should cancel and take an incomplete. Otherwise, do not apologize or make any excuses.
If you are not memorized on a particular song, let your teacher know you are taking it off the list. The repercussions will be less than if you are asked to sing it and do not know it. Nervous memory slips are not the end of the world, but do not stop and start over. Just keep singing and get back on track. Refer to previous commandments about rehearsing with your pianist and smiling to reduce stress! These tips will all work together to help you sing your best when it counts.
7. Thou shalt not compare thyself to other singers.
It can be intimidating to listen to upper classmen sing behind closed doors—especially if they are singing your song. Don’t psych yourself out! Remember that your jury is for you. This is your final—your chance to demonstrate the progress you have achieved this semester. Your professors have heard your past auditions and performances. They will give you feedback on your development and performance. This is not a competition amongst your peers—it is just for you.
8. Thou shalt dress for success.
If you show up to your jury in sweats with ear buds in your ears, it will not appear that you put much effort into your final performance of the semester. Plenty of articles have been written about audition attire, and I’ll sum them up for you in two words: look nice. When you sing, you want your audience (your jury professors) to pay attention to your music and not a bra strap or your rumpled plaid shirt. Pick clothes that will not be distracting from your face, that place where the singing comes out. We want to see your lovely smile as you sing about true love and your eyes as you sing about gazing at stars, etc.
Ladies: a solid-color dress or a black skirt and nice top will always be a winning look. If you wear heels, make sure you can walk in them. Simple flats are fine—we aren’t the fashion police, we just don’t want to worry about a student falling offstage. I preach lipstick to my female students, but I’m super-girly that way.
Gentlemen: dress pants, a belt, an ironed button-up shirt, dress shoes, and no caps—even if you have committed to wearing that cap until it disintegrates.
9. Thou shalt turn thy phone off.
Respect your professors and turn off your phone. Leave it with your purse or backpack at the door. Can I get an amen?
10. Thou shalt not put thy water bottle on the piano.
Do not put your water bottle on any part of the piano—it is not a table. There are times a singer needs a sip of water. If you are extremely dry from taking your Claritin-D and chasing it with DayQuil to battle your cold, be a respectful singer and place your water bottle on the floor! In most cases, just leave it at the door with your stuff. I believe in your mucosal abilities to keep your throat feeling hydrated for a few minutes, and so should you.
Thus Sayeth the Professor
These commandments are not just one professor’s diatribe. The holy rollers up above (Mozart, Schubert, Copland, etc.) and those still with us (Libby, Ricky, Jake, etc.) want you to present their music to the best of your abilities and talents. Your talent is still developing, but your presentation can be perfect right now.
Prepare, arrive early, and be ready for anything. Your confidence will soar when you walk into the room professionally prepared. After all, that is what you are training to be: a professional. Toi, toi, toi!
Soprano Christi Amonson is an assistant professor of voice and director of opera workshop at Troy University. She earned her DMA in voice and theatre at the University of Arizona, her MM in voice at the Manhattan School of Music, and her BM in music education at the University of Idaho. Amonson is an active singer, writer, and NATS member and she serves on the advisory board for the Vann Vocal Institute with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. She lives in Troy, Alabama, with her husband and three daughters.
Endnotes
1. www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/study-forcing-a-smile-genuinely-decreases-stress
