Before joining a CTI Team all applicants are required to audition. This audition may be done through the mail or in person. The purpose of this audition is to establish your basic abilities. We do not want anyone to take the time to “professionally” record anything, as it is critical that you complete the application process in a timely manner, and positions are filled on a first come first serve basis. Please follow the instructions below for submitting an audition by mail.

Audition Formats

Full-Time Applicants – All Full-Time applicants are required to submit a video for their audition. We ask that all auditions sent to our office be in VIDEO format only. You may submit your video as a VHS, CD, DVD, or Email format. You may also post your audition to YouTube and email us the link (realize, though, that this makes your audition available to the public).

Summer Applicants – Summer applicants are only required to submit an audio recording for their audition (unless you’re a drummer then you DO have to audition via video). These may be submitted on CD or Cassette Tape by mail or Mp3 by email. CTI encourages summer applicants to submit a video for their audition, but this is not required.

Guidelines

All Applicants
1.    State your name and the position(s) you’re applying for at the beginning of your recording.
2.    Make sure you label your tape/CD/DVD on the outside with your name and the date it was recorded.
3.    Some of your content can be copied from recent video or audiotapes of your performances.
4.    Make sure we can hear your part very clearly through the music. This is very important; many auditions have to be redone because the applicant was not distinguishable on the recording.
5.    Examples of songs that CTI would like to hear are on the back of this sheet.

Vocalist Guidelines
•    Background tapes or live accompaniment may be used but please make sure your voice is very clear in the mix.
•    Please give us 3 short songs, 1-3 minutes each, in the following manner:
1.    Sing an upbeat pop/rock song you sing well. This can be anything you like, see back for examples.
2.    Harmonize with another singer. This can be a pop/rock song or may also be a praise chorus that you know well. This may be done with or without accompaniment.
3.    Sing something “a cappella” you sing by yourself (with no accompaniment).  “Amazing Grace” works well or any other song you would like to sing is fine.

Bass / Keys / Guitar Guidelines
•    Guitarists please demonstrate your skills on both lead and rhythm.
•    Please give us 3 short songs, 1-3 minutes each, in the following manner:
1.    Play an upbeat pop/rock song that you play well. It can be anything you like, see back for examples
2.    Play a selection with another musician or full band. Again, it can be anything you like.
3.    Play something where you follow a chord chart (i.e. G, A7, Dm) instead of notes. A praise chorus or pop/rock song with the chord letters written above works well.

Drums Guidelines
•    Demonstrate a steady rock beat for at least a minute. Keep it simple and focus on consistency.
•    Play with another musician or band. Try to stay in the style of the pop/rock songs (see next page).
•    Demonstrate a variety of styles and tempos. You can do this unaccompanied or with other instrumentalists.

Audition Suggestions

Please use this as a guideline… you do not have to use these specific songs.  These songs and artists represent the style of music we are looking for in your audition. Be aware that you will be asked to play many of styles of music while on a CTI team.  

Female Vocalist  (artist suggestions)

•    Jennifer Knapp
•    Rachael Lampa
•    Michelle Branch    
•    Kari Jobe - “Revelation Song”
•    Francesca Battistelli - “Free to be Me”      
•    Brooke Fraser - “Hosanna”


Male Vocalist (artist & song suggestions)

•    Googoo Dolls    
•    Jeremy Camp
•    Phil Wickham    
•    Mercy Me - “I Can Only Imagine”     
•    Big Daddy Weave - “Revive us Again”    
•    The Afters - “Never Going Back to Ok”   


Bass  (artist & song suggestions)
2-3 upbeat songs with a progressive bass line   

•    Switchfoot - “Meant to Live” or “This is Your Life”
•    Chris Tomlin - “Holy is the Lord
•    Hillsong United - “Take it All” (intro only)
•    Phil Wickham - “After Your Heart”
•    Charlie Hall - “Marvelous Light”


Keys (artist & song suggestions)

•    Kari Jobe - “Revelation Song”
•    Chris Tomlin - “Amazing Grace”
•    Hillsong - “At the Cross”
•    Brooke Fraser - “None But Jesus”        

Intros to
•    Mercy Me - “I Can Only Imagine”
•    Chris Tomlin - “We Fall Down”

Guitar (artist & song suggestions)

Lead
•    Robbie Seay Band - “Song of Hope”
•    Hillsong - “Break Free”    
•    Switchfoot - “We are One”
•    Jeremy Camp - “Louder than Before”
•    Fee - “We Shine”

Rhythm
•    Shane Barnard & Shane Everett
•    John Mayer
•    Dave Matthews
•    Jeremy Camp

Drums (artist & song suggestions)
*You don’t need to play an entire song; maybe just a verse and chorus, or an intro and a bridge…whatever you like*
•    All American Rejects - “Move Along”
•    Switchfoot - “Meant to Live”
•    Hillsong - “Desert Song”
•    Chris Tomlin - “Indescribable”
•    Leeland - “Wake up”

Please follow drum-audition guidelines above.  Drum auditions need to be submitted on video.