watch the video
are you an intensely driven musician, looking to optimize the way you prepare for auditions and high-pressure performances?
rob and noa's summer bootcamp is 8 weeks of high-level audition training and intensive excerpt/repertoire study.
it's for musicians who want to learn how to rise to the occasion and crush their next audition.
imagine having complete confidence while preparing for your
next audition.
you have a fully developed, beginning-to-end plan that's proven and works.
you're past the nerves. you're not scared of the shakes. you're not worried about getting lost in the music.
you’re excited to walk into the audition room to perform the excerpts.
imagine having the best audition of your life, and knowing exactly how to make it even better next time.
this boot camp is how you’re going to make that a reality.
the nuts and bolts of audition prep:
”auditionhacker formula”
presented by rob knopper
are you ready to...
set up an excerpt assembly line that mirrors a professional audition preparation process?
learn how to understand excerpts so deeply that the committee can hear the orchestra through your musicianship?
muscle-memorize every detail of an excerpt so that, on your worst, day, your performance is still advance-worthy?
deeply polish your excerpts to the point that you’d feel comfortable releasing an ‘album?'
learn the principles and psychology of mock auditioning?
get so comfortable mock auditioning that the audition seems like ‘just another day?'
learn the ground rules for the final week of your audition prep?
the mental side of audition prep:
“beyond practicing”
presented by noa kageyama
are you ready to...
discover the number 1 thing top practicers do differently in the practice room (and other research-based practice techniques that ensure your work "sticks")?
learn how to quiet your inner critic and maintain laser-like focus, no matter what?
learn a deceptively simple technique that will raise the level of your playing almost instantly?
learn how to avoid locking up or shutting down and play fearlessly even when the stakes are highest?
develop the ability to overcome nerves and get into the zone, right from the opening of your very first excerpt?
hi, i'm rob
i'm a percussionist in the metropolitan opera orchestra in new york, i'm the founder of the website auditionhacker, and i've taught hundreds of students how to prepare for auditions.
hi, i'm noa
i'm a violinist-turned-performance psychologist and author of the bulletproof musician blog. i'm also on the faculty of the juilliard school, where i teach students how to beat anxiety using the same mental skills utilized by top athletes and other elite performers.
i developed my audition process over 10 years and ultimately won positions in the new world symphony and then the metropolitan opera orchestra at the age of 24 using my system.
i've watched student after student after student win spots in colleges and summer festivals and advance in auditions after thinking they would never achieve anything close to that.
i created an online course, called the auditionhacker formula, which is an instrument-nonspecific, step-by-step blueprint on how anyone can pick up my system and follow it for themselves.
noa and i are teaching this bootcamp because we want to help more people overcome the unique challenges of auditions and high-pressure performances.
what rob’s students have said…
alex grimes, viola
auditionhacker formula student
ron cohen mann, oboe
auditionhacker formula student
ryan everson, horn
auditionhacker formula student
what noa’s students have said…
l.d.
cello
beyond practicing student
Previous to doing the course, I was usually able to perform well, but auditions were a nightmare and almost never felt like they were representative of my playing. For some time I’d been trying to figure out the elements that allowed my performances to be successful, yet auditions less so.
Initially, I had some reservations about the cost of the course. However, once I realised the price was much the same as a small number of lessons with a well-established teacher, the value became obvious. This was even more apparent once I considered the amount of material being offered, and that many teachers teach primarily from their own experience of performing, and usually not in-depth research.
As much as I think musicians (including myself) like to think we’re always trying to improve, being introduced to a course like this does highlight how much most of us don’t know about performance psychology, which is clearly not a comfortable feeling. I’d spent quite a bit of time researching and investigating ways of approaching performance to increase my odds of success, and part of my initial reaction to finding this course was therefore: ‘I probably already know most of this’. However, some of the most important lessons from this course were things I’d never heard of, nor considered before.
I am confident that this course would have something to offer anyone wanting to improve their standard of performance, even (and maybe especially) for those already performing at a high level. Additionally, I have found many of the concepts that this course presents to be invaluable for my teaching.
I have experienced several significant changes from doing the course, but perhaps the most important change is that my ‘minimum’ standard in performance has improved significantly. I feel I can pick up the cello in pretty much any situation and almost always perform in a way that is representative of my best playing.
I would absolutely recommend this course. Musicians spend a huge amount of time learning the craft of their instruments and repertoire, but often don’t have strategies beyond ‘performing a lot’ to cope with the demands of performance. At any level, it makes sense for us to understand ourselves as much as possible to be able to communicate our vision of the music in performance.
included with rob and noa's summer bootcamp:
the auditionhacker formula
by rob knopper
full access to rob's course. it's the complete audition preparation system, from the day you get your list to the day of the audition
beyond practicing
by noa kageyama
full access to noa's course. it's a complete guide to beating performance anxiety and learning how to perform your best when it counts
weekly assignments
you'll choose an audition to prepare for and, based on the topic of the week, we'll assign you homework
accountability
the homework you complete will inch you closer to a completed, trustworthy audition preparation system
access to rob and noa
you'll get direct access to us through a private facebook group where you can post questions, ideas, and recordings for feedback
reviews
your mock auditions will be reviewed by other musicians so that you can start getting feedback and tweaking your performances
community
audition preparation is better together. connect with your partners-in-crime, ask questions, strategize, and get feedback from your cohort in our private class facebook group.
