Overview The Princeton Footnotes hold auditions twice a year, and invite freshman and sophomore men to try out. Because all eight arch-rotation groups at Princeton hold auditions during the same one-week period, you can try out for as many other groups as you like.  For the Fall of 2009, auditions will be held from Sunday, September 20th to Wednesday, September 23rd. Sign up for a slot on the board in Woolworth Hall (The Music Building), at our open house, at the activities fair in Dillon Gym, or by sending us an email. The Footnotes are always on the lookout for new members, and we do not limit our membership to a set number of students or voice-types.

Open House
Every year, we kick off the new semester with an open house. The open house is extremely informal, and gives you a chance to meet and hear the group outside of an arch sing. The open house is a great place to ask any questions you might have and to sign up for an audition, so please stop by. The fall of 2009 open house will be held on Saturday, September 19th, from 10:00 PM -12:00 AM in 300 Walker Hall.  If you're interested in trying out for us, please read on!

People often ask whether a student can juggle the demanding schedule of an a cappella group like the Footnotes and the academic requirements of a school like Princeton. If anything, being in an a cappella group actually enhances one's college experience. We practice at night (usually from 10:30 to midnight) and work around our members' schedules.

The Audition
Our audition process is simple, harmless, and low-pressure. We start off with scales to warm up your voice and get a sense of your range. Then we do a few swells on single notes to test your ability to sing both loudly and softly. Next come four short pitch-matching exercises, in which we play a few notes on the piano and you sing them back. Then, we'd like you to sing a short solo of your choice. The solo can be anything from the National Anthem to a Billy Joel tune to something by Pink Floyd, but your best bet is to sing something you're comfortable with and that shows off your voice. Don't worry if you can't read music or have never spent time in a choral group before - several of our most talented members did not have any previous musical experience.

On the night of your audition, most likely between 11pm and 1am, we'll stop by your room to let you know whether you've been called back. If you are called back, we'll give you advice on how to prepare for the second-round audition, which will take place later in the week. The callback gives you a chance to see the group from the inside, as a Footnote.