Piano Forum

Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: sonoro on September 25, 2010, 05:00:49 PM

Title: Repertoire - intake to a music conservatory
Post by: sonoro on September 25, 2010, 05:00:49 PM

Hi,
Since i am new here; just some words about myself...I am a norwegian 24 year old, and have been playing piano from the age of seven, attending a music school for more than ten years.

I am planning to study at one of the conservatories here in Norway, so it would be great if some of you had any suggestions about what to play...the repertoire must be completed by february. It is a difficult choice, as I don't know what the judge think about the choice of pieces.

Some of the pieces I play right now (more or less completed) are Chopin - waltz 64-2, etude 25-9, waltz op.posth. in e-minor, prelude 11 & 12, nocturne op.posth. in c sharp minor, mazurka 33-4, Grieg - butterfly, Schubert 142-2, bach prelude no. 3 from WTC1.

For the intake, student's should play:

• Bach - prelude & fugue
  A slow and a rapid movement from a classical sonata
  A romantic or impressionistic piece
  A self-elected piece

This is what i am thinking right now:

• Bach - prelude & fugue no. 3 from WTC1
  Mozart sonata - suggestions?
  Chopin - Waltz op.posth. in e-minor
  Chopin - Butterfly etude or maybe a nocturne (27-1?)

I am very grateful for suggestions  :)

Title: Re: Repertoire - intake to a music conservatory
Post by: mistermoe on September 25, 2010, 05:35:03 PM

Hi there!

First of all, if your romantic piece is a chopin waltz, don't pick another piece of the same composer as your "self-elected" piece.
Show the judges you have a well-balanced repertoire (Even if you don't!)
Pick something modern instead, something they haven't heard a million times already  ;) (at least beginning 20th century)

For your romantic piece i think, that the op post waltz is a bit to easy. Normally they want to hear a bigger virtuosic piece (as thats more or less the "virtuosic era")

For the classical period: As you need only 2 mouvements why not play haydn sonata no 48 in c major. It consists of a slow and a fast mouvement so you can play a hole sonata for your exam. And it's a marvelous piece. This just came to my mind. Or beethoven op 90. Same here. The classical sonata choices are huge.

Why don't you tell us what you already played from those eras.

The best advice i could give you, is play something you already know. Pieces you already played in concert before. That's when you know if you really are comfortable with a piece.

Title: Re: Repertoire - intake to a music conservatory
Post by: sonoro on September 26, 2010, 02:40:44 PM

Thanks for your constructive suggestions  :)

The Haydn Sonata seems like a good choice. I like that one, so maybe I will go ahead with that one.

Regarding a 20the century piece; what about Debussy's Ballade?