8 weeks of live class sessions
write down your questions and struggles and we'll hash everything out, review homework and best practices, and practice new skills during each live class period
3 bonus trainings
bonus trainings include “the last minute audition kit,” “how to crush nerves for auditions,” and the “watch me work” collection
matt robotham, professional percussionist,
auditionhacker formula student
“i would highly recommend the course to anyone taking a professional or festival audition. these are the steps needed to win an audition for something with clout (professional orchestras, tanglewood, NOI, pacific, schleswig holstein). this is the class that every music student wants, but is never taught. every step is explained in great detail, [and] he lays out the path of what it takes to win an audition. it has helped me a great deal in gaining the most from my practice time."
i just wanted to share some good news; i won an audition for an orchestra last saturday, and a lot of my preparation had to do with your course.
in the past, i think my performances were a bit ‘hit or miss’ and it was difficult to understand what in my preparation was working and what wasn’t. i used to go into a performance hoping i wouldn’t get nervous, and trying to figure out how to play well despite the stress of the situation. interestingly, now i actually look forward to ‘getting nervous’ because it has the potential to really enhance my performance in a good way.
i had done other similar courses/coachings in the past and didn’t always get good results, so that (plus the cost of the course) was a concern. now, however, my preparation has become much more thorough and organised, and I really make a huge commitment to mental training and incorporating it into my practise and preparation. performing is a lot more exciting now and I’ve experienced much better results both in how i feel about performances, and also in the actual outcomes.
anyway, thank you again so much, and I really appreciate your work with the course. it’s a huge help to many people, and i really think it gave me an edge!
d.r.
trombone
beyond practicing student
rob's summer bootcamp
- lifetime access to the auditionhacker formula
- 8 live sessions with weekly assignments
- peer-to-peer and mentor-to-student accountability
- peer-to-peer reviews of excerpts and mock auditions
- access to me for ongoing help in a private facebook group with your bootcamp colleagues
rob and noa's summer bootcamp
- lifetime access to the auditionhacker formula
- noa kageyama's beyond practicing course
- 8 live sessions with weekly assignments
- peer-to-peer and mentor-to-student accountability
- peer-to-peer reviews of excerpts and mock auditions
- access to me and noa for ongoing help in a private facebook group with your bootcamp colleagues
enroll in rob's summer bootcamp
enroll in rob and noa's
summer bootcamp
*10% of your course fee will go to the mr. holland’s opus foundation which donates musical instruments to under-funded music programs and low-income students, so they can experience the joys (and challenges!) of learning how to play an instrument and express oneself through music.
when will the live sessions take place?
all classes will be held on mondays, with the exception of one class meeting on sunday, june 28.
class time for rob’s bootcamp will be
mondays at 5pm eastern time.*
class times for rob and noa's bootcamp will be
mondays at your choice of 3pm or 4pm eastern time.*
*class times subject to change based on student enrollment.
each live session will be 50 minutes long and will be recorded in case you cannot attend live (you can submit your class time preference after enrollment).
for all alumni of either rob's or noa's course,
email us for a special alumni discount code!
the lineup:
may 4
may 11
may 18
may 25
june 22
june 28* (sunday)
july 6
july 13
session 1
introduction
the three phases of audition preparation, your audition timeline, and how to avoid last-minute cramming and overwhelm by approaching auditions in an organized, systematic way.
session 2
the conceptual phase
learn how to increase the efficiency of your practice by developing a clear vision for your excerpt through a systematic listening and excerpt analysis process.
session 3
the mechanical phase
learn how to muscle-memorize every single detail of an excerpt.
session 4
the practice-mode-to-performance-mode transition
learn how to deeply polish the details of your excerpts by recording, zooming in, and listening back.
4 week
practice break
an opportunity to take what you’ve learned and apply it to the rest of your repertoire (with ongoing support from rob, noa, and your cohort), in preparation for phase 2 of the bootcamp - pressure testing!
session 5
mental skills training
the two reasons why we "choke" under pressure, and how to get into the zone and stay there instead.
session 6
the performance phase
learn how to methodically practice performing and identify the strategic adjustments that will get you the most ‘yes’ votes.
session 7
performance practice
advanced strategies and practice hacks to become more bulletproof under pressure.
session 8
the countdown
what to do in the final week and lead-up to audition day.
