conservatory selection

[liszmaninopin]

I have been mentally debating what conservatory I would like to attend once I get older.  That is still a few years off, but I have been considering either Peabody, the Curtis Institute, Julliard, or perhaps the RA or RC in London as I've always wanted to live overseas.  What should one look for in choosing a conservatory?  Also, I am hoping to prepare the following pieces for an audition at one in the future:
A Bach prelude and fugue (not sure which one, but have narrowed it down to a couple)
Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (I have mixed feelings about this, and am considering possibly learning one of the later sonatas instead)
Chopin's Etudes 10:12 and 25:12
Rachmaninoff Second Sonata
Violette Sonata 6
I think that the above selection would be interesting. (although some of my selections are probably pretty common)  Does that look like a good program?

[liszmaninopin]

Sorry, I misspelled Juilliard

[eddie92099]

I can tell you all you need to know about the RC and RA in London, but can't really help you with the American ones I'm afraid,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Which in the above list of works do you think would be good for an audition at either the RA or RC, or might you suggest some others that would be better?

[liszmaninopin]

By the way, I know this is rather vague, but what is living in the UK like, compared with life in the US?

[Hmoll]

Curtis is probably the most difficult music school to get into in the world - they accept about 4 or so pianists per year. However, a lot of fees you would normally pay at another school is subsidized by Curtis and the numerous foundations that endow that school. They even give you a S&S grand for your entire tenure there. Also, you can study with just about anyone you want.
Curtis has not had a great track record of producing great pianists over the last few years. The most well known recently is Lang Lang - need I say more.

Juilliard is very difficult to get into, as well.

Aside from that, there are other great schools in the US - Cincinnati Conservatory (best kept secret in the US), Indiana, Oberlin, numerous schools in Texas, etc., etc., etc.

I guess it depends on what type of musical education you want. The criticisms people often have with Juilliard and Curtis is they are geared to produce performers, and not necessarily well rounded musicians.

Also, the most important consideration is not the school, but who you will be studying with.  Start thinking about that now, and about developing connections with some prospective teachers.

Location is an important consideration - US cities, UK, etc.  New York - where Juilliard is - can be a tough town, with a lot of distractions, and is very expensive. Travelling to another country is a great idea, but I would do it for one year and not four. A lot of college students do one year abroad at - say - the Wiener Hochschule fur Musik, or one of the other good European conservatories. I would not live for four years in any country - even the UK - without having spent a good amount of time there. I had a chance to move to the UK, and turned it down because it's a nice place to visit, and a great country, but I wouldn't want to live there.

[Hmoll]

Also, as far as your audition program:

Drop the Op. 13 - too overplayed. Better choices would be Op 2 #2 or 3, Op 10#3, Op 22.

The Chopin Op 10#12 is also overplayed, and the Op25#12 is not one of the more difficult etudes. You might want to think about others.

Just a suggestion.

[liszmaninopin]

What might you suggest as some other etudes?  I have also found op. 10 #4 and 10 appealing, and out of op. 25 some others I enjoy are #2,4,5, and 10.  Might several of those be better?

[eddie92099]

Which in the above list of works do you think would be good for an audition at either the RA or RC, or might you suggest some others that would be better?

The audition requirements for the College are:
Three contrasting pieces, maximum 15 minutes
And the Academy:
A programme of between 20 to 40 minutes showing a variety of style and technical ability

Therefore you have more than enough repertoire to cover the requirements at the moment. Only offer one movement from the sonatas though  - there is no way they will sit through the whole thing. Advice given to me personally by Andrew Ball (Head of Piano at the College) was to make sure I include either a Bach P&F or he first movement of a Classical sonata (I offered Scarlatti as a compromise between the two  ). When discussing Beethoven he actually recommended the first movement of the Pathetique, so that is a good choice.

By the way, I know this is rather vague, but what is living in the UK like, compared with life in the US?

I have no idea what it is like to live in the US.

