Um, help! I just got into a conservatorium!

[Clare]

Hi there. I just joined up today, though I've been here and had a snoop around before. It's a great forum.
But, anyway - here's my problem. I just got accepted into a conservatorium, but I'm really scared. It feels like I got in on a fluke.
What is expected of a conservatorium student? Do you know of any preparation I could do before classes start (I begin in March)? What will the teachers expect of me? Will they slap me on the fingers with rulers? ;-) Is there much ruthless competition? Um, help! I feel like I don't know what to expect when I get in and the office at the conservatorium is shut until next year so I can't contact them.
Help me! *panics*

[kelly]

hello darl

i just got accepted into uni for music as well and im scared too!!!!
i know im gonna find it really hard next year
where abouts is the uni? i start in march as well

for preparation- imhaving a bit of a break from lessons till jan, then im gonna start lessons with my old teacher gain in preparation for uni so i have something to show them when i get there

just remember that theres prob some people in the same boat as u, and u are there to learn not to show off what u can do

be prepared to work hard cos its those ones that do that make it through, ive talked to some of my music teachers and the ones with just talent that dont practice usially arent very successful, however the ones the work hard make it

so dont worry darling your gonna be fine

good luck and god bless everything that u do

kel

[eddie92099]

Did I just fall into an American teen movie?  
Ed

[kelly]

what did u mean by that ed?

[eddie92099]

Nothing darl ,
Ed

[Noah]

LOL
Don't worry sweetie you'll be fine  

[Clare]

Thanks for all the votes of confidence. I'm not feeling all that confident at the moment, but I'm sure when I begin classes next year and I find out what to do, I'll feel better.
Kelly, I'm in Australia - I'm guessing you are too? I will probably be going to either Monash or Melba conservatoriums in Victoria, but I haven't decided yet. What about you?

I suppose I'll just keep practicing, because I know I'm not one of the really talented ones!

[eddie92099]

I suppose I'll just keep practicing, because I know I'm not one of the really talented ones!

I wouldn't worry too much - clearly you are very interested in music (you are on this forum in the first place!) which is just as important at this stage,
Ed

[kelly]

ed
where did u study piano?

[Clare]

I was also wondering whether anyone had an idea of how many pieces I should be armed with when I get there next year and of what standard?

[kelly]

it depends where your from and what the requirements are for that particualr uni

i prepared 4 pieces from different periods

in australia we have examination levels called AMEB and mine were gr 8 level

i played chopins fantasie impromptu as my romantic piece
does that give u an idea?

[eddie92099]

ed
where did u study piano?

I am starting at the Royal College of Music in London next year (also just accepted   ),
Ed

[The Tempest]

I auditioned for the Sydney Conservatorium High School this year. I played Bach's P+F No 17, the 1st Movement of Beethoven's Pathetique, Chopin's Revolutionary (for the etude requirement) and Debussy's La Plus que Lente.

I made it in, but I'm not going.

[Clare]

Wow! Well done! I think it's cooler to get into a place and then turn them down anyway.  
I'm not sure how I managed to get into two different conservatoriums without ever having learnt one of those tricky Chopin or Bartok studies even an impromptu or anything like that. Do you think I ought to start learning one before I go next year? I've got a Beethoven sonata under my belt and a few other things that are finished and I am most of the way through learning Un Sospiro by Liszt right now - do you think that will be enough?
I don't know why I'm freaking out quite so much. I mean, I got accepted into two different places but I still feel like I'm lacking in so many ways compared to most pianists.

[The Tempest]

It would hurt to learn a tricky Chopin piece; he's always useful in the piano repertoire, as well as Bach.

[BoliverAllmon]

This is what I know of conservatories. Now all are different, but here are a couple of things.

Unless you practice for 4 or more hrs. (preferably more) a day then you cannot keep up with the pace.

Practice rooms are not the easiest things to come by. My teacher said she had to stand in line every morning at 4:30 a.m. to sign up for a room for that day. expect to perform alot also. Get use to mental practice. It may be the thing to help you get through it all. Sometimes it will be hard to find time to practice all that you want to, but you can always be practicing in the mind.

boliver

[Clare]

Do you guys know whether it's normal for somebody who attends a conservatorium to have a job as well, or do people usually spend their whole time practicing and studying?

I suppose that the main reason for my worry is that I have to earn a living while I study because I don't live with my parents and they can't help me out financially. So, I guess if I hear that other people can hold down a job and still pass with flying colours, I'll feel a bit more relieved.

[thracozaag]

This is what I know of conservatories. Now all are different, but here are a couple of things.

Unless you practice for 4 or more hrs. (preferably more) a day then you cannot keep up with the pace.

Practice rooms are not the easiest things to come by. My teacher said she had to stand in line every morning at 4:30 a.m. to sign up for a room for that day. expect to perform alot also. Get use to mental practice. It may be the thing to help you get through it all. Sometimes it will be hard to find time to practice all that you want to, but you can always be practicing in the mind.

boliver

 The motto is: Lunch is for wimps.

[BoliverAllmon]

sleep also.
you can sleep when you are dead.
boliver

[Clare]

Yo. I think I can handle the not sleeping thing, having already finished an architecture degree. That was hell - When the end of semester came, I would go without sleep for five days and start seeing wiggly green things in front of my eyes all the time!
Hopefully music school won't be that extreme. HOPEFULLY.