Touchtones' Auditions

Fall Auditions: TBA

If you are reading this, you are probably thinking about trying out for an a cappella group on campus. Hopefully, you are even considering being a Tone. First of all, awesome! The experience of being in an a cappella group at Cornell is one-of-a-kind and totally worth it. You will instantly be connected to tons of people on campus that love nothing more than singing for and entertaining people. Each group has its own flavor, so make sure you check out as many groups as possible. But even with different styles and songs, we all form a pretty tight knit community that is tons of fun and completely different. Sound like you want in? Great. Below we’ve answered some basic questions you might have about the audition process.

I want to sing a cappella in college. But I’ve never auditioned for a group before. What type of song should I sing anyway? And is it just me singing in front of the group?

Well, no, We do ask that you sing 30 second or so of a contemporary pop song as part of auditions. Of course it helps if you love what you sing; that will make you stand out. Members of the Tones have auditioned with everything from the Dixie Chicks, to Norah Jones, to Madonna. But singing a solo isn’t the only part of being in an a cappella group. We’ll also have you sing some scales along with a piano (just lots of la la la’s and mah mah mah’s) and do some rhythm clapping and note matching to see your flexibility when it comes to harmonies and bopping (yes, there will be bopping).

Geez, that sounds intimidating. What if I mess up?

Tones mess up all the time in rehearsal. That’s why we practice at all. We aren’t this kick ass without some work too! A few mistakes are no big deal. Just breathe through it and keep going. We want you to be your best just as much as you want to be your best.

Should my solo be memorized?

It doesn’t have to be, but it helps us see only you if you aren’t hiding behind a piece of paper. But if having the lyrics with you means that you feel more confident, then, by all means, bring a whole stack up with you.

Ok, that sounds doable. In fact, I think I want to try out for more than just one group. Is that ok?

Totally. We want you to find a group that fits you – your voice, your personality, your musicality. So, you should try out for as many groups as you want. That way, you can get to know the people in each, which will help you find your favorite. If there are conflicts with audition times, all the groups will work to find a way for you to try out for as many as you like.

Awesome. I tried out for a bunch, and got called back! Yes! But what happens in callbacks? Just more of the same?

Callbacks are a little more rigorous. We’ll have you sing another (read: new) pop solo, but we’re also going to test how you blend with the girls already in the Touchtones. This means we’ll be teaching you part of a song to perform with other members of the Tones. You’ll have plenty of time to practice it before you stand up and sing it. As said before, we want to see you at your best just as much as you want to perform at your best.

This was helpful and all, but I have so many more questions. What should I wear? What if I miss auditions? How can I really impress the Tones or any other group for that matter? Why is the sky blue?

Well, we aren’t sure how to answer the last one—we are, after all, just singing girls—but if you have other burning questions, just contact us. Send Kelsey, our super sweet prez, an email and she’ll probably respond the same day. She’s that obsessed with internet. Write her at klk53@cornell.edu, even if it’s just to introduce yourself. She likes meeting new people.