Possibility of B.M or B.A

[netzow]

Hi, I am 16 and have  been taking lessons for 5 years. I was wondering what the chances of me being ready to major in music in 2 years when I graduate High School are. To (Hopefully) Give you some  Idea of my level of playing. I played Polichinelle by Rachmaninoff and the Maple Leafe Rag by Scott Joplin at my last recital. I am Currently working on The Minute Waltz by Chopin and The Entertainer.  I am Practicing 2-3 hours a day most days. Any thoughts, opinions, or ideas are appreciated. Thanks!

[amanfang]

I would do some research on schools you are interested in.  I assume you're interested in a liberal arts degree, not conservatory?  See if they give general guidelines as to what you should be able to play for your audition, or typical pieces that freshmen work on.  I see you're working on Joplin and some Romantic works.  I suggest also working on Bach 2 and 3 part inventions, and perhaps some Haydn, Mozart and/or Beethoven.

[netzow]

This is what I seem to be finding is the norm for auditions. Not always the same pieces but generally along these lines.
 Piano

Four memorized solos:

- A Bach Prelude and Fugue or other major work by Bach involving a fugue
 - A sonata-allegro movement from a work of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
 - A Romantic work by composers such as Chopin, Brahms, and Schumann
 - A 20th century work by composers such as Debussy, Bartok or other major composers writing after 1900
 Candidates will be asked to sight-read at least two passages and demonstrate knowledge of major and minor scales.

I don't really know much about any of these Pieces, I have Some Chopin Pieces in a book but that's about it. I guess my question about this would be could I have pieces at this level ready in two years. Thanks again!

[amanfang]

Start working on them now - maybe start with 2 and 3 part inventions before you jump into preludes and fugues - and see how they go.  You don't have to decide right now what you're going to major in.  Set your goals and see what you can accomplish.  Talk with your teacher.  He or she will know better what you can accomplish and best help you meet your goals.

[netzow]

Do you have any specific recommendations regarding which inventions and or preludes and fugues? My Piano teacher does not have a degree (besides a masters degree in math) however she is in her early sixties and has been playing for most of them. She would have majored in music but the theory scared her off. The problem is she doesn't know enough about getting ready to major in Music. My mom asked her about it about a month ago, she was going to ask someone she know about it but I haven't heard anything back yet so I thought I'd do some  asking of myself.

[netzow]

Just to attempt to rephrase my question. What  I guess I am asking is what Pieces should I be playing to either get myself ready for college auditions and suggestions  for what pieces to play at the auditions. Hope this made sense, I am trying to find out what I need to do to prepare myself for Majoring in Music. This is the Audition Requirements for my top college Choice at this point:

Requirements for Piano Auditions:
Perform two or three pieces or movements from contrasting style periods (Baroque, Classic, Romantic, 20th Century). Please limit any fold, hymn, or contemporary arrangements to one.
Perform from memory, if possible.
Sight-read one or two short excerpts (selected by the faculty).

Thanks for trying to stay with me, I appreciate any help you can give.

[kghayesh]

What they mean is that you should select two contrasting pieces. That is, two pieces of different ages (Mostly one from Baroque/Classic and one from Romantic/20th century) That's what I think.

For example you can go for a movement from a classical sonata together with a Chopin Etude or maybe a Bach Prelude and Fugue with a Debussy prelude or something. So the possiblities are wide open. Choose what suits you and what you are comfortable playing.
Good Luck !

[netzow]

How hard are the Debussy preludes? I have a friend who played La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin and besides the key sig. it looked playable (for me). How do the other preludes and or debussy works compare to it? Also what debussy pieces could be used to buld up to the preludes I was not ready for them? Does anyone have any editions of The WTC or Debbusy preludes or collected works or whatnot that they would recomend? I have heard bad things about the czerny edition of the WTC. I was wondering If working on a piece from each age (In other words working on one baroque, one classical, one romantic and one modern at the same time) building up to whatever audition pieces I decide to do would be a good Idea?  Thanks for the help!