Travelling to another country is a great idea, but I would do it for one year and not four. A lot of college students do one year abroad at - say - the Wiener Hochschule fur Musik, or one of the other good European conservatories.

Or even London for a year. I am considering taking my third year in New York.

I would not live for four years in any country - even the UK - without having spent a good amount of time there. I had a chance to move to the UK, and turned it down because it's a nice place to visit, and a great country, but I wouldn't want to live there.  

However, London is the most cosmopolitan city in the world and there are plenty of Americans here (no comment  ),
Ed

[Hmoll]

What might you suggest as some other etudes?  I have also found op. 10 #4 and 10 appealing, and out of op. 25 some others I enjoy are #2,4,5, and 10.  Might several of those be better?

10 # 4 and #10 aren't bad choices. They tend to want to hear the virtuosic etudes, so stay away from Op. 10#3, 6, 9, and Op. 25# 1, 2, 7, 12 (which is virtuosic, but a lot of people consider it one of the easier ones. ). Also, stay away from all the posthumous etudes. Unfortunately, all of them are great pieces to study.

[thracozaag]

I have been mentally debating what conservatory I would like to attend once I get older.  That is still a few years off, but I have been considering either Peabody, the Curtis Institute, Julliard, or perhaps the RA or RC in London as I've always wanted to live overseas.  What should one look for in choosing a conservatory?  Also, I am hoping to prepare the following pieces for an audition at one in the future:
A Bach prelude and fugue (not sure which one, but have narrowed it down to a couple)
Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (I have mixed feelings about this, and am considering possibly learning one of the later sonatas instead)
Chopin's Etudes 10:12 and 25:12
Rachmaninoff Second Sonata
Violette Sonata 6
I think that the above selection would be interesting. (although some of my selections are probably pretty common)  Does that look like a good program?

 For Curtis you'll need a "lyrical" Chopin selection in addition to the virtuosic one (sorry ED), if the rep requirements are still the same from back in the day.

[thracozaag]

Sorry, I misspelled Juilliard

 here's the proper spelling:

J-A-I-L-Y-A-R-D

[thracozaag]

Curtis is probably the most difficult music school to get into in the world - they accept about 4 or so pianists per year. However, a lot of fees you would normally pay at another school is subsidized by Curtis and the numerous foundations that endow that school. They even give you a S&S grand for your entire tenure there. Also, you can study with just about anyone you want.
Curtis has not had a great track record of producing great pianists over the last few years. The most well known recently is Lang Lang - need I say more.

 Unfortunately, the ones that ARE good, don't get the press of Lang-Lang.  There's a slew of wonderful pianists that I had the pleasure of going to school with, that for one reason or other, just aren't appreciated (that goes for both Curtis and Juilliard).

[Hmoll]

 

Unfortunately, the ones that ARE good, don't get the press of Lang-Lang.  There's a slew of wonderful pianists that I had the pleasure of going to school with, that for one reason or other, just aren't appreciated (that goes for both Curtis and Juilliard).

I couldn't agree with you more.

[BoliverAllmon]

I strongly urge people not to go overseas just for a  year. It will be a completel waste of time. My teacher studied in Netherlands for a year or 2. She then decided that she wanted to move back closer to home. She found out that most of the schools here wouldn't accept her education from the netherland. She also married a pianist from London, he studied at either the RCA or RAM. They both were moving back to the USA. If it wasn't for my teacher knowing the head of music at Texas University, then no one would of accepted his musical education.

The countries seem to have quite the animosity toward each other.

boliver

[eddie92099]

I strongly urge people not to go overseas just for a  year. It will be a completel waste of time.

No no no no no.

My teacher studied in Netherlands for a year or 2. She then decided that she wanted to move back closer to home. She found out that most of the schools here wouldn't accept her education from the netherland.

All the major conservatoires have exchange programs that allow you to study abroad for a year as part of your home conservatoire's program.

She also married a pianist from London, he studied at either the RCA or RAM.

A point of clarification - RAM = Royal Academy of Music; RCM = Royal College of Music; RCA = Royal College of Art.

