What scores should we bring?

[dansemacabre79]

Hi all,

This is a request to all who have studied piano at a conservatory before.. I'm leaving to start my Bmus this September, and I'm wondering what scores I should pack. As I am an international student I cannot bring my whole rack of scores there; I will exceed the luggage limit.

I've made a list of some essentials, but I'm certain there will be some I have left out. So I hope you experienced people will be able to help me out. Thanks! 

[nicco]

The notes i have used most since i moved are the beethoven sonatas (great for practicing sightreading), other than that only my favourites, some longer works etc, but if i ever need anything its always available at the school library

[pianistimo]

international studetn?  why not bring all the scores.  what you want is your notes in your own personal scores.  how can you bring library versions home?  unless you copy all your notes back into them.

go get a ton of those clear plastic music covers.  i think verlag sells them.  cover all the music.  stuff your music everywhere.  bring a very very sturdy music bag so you can carry them straight up (like at a leather store - or someplace like that) when you get there.  make sure to put your college address and telephone number in each book.  possibly your home address, too? 

i think you'll be sorry if you leave a lot home.  returning library books is always a hassle - unless you plan to choose from the library and then go buy your music from the music store.  that can get expensive to buy second copies - but second copies means you can buy a different edition from what you already have.  maybe copy down the books you don't bring to make sure you get different editions to compare. 

make sure and bring a copy of your repertoire list and keep your own version as you work at school.  write down each new piece and all info about it.  i wish i had kept a notebook of notes from each lesson, too.  it's not a bad idea after a lesson to go somewhere quiet and write down everything you remember that he/she said.  then, when you play AND teach, you'll have these notes to refer to.

bring some highlighter pens, and colored pencils.  my old teacher used to mark dynamics with fine tipped red marker, notes in pencil, and i started xeroxing info about the piece and taping it to the inside of my music.  then, if suddenly i was asked something about the piece - i could refer to the stuff i'd copied (or study it right before class).  invariably you're supposed to know about the coposer, the time it was composed, a bit about the piece, things like that.

bring some square toed shoes with a good sole.  these are better for actual performance than the usual tennis shoe.  maybe a pair of black slacks/white shirt.  people that take the time to dress the part make a huge impact on their own grades, imo, at exam time.

don't forget your metronome.  they have those small hand held ones, now.  i like my big one because it has this knob where you can eliminate the sound of the clicks and just have a strobe light.  maybe this is old hat now - and the handheld ones do too?  bring a TAPERECORDER!  and tapes.  this is INVALUABLE.  you can memorize 2-3x as fast when you record the tempos you are wanting to learn - the notes - etc. exactly as y ou want to interpret - take it back to dorm and play it at night with earphones to yourself.  you might be able to tape lessons, too.

something i did not figure out until well into my studies, is that you need to determine your diet and not have your diet determined for you.  if there are stores nearby - find out where they are and frequent them to find the best prices on stuff.  get a cooler and put some ice in it.  buy a lot of things that help your brain function well.  whatever works for you.  non-sugary juice drinks - lots of dark greens - sandwich stuff (with real bread) -  you'll be amazed at the difference between how you feel (and you'll save time from always walking to the campus lunchroom).  buy a few snacks - but try to find cookies and stuff that are high powered (like the kind athletes eat).  lots of nuts, raisins, healthy stuff.  my current teacher suggested drinking a lot of water.  guess it's good for you no matter what - but maybe it helps neural connections?  bring your vitamins. 

also, eye care is often neglected at college.  bring a reading light!  get your eyes checked before you go if you need some reading glasses.  magnifying glass couldn't hurt for late nights when your eyes are tired.  sunglasses definately.  and of course, your clippers for your fingernails.  ok.  i like to plan for international trips.  can you imagine what a headache to forget something?

i'd think, too - (guess i think too much) to bring some envelopes pre-addressed and stamped to parents and friends.  it's such a hassle, once you're in school - to find time to do simple things even as this.  maybe a ton of packets of coffee or tea?

[sklebil]

Put them on CD and bring them all! Scanning is slow and painful but taking a picture with a digital camera is very fast! This way you'll have your own scores with your own notes, comments etc. That's what I do with scores and old school notebooks, sometimes I also take a picture of my notes scribbled directly on my desk at work

[pianistimo]

what a good idea for music you can't bring (heavier or whatever).  you wouldn't ahve to scan the entire book - although it IS helpful to have all the sonatas or whatever of a certian composer when you hear others play, too.  for instance, if you attend a master class and someone is getting critiqued - you can write in the stuff in your own book.

[Bob]

Ask your future teachers what they think.  They might already have an idea of what you will play.

[dansemacabre79]

Thanks guys! Especially to pianistimo, all that advice was more than I could have asked for!!