[netzow]

Another Question: Would jumping from chopin's minute waltz to the etude Op.10 No. 12 be to big a jump? What about The Same jump to the polinase Op. 26 No. 1? Just wondering.

[kghayesh]

Of course it will be a big jump, but go for it. Do your best and for sure, you will feel better than if you didn't try it.
I jumped from Mozart's K. 545 and the C# minor nocturne to this Etude and I feel a big difference and a big improvement.
Of course I had some difficulties at first, but then now I can play it at speed and I performed it at a concert a couple of months ago. So, my advice is to aim high and work hard.

[bartolomeo_]

Does anyone have any editions of The WTC or Debbusy preludes or collected works or whatnot that they would recomend? I have heard bad things about the czerny edition of the WTC.

Both are available from Henle, which is expensive but reliable and thoughtfully printed and bound.  I have the Henle WTK.  My copy of Suite Bergamasque is from a long-defunct publisher.

Portions of the WTK are available free from mutopiaproject.org.

I was wondering If working on a piece from each age (In other words working on one baroque, one classical, one romantic and one modern at the same time) building up to whatever audition pieces I decide to do would be a good Idea?  Thanks for the help!

It is in general a good idea to maintain balance in your repertoire at least at first.

[netzow]

I thought it would be good to set some goals for audition pieces how do these look:

Baroque: A prelude and fuge from the WTC not sure which one. Any suggestions?                 
Classic: A Beethoven Sonata Once again not sure which one. Any suggestions?
Romantic: Either Etude Op. 10 No 12 or Polonaise Op. 26 No. 1, Chopin
20th Century: La fille aux cheveux de lin, Debbusy

I thought I would use these as audition pieces and goals to work towards. I was thinking of starting them the summer before you have to audition? Anyway let me know what you think. Thanks!

[kghayesh]

Hi,
I think that's a good choice. An important tip is that you shouldn't play overplayed or well-known pieces in auditions. The jury will have heard them like 1000 times. Choose an easy but effective Prelude and Fugue that is not much known. I suggest no.6 in D minor from book 1 (not much hard and effective).

For Beethoven, I am not sure I can help coz i don't know all of them. But please don't play the Pathetique or the Moonlight. If you did so, you have a small chance of getting through coz they are so much overplayed and very well known so u give them room to criticize you.

Why not try a Haydn Sonata?? Not hard as Beethoven's but yet can perfectly do the job.

Good Luck !!

[amanfang]

May I suggest perhaps the slow movement of the Danzas Argentinas by Ginastera for your modern piece instead of the Debussy?  It's quite beautiful.  Another piece that sounds showy but really isn't too difficult is Kent Kennan's 3 preludes - esp. no. 3.  It sounds impressive.

[netzow]

Posted by: amanfang

May I suggest perhaps the slow movement of the Danzas Argentinas by Ginastera for your modern piece instead of the Debussy?  It's quite beautiful.  Another piece that sounds showy but really isn't too difficult is Kent Kennan's 3 preludes - esp. no. 3.  It sounds impressive.

I have never heard of these where might they be found?

I have heard that the etude op. 10 No. 12 is overplayed at auditions so i guess i won't do that.

I don't know much about the haydn sonatas but I thought that these might be preferable as the Beethoven sonatas might be overplayed. Any suggestions?

Are there any (good) cheaper editions of the WTC? I have heard that the czerny is bad and that the henle urtext is good but haven't heard anything about the other editions.

I was also wondering weather there were any recent or current piano majors who would be willing to answer some questions I have about teacher's,  when to start preparing auditions and so on. I would very much appreciate guidence in this. Thanks!

[amanfang]

Danzas Argentinas:  Durand edition
You should be able to order this from your local music shop.

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=336168272611875225&item=4003611

This is an advanced set.  The first is easier than the second (IMO), and the third is quite challenging up to speed.  I played the whole set my sophomore year, but only used the middle movement on my platform.

Kennan preludes:  Schirmer.  I woud agree that the first two are easier, but the last one is very cool.  It fits well in the hands but because of the driving motion it sounds harder than it is.  PM me your email address.  I may have a recording but I'll have to look for it.

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=336168272611875225&item=3151519