What is expected in an audition??

[RealPianist]

I'd like to know what is expected in a conservatory audition? What should we be aware of?
what kind and style of writing should we add in our cv to get a scholarship?

Are there any specific guidelines we should follow to choose the repertoire?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[RealPianist]

hey . I am sure there is someone here who can help me!!!!

[bananafish]

General rep. guideline is usually up on your school of choice's website. Very generally, it is usually three pieces from different periods, but since you are looking into conservatories, they are more detailed. Some conservatories ask for five pieces, and they narrow down composers for you. Also, some would ask specifically for an etude. As to scholarship, from my knowledge, the better you do on your audition they more you get.

General no-nos: avoid popular rep. if possible, but that doesn't mean you have to. But if you do choose to play something on the familiatory level as the Turkish March, make sure you play it dame well. DO NOT play moodlight 1st Mvt. under 99% of circumstances, and 100% for For Elyse. It would actually be very funny if anyone did play For Elyse. I'd like to witness that.

These are my limited knowledge, hope more people can help you out. 

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

I would like to know, what level of repertoire is it better to audition with? Is it in accordance to grade or is it above grade 8?

[phil13]

Greetings.

I would like to know, what level of repertoire is it better to audition with? Is it in accordance to grade or is it above grade 8?

Tis a subjective matter. Most of the higher-level conservatories wish to see a high level of skill and talent. However, you might get away with playing something easier if it's something nobody's heard of.

Grade 8 is probably the standard minimum, I'm not certain.

Phil

[debussy symbolism]

Thanks for the reply. That's how I imagined it. I guess the best is to play the best, no matter where.

[bananafish]

I think if you are looking into regular universities with standard, not better not worse music departments, you can probably get away with one or two grade seven and pair it up with an "easier" grade 8 piece.

Three more things I forgot to say is almost all. or at least most of them highly suggest you to play a Bach piece. Stuffs from WTC will do very well. The second thing is you need your scales. And lastly, some will ask you to sight read.

Good luck to anyone wishing to audition in the near future! Again, you can find all the details on their websites, but if you are a nervous wreck, you can probably find out their minimum requirement by visiting their office and just ask. They'll probably tell you.

[cjp_piano]

If I were one of the teachers auditioning you, I would like to hear a slightly less difficult peice played beautifully rather than a more difficult one played well. 

[quantum]

Speak to students that attend the conservatory you intend to apply.  Ask them what they played, or what is commonly played repertoire.  From there you may be able to judge what and what not to play.

If you really want to play a popular piece, I'd say compliment it by a pieces that are not as popular, or meets the difficulty requirement but is not listed on any exam syllabus. 

[pianistimo]

yes.  all the above.  and, when u get to the sightreading exam, don't stop urself at the first sign of real trouble.  let them stop u.  i started out ok (purposely leaving out a few notes i couldn't read very fast - or were akward) and gave the general impression of the sightreading piece.  i think it was a piano concerto.  well, after the intial shock of seeing something that hard to sightread - i thought - lets plunge in without doing the usual 'read the first three- to four pages first' and then play.  i got to the second page and said 'well, u don't want to hear any more of this, do you?'  and quit.  they kind of looked surprised.  stick-to-it-ivness is what they are looking for.  nevermind if you miss a thousand notes...keep going until they say quit.  pretend it is a form of torture and that u (despite the terrible sounds that are coming out) are in a life or death situation and have to play as much as u can stand.  they are comparing all the students and how far they can get in the piece.  ahahahhaah

also, when u play ur pieces - don't expect any form of guidance or even for them to tell u what to do next for a minute or so.  they'll be looking down and up - expectantly - but don't start in on the next piece.  just sit there blankly.  wait.  act like they and u are from totally foreign countries.  (don't put on a comedy show).   'can i play the next piece now?'  give them time to write and take in what u did.  those few minutes can seem like hours.  bring some knitting to do inbetween.  (just kidding).

and, just do exactly what u are told.  no more.  no less.

be positive.  agressive (but not overly).  confident.  and, even if u mess up - don't start talking to urself 'oh, rats, i played this much better in the practice room.' 

believe me - if there is anything to do wrong - i've done it.  i said a very loud 'oh, NO!'  when i saw the sightreading. 

[RealPianist]

hey thanks for your reply guys here!

anyway your replies are interesting!

pianistimo, thanks for the additional information about sight reading and silent between each pieces! so, we should sit silently until they say ok, next pieces please?

any other experience and advice appreciate!

[bananafish]

about waiting in between pieces... I don't think it's necessary. I didn't, at least. The judges were very respectful, and they were sitting there quietly. I think you should judge the silence yourself. Relax for thirty seconds, collect your thoughts for the next piece, then start.

I don't think they will tell you when to start unless you look at them expectantly, because they probably will want you to start whenever you are ready. Of course, if you want, you can always look at them blankly, then they'll instruct you.

I agree on the sightreading insights. I was asked to sightread as well, and like she said, don't stop unless they tell you to. Pretend you are confident, even if you mess up badly. Smile, be amiable, show them positive attitudes, then you will certainly gain some favorable points.

[debussy symbolism]

Concerning sightreading, what if you already know the piece? Would they suspect it and give you another until you meet an unfamiliar piece?

[kriskicksass]

Concerning sightreading, what if you already know the piece? Would they suspect it and give you another until you meet an unfamiliar piece?

That's usually taken care of with less-standard repertoire being used for sight reading. Last time I had an audition I was given a Hayden sonata that I didn't even know existed. 

[lagin]

I would personally just say, "Would you like me to play these back to back for you like a concert setting, or would you prefer that I wait after each piece for you to signal me?"  Then you'll know for sure. 

[RealPianist]

thanks bananafish for your other good point of waiting in silence!

and also thanks for others who replies!

about the sight reading, do they usually give you known or usual pieces, like chopin works, or sonata, or something else? or they give really unknown piece, like works from student composition or piece that particularly compose for that thing?

lagin, so we ask first before start? it seems a good idea

[pianistimo]

every uni seems different.  maybe ask the person who is several spots ahead of you - if you get there early - and they could tell u what to expect.

[lagin]

Asking can't hurt.  It's better than doing it wrong!  I'd go early too and ask someone like pianistimo said.  I haven't done an audition yet, just graded exams, but I always ask if I don't know something.  As long as you're polite, people don't mind an honest question.