The countries seem to have quite the animosity toward each other.

Quite the opposite under today's scheme,
Ed

[BoliverAllmon]

sorry wrong typing. RCM. Maybe things have changed, or maybe it is different if only going for an exchange program. All I know is that if you want to teach or have a job in the US, you need to go to school in the US. If you want a job in Europe, then go to school in Europe.

boliver

[Noah]

All I know is that if you want to teach or have a job in the US, you need to go to school in the US. If you want a job in Europe, then go to school in Europe

This is so outrageously wrong and stupid I won't bother to comment.

[BoliverAllmon]

Look, sorry for getting it soooo wrong. I am just informing what I have been told and what others have experienced.

boliver

[Chitch]

I have been mentally debating what conservatory I would like to attend once I get older.  That is still a few years off, but I have been considering either Peabody, the Curtis Institute, Julliard, or perhaps the RA or RC in London as I've always wanted to live overseas.  What should one look for in choosing a conservatory?  Also, I am hoping to prepare the following pieces for an audition at one in the future:
A Bach prelude and fugue (not sure which one, but have narrowed it down to a couple)
Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (I have mixed feelings about this, and am considering possibly learning one of the later sonatas instead)
Chopin's Etudes 10:12 and 25:12
Rachmaninoff Second Sonata
Violette Sonata 6
I think that the above selection would be interesting. (although some of my selections are probably pretty common)  Does that look like a good program?

THe Italian Concerto's a very good Prelude and fugue. That and the Prelude and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 971) are pretty good. The pathetique sonata's too common, give Beethoven's 3rd movement of Sonata Op. 31, No. 2 ( tempest) a shot, that'd be great for an audition. For your Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 12 doesn't really show a lot of technical ability,  Op. 25 No. 11 would be better IMO.

[eddie92099]

The pathetique sonata's too common

When discussing Beethoven he actually recommended the first movement of the Pathetique, so that is a good choice.

Ed

[liszmaninopin]

It seems like there's almost two schools of thought when it comes to repertoire for an audition.  Either play something well known and play it extremely well in order to stand out, or play something more obscure well enough to stand out, but it probably doesn't have to be quite as perfect.

[Hmoll]

THe Italian Concerto's a very good Prelude and fugue. That and the Prelude and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 971) are pretty good. The pathetique sonata's too common, give Beethoven's 3rd movement of Sonata Op. 31, No. 2 ( tempest) a shot, that'd be great for an audition. For your Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 12 doesn't really show a lot of technical ability,  Op. 25 No. 11 would be better IMO.

There is not fugue in the Italian Concerto - for that matter, no prelude either.
Most of the P&fs from the WTC work well in auditions.

I like your idea about the last movement of the Tempest, but the first movement would be even better.

[liszmaninopin]

How exclusive are the RA and RC in the UK?  I am more strongly choosing one of them as my conservatory.

[eddie92099]

I can tell you that the Academy is harder to get into (as Vanessa Latarche just told me). However, it is easier for non-EU people to get in (higher fees). From the EU the Academy take 8 people a year, and I would presume another 8 or so get in from outside the EU,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

That still sounds like a challenge, but I like challenges.  8 out of how many non EU?

[eddie92099]

Again I can only give very rough figures, but to give you some idea there were around 300 people applying for the Royal College in London this year (just piano). Add to that the North American and Asian auditions plus tape auditions,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Well, it looks like I've got some work to do.  I suppose piano students at major conservatories are in pretty elite company.

[eddie92099]

Do consider the Royal Academy though. In September I will be able to tell you all about it ,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Since you've been accepted, I just thought of an idea.  I could finish learning and polishing all those pieces that I would use for an audition.  Then, I could figure out how to turn them into an audio file; and the conservatory students and graduates on this forum might be able to give a bit of imput after listening.

[eddie92099]

That is a very good idea,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

How does one record music at home?  The last time I tried I used a tape recorder, it made a sound like a player piano when I played it back.