I Want To Be A Piano Major. HELP!!!

[ivoryplayer_amf]

Right now I am studying at TAMU-Commerce.  I have played the piano for 12 yearsnow, but am no where close to where I need to be in order to be a piano major.  I need to work on speed, left hand strength as well as some other stuff.  I need suggestions on what I can do this summer, for example, what kind of exercise books I need to buy, how I should do my practices, how long and things of that nature.  This summer I wont have a teacher, so I'm hoping someone out there will help me along!

Basically I need to get to where I can have a good audition for DR. Chang.  Shes strict and emotionaless.  Has two degrees from Juliard and blah blah.  So I will be working my fingers off this summer.

[jlh]

What's your current major?

When are you wanting to start studies as a piano major?  Immediately this next Fall?

Is Dr. Chang your first and only choice?

Have you met with Dr. Chang to discuss your desire to change majors, and if so, what did she say to you?

What's your repertoire like?

Do you have any recordings that would give us an idea where you're at musically and pianistically so we could give more relavent advice?

[ivoryplayer_amf]

What's your current major?

When are you wanting to start studies as a piano major?  Immediately this next Fall?

Is Dr. Chang your first and only choice?

Have you met with Dr. Chang to discuss your desire to change majors, and if so, what did she say to you?

What's your repertoire like?

Do you have any recordings that would give us an idea where you're at musically and pianistically so we could give more relavent advice?

My current major is Vocal, but I dont know why.  I am one class away from a piano minor.

I want to start immediately this fall (Which actually starts at the beginning of Sept.)

Dr. Chang is my only choice...sadly.  Shes a great performer.  But a hard & Heartless teacher.

I have not met with her this last time.  I met with her previously, just discussing the possibility.  And she told me about the auditions and stuff like that, but thats as far as the talk went.

I'm not very strong classically.  I've never had any formal classical training per say.  I've been playing for 12 years, most of which have been spent in a church.  I can sight read as well and a little better then some of our current piano majors.  But fingering really gets me.  As far as classical pieces I can play, here they are:

Moonlight Sonata- 1st Mvnt.
Claire De Lune- Still working on it, but it will not take me but a couple of weeks longer.
Fur Elise
Bachs preludium in c.  as well as another one that is extremely hard and  the name has left me, but it will take me quite some time.
Several several sonatinas that are not extremely complicated.
Scott Joplin's The Entertainer- original
2 of Brahms 51 exercises
4 of Clementi's

To help you more...I have the sheet music to Chopin's "Winter Wind".  The notes dont bother me.  Its the fingering.  I can play the notes and I believe that I could play them up to tempo with time.  But the fingering almmost scares me.

I have no recordings, I'm sorry.

[jlh]

Well, to start off, I would STRONGLY recommend taking at least a few lessons with a teacher this summer.  Maybe you can work out a deal with some of your piano major friends for the summer.  Really, if you want a strong audition, this is indispensible.

What are the requirements of the auditions, and when are they?

I wouldn't recommend learning the winter wind etude this summer.

[ivoryplayer_amf]

Well, to start off, I would STRONGLY recommend taking at least a few lessons with a teacher this summer.  Maybe you can work out a deal with some of your piano major friends for the summer.  Really, if you want a strong audition, this is indispensible.

What are the requirements of the auditions, and when are they?

I wouldn't recommend learning the winter wind etude this summer.

Keyboard Audition Requirements:

A complete piano solo work or a movement of sonatas from one of the following periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic or 20th century.  The repertoire should include at least 20-30 minutes of playing time

**That came off the webpage from www.TAMU-Commerce.edu/music  I'm sure she'll want some scales and the such also.

Yeah, I think I may try to find a teacher but that could be hard.

[walking_encyclopedia]

i recommend beginning czerny's "school of velocity" for technique. get the first volume down (10 etudes in each volume, there are four of them), and then once you've got that, move on to the next. also don't neglect scales and arpeggios for technique as well.

you also might want to start learning some of the basic repertoire, such as bach preludes and fugues, and mozart sonatas. don't waste a lot of time learning that etude you mentioned.

you've definitely got your work cut out for you, so start practicing!

good luck.