Auditions FAQ

Have a question that's not on the list? Please feel free to contact us.

Who are the Vocal Chords?
The Vocal Chords are one of JHU's co-ed a cappella groups, specifically "your friendly, neighborhood a cappella group". We're easy to pick out in a crowd: look for the cranberry suspenders. You can learn a lot more about the group, including our history, our members, and the music that we sing, by checking out the rest of our website.
How often do you practice?
We practice three times a week for a total of seven hours. It is important that you be able to make a commitment to the group and make rehearsal one of your highest priorities.
Who can audition for the Vocal Chords?
Any Johns Hopkins student, undergraduate or graduate, is welcome to audition for a spot in our group. The Vocal Chords is an interdivisional equal opportunity provider.
When are auditions?
You can find out when we're having auditions by checking our website. We'll usually have notice of auditions at least a few weeks in advance. In general, though, you can count on us holding auditions in the beginning of September and sometimes February.
How can I sign up for an audition?
Signups in the fall generally take place in the Glass Pavilion in Levering Hall immediately following the O-Show. If you cannot make it to this event, please send us an email and we will be happy to sign you up for a time slot. Spring auditions are generally set up through email.
How long will my audition take?
Auditions generally take between 10 and 15 minutes.
What goes on in an audition?
We'll start off by introducing ourselves and singing some warmups with you. Then it's time for you to sing a verse and a chorus of a song that you've prepared. After your solo, we'll spend some time getting to know you and possibly do some more musical stuff if we need to. But no matter what we end up doing, it's always a lot of fun.
What can I do to best prepare myself for my audition?
There are a number of things that you can do to prepare. The first thing you should do is to think through your music collection and choose a song for your audition solo that best shows off your voice. It's nice for us if you sing a song that is popular enough that a few of us have heard it before, that way we have a frame of reference within which to consider your performance. However, this is by no means a must. Also, take a look at our repertoire to get an idea of the type of music we usually perform.

You'll probably have an easier time if you are comfortable singing in front of people. If you have not done this often in the past, it's not a bad idea to practice your solo in front of friends or family. This can help you to feel more comfortable during your audition, but don't worry, because we're not that scary!

Other than this, you can try to get yourself comfortable with singing scales and interval patterns. It is helpful to be around a piano for this so that you can check your tuning.
My audition solo is a little... different. Is that okay?
Absolutely. Although we prefer that you choose a rock or pop song, since that's what we usually perform, you can certainly sing anything that you like in order to impress us. The most important thing for you to do is to pick a song that highlights your voice and your talents. If that piece happens to be a show tune or a classical piece, then we'd love to hear it. We don't confine ourselves to any particular genre of music, so neither should you when deciding on your audition solo.
Do I have to memorize my solo?
Not necessarily. This is entirely up to you. If you would feel more comfortable using a piece of paper or note card to help you, that is more than acceptable to us. The purpose of the solo is for us to hear your solo voice on a song that best fits your voice. We want to hear you sing. However, it is prudent to mention here that visually performing your solo in addition to singing it is always a plus, and using a memory aid will probably hurt this to an extent.
I can't read music, is that bad?
Being able to read music is not a necessary requirement for being chosen for the group. It is definitely a plus, but some number of people who get chosen for the group have little experience singing in a group and have not had formal musical training. Don't worry -- if you get accepted, we'll certainly help you with that so you'll be almost expert at it.
Hey, did you know that I can beat box?
No, we didn't, but we're glad that you told us. It's great to come across auditionees who have had some experience with vocal percussion and/or beat boxing, as it is an important aspect of what we do. However, we look at ourselves as singers first and percussionists (and a number of other important things like musical arrangers and managers) second. So, if you're an awesome beat boxer and not much of a singer we might not be the best group for you. But, you never know, so audition anyway and see what happens.
Are there a specific number of spots open for each voice part?
Although we generally have an idea of what we're looking for when going into an audition period, absolutely nothing is set in stone until after we see everyone who is trying out. It is our policy to accept the very best singers/people to be Vocal Chords regardless of what voice part they sing. Seriously, we're not just saying this. Many of the group members are versatile enough to sing at least two voice parts and therefore we can often switch what we are looking for based on who we have to choose from. There is absolutely no quota system that we use here.
When will I be notified as to the results of my audition?
We will give you a call on the same day as your audition. Please make sure that you are near your phone, so that we may be able to effectively reach you.
Are you guys mean? Will this be like American Idol?
Yes. We judge everything that you do in front of us. Just kidding! Of course not! Thousand times no!! We are very friendly and will do everything that we can to make your audition as comfortable and painless as possible. We promise we don't bite... hard.

Nevertheless we will probably be taking notes while you sing. Sorry, we know this can be nerve-racking. We're just trying to make sure that we can recall everyone's audition as clearly as possible.
Is there a limit to the number of groups I can try out for?
You are more than welcome to try out for as many a cappella groups as you wish, although it is customary and probably best to only join one group. After the audition period is over and we (and any other group for which you might have auditioned) have notified you of our final decisions there is a period of a few hours for you to consider your options and make the right choice for you.

Please contact us if you would like additional information or any clarification about auditions.