Hey all,
I will be attending the University of Maryland this fall as a Music Ed major, however, I would like to switch to Piano Performance because I would like to teach private lessons much more than teaching in a school, and I think I would enjoy the program a LOT more. When I auditioned for Music Ed in February, the requirements were as follows, with the piece I played after each requirement:
Four pieces, two of which are to be performed from memory:
1. Prelude and Fugue, Two-part Invention, or Sinfonia by J.S. Bach (P&F No. 20 in A minor from WTC Book 1)
2. First movement of a classical-period sonata (Beethoven Waldstein 1st movement)
3. Composition by a 19th-century composer (Chopin Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor)
4. Composition by a 20th-century composer (Copland Cat & Mouse)
Although the requirements were to play TWO from memory, I played them all from memory, and I think they were actually a little impressed, because I got a scholarship! So, I met with my advisor to talk about switching, and he said that they will use my jury in December as my audition to switch to the Piano program. Here are the requirements with the pieces I have now (I may work on some more with my teacher in the fall...how many pieces does one usually work on with their teacher in college? In your freshman year, does your teacher usually continue on what you were already working on or is it a new crop of pieces?). Anyway, here are the requirements:
From memory:
1. Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach from the Well-Tempered Clavier, volumes I or II (P&F No. 20 in A minor from WTC Book 1)
2. Sonata by Beethoven, excluding Opus 49 and Opus 79 (Beethoven Waldstein - Complete)
3. Major composition by a 19th-century romantic composer (Chopin Ballade No. 4 in F minor)
4. Composition by a 20th-century composer (Prokofiev Toccata)
I know I'm using some of the pieces that I used for my audition last year, but maybe my teacher will give me some new pieces. I think the scholarship was a good indication that my abilities were already above most of the other Music Ed candidates, so do you think that the repertoire for the jury in December will convince them to let me switch? I think it also helps that I'm already in the music school there, and I don't think they would MAKE you stay in a program that you don't want to be in, unless you're not very good.