**bonus trainings**
the last minute audition kit
a 4-step audition module that teaches you how to use the auditionhacker formula in the least amount of time to get the best result
how to crush nerves for auditions
a bonus module that will help you totally dominate and overcome your nerves and stop shaking in audition. nerves? nerves who?!
the "watch me work" collection
a bonus video module, shot in hd with multiple camera angles! it includes a complete excerpt research screen video demonstration, an extremely detailed
demonstration for learning notes, and a
self-recording workflow demonstration and example
cristina, auditionhacker alliance facebook group member:
“Dear Rob, I wanted to let you know that a bit over a month ago i won an assistant principal position in the Neue Philharmonie Westphalen in Germany. It's a great start for me now after being an academist/intern in the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker for 2 years. I just wanted to say that your resources really helped, and it encouraged me to continue changing and improving how i prepare and practice for auditions, intellectually, technically, and psychologically. Having an online community also helped me feel less of an outsider when it came to how many hours, thoughts, and energy i would be putting into my audtition preparation. For a while i was feeling a bit stuck, alone, and exhausted, with no new impulses, ideas, motivation, and support from people who are currently, or have recently won jobs. It's really a whole other ball game."
FAQ
+ is there an age limit?
nope! we've had musicians in their teens through those in their 60's, which has been great for cultivating a richer and more diverse range of comments. that’s exactly like when you take a professional orchestra audition - there will be musicians from many age groups, instrument groups, and musical backgrounds, who are all looking for and hearing different things.
+ why is there a break in the middle of the live sessions?
audition lists are long. so in the first half of the boot camp, we're going to teach you how to learn ONE excerpt really, really well. then, you’ll have a few weeks off to apply this process to the rest of your list, and get ready for mock auditions.
+ what if i have questions during the break?
noa and i will answer as many questions as time allows during the live sessions, and we’ll also be popping into the private facebook group to help make sure you’re continuing in the right direction.
+ do i need any special equipment?
immediately after enrollment, you’ll download a packet that includes my recommendations for what recording devices to get for self-recording and recording your mock auditons. you can choose to use what you already have, or to get really nice equipment if you've been meaning to. otherwise just a computer and an internet connection is good enough. a phone or tablet could even work too...
+ what’s the weekly time commitment?
each week you’ll have videos to watch and some practice assignments to complete. so you can expect the bootcamp to add about 3 hours of additional time beyond your normal practicing hours (per week, not per day!). but don’t worry, it’ll be worth it. and hopefully kind of fun too. =)
+ what if i want to take the course but i'm not sure if i can afford to at the moment?
there is a lot of uncertainty in the world at the moment, so we're glad you're thinking about this and asking this question. if taking the course right now would potentially put yourself in a precarious position financially, please don’t! we anticipate that there will be future bootcamps, so this is not your only chance. that said, if you have your heart set on taking the course now, and just need a bit of flexibility, we will do our best to make it happen. shoot us an email at hello@robknopper.com, tell us what's going on, and we'll try to find a solution that works.
+ is this the right time to take an audition course?
much like working out, it takes time to develop a personalized training program, and to gain trust in its effectiveness. by going through this course now, you’ll have a trusted preparation system in place before you start preparing for your next audition. you’ll also have the advantage of being able to go through the course without the pressure of an upcoming deadline, giving you the time and space to explore and experiment with these new practice techniques more freely. even if you won't be going through an audition process during the course, we'll still ask you to choose an excerpt list or set of repertoire to learn along with the group, so that you can go through the process as if you were preparing for an upcoming audition.
+ is this geared specifically towards orchestra auditions only, or will i be able to apply what i learn to any audition?
although i developed my process with the express purpose of winning an orchestra job, at its core it's a music preparation method. it will help you prepare music thoroughly and completely for any performance situation whether it's college/grad school/summer festival auditions, competitions, juries, recitals, or even your weekly lessons.
+ how many people will be in my class with me?
we aim to have around 30 students per cohort, which we've found to be a good balance of being a big enough group to get varied feedback, but not so big that you could get lost in the shuffle.
+ what if i can’t make one of the live sessions?
each live session will be recorded and posted so you can (and will be expected to) watch and catch up on everything you missed. in addition, you can submit questions that we’ll cover in the live sessions, and you can ask us more immediate questions in the private facebook group between live sessions too.
+ what if i decide to drop the course…can i get a refund?
if the bootcamp isn't right for you, we'll be happy to refund your payment. you'll have 20 days to give it a try and make up your mind.
if you start going through the lessons and decide that this is totally not what you're looking for, then just let me know within 20 days of your purchase, and we’ll refund your entire payment.
+ why mr. holland’s opus foundation?
there’s something about having an instrument to call your own, or getting an instrument that’s capable of a richer sound, a wider dynamic range, or a greater palette of colors, that makes playing and practicing infinitely more gratifying and fun. so while there are many terrific organizations that support music education across the country, this is one of the few organizations that focuses specifically on providing instruments to those in need (and have also received charity navigator’s highest 4-star rating the last four years).