Teacher Audition

[johnc27]

Hi, I'm new here at the boards... anyway, I've been playing the piano for 7 years and I just moved out of state. I have an audition with a piano teacher in a few days, and he said he would bring some music for me to sight read, which presents somewhat of a problem. You see, I'm not the best sight reader, especially compared to my performance technique (I can play peices I'm familar with quite well.) So, does anyone have any tips for me... for sight reading and for the rest of the audition? Thanks,

John

[desordre]

 Dear John:
 Welcome!
 About your audition, good luck to you! Unfortunately, the only working process to improve sight-reading is to sight-read, lots of works, daily. Just like a technique practice. I don't know how much time do you have till there, but maybe some intensive reading may work, despite the fact that - again as technique stuff - it takes a time span to show its results.
 Best to you!

[faulty_damper]

Isn't the subject title an oxymoron considering YOU are the one auditioning?  And shouldn't it be the TEACHER who you should be auditioning?

It seems like this teacher auditions students who already can play the piano so he doesn't have to teach...

[ptmidwest]

Don't get into a twizzle about sightreading at a hearing audition.

Every teacher who takes a transfer student wants to determine exactly where your strengths and weaknesses are in order to help you.

There are many instances of students who can play pieces beautifully but can't read a single note.  This teacher is just trying to determine where you are in reading, and a good teacher can actually glean a lot about HOW your read from your sightreading.

Also, in my experience, most students under early twenties are not such hot sightreaders; they may improve dramatically as they finish their bachelors.

[amanfang]

It is quite normal for teachers to audition students.  The teacher can see where you are in your musical development.  Your performing level, your sight-reading level, perhaps even improvisational and aural development.  Typically the point of that sort of audition is for the teacher to figure out where you are whether he or she will be able to help you continue to grow.  Perhaps a student is looking for specific types of lessons (jazz, improv, church playing) that the teacher does not specialize in.  This would be a good time for the teacher to tell the student that he would not be a good  match for the studio, but recommend _____ instead.  And then of course if he or she accepts you as a student, you must still decide based on how things interacted at the audition whether or not you decide to study with them. 
Sight-reading in particular should not make or break your audition.  The teacher will just decide how much remedial work you need, and presumably work on a plan to bring your reading up to par with his expecations.

[lenkaolenka]

Hi, I'm new here at the boards... anyway, I've been playing the piano for 7 years and I just moved out of state. I have an audition with a piano teacher in a few days, and he said he would bring some music for me to sight read, which presents somewhat of a problem. You see, I'm not the best sight reader, especially compared to my performance technique (I can play peices I'm familar with quite well.) So, does anyone have any tips for me... for sight reading and for the rest of the audition? Thanks,

John

Dear John,
There are so few fluent music readers around, that you shouldn't be worry about impression on your teacher. Good luck!