Audition Rep Advice!

[cherub_rocker1979]

I would like to audition to some DMA programs in Jan and Feb. These are some pieces that I'm thinking of using:

Haydn Variations in F Minor
Chopin Polonaise in F-sharp Minor
Scriabin Fantasy in B Minor
Prokofiev Sonata No. 4

For the schools that ask for a Bach piece I could play P and F in C from Book 2 and if they ask for an etude then Chopin Op. 25/11

Would the Haydn be acceptable for a major classical work, or would it be better to play a sonata?

The 3 schools that I would like to audition to are: University of Illinois, Michigan State and University of Cincinnati. Any of you have any experience with these schools?

Those of you who have auditioned into DMA programs, can you let me know what rep you used?

I should probably have 45-50 minutes of rep ready for these auditions. Any advice that you guys could give would be greatly appreciated!

[communist]

The Haydn would be acceptable but I am not sure if a sonata would be better. good luck!

[omar_roy]

My current piano professor got his MM and DMA from Cincinnati!

Sorry I can't offer anything of use though

[ramseytheii]

I would like to audition to some DMA programs in Jan and Feb. These are some pieces that I'm thinking of using:

Haydn Variations in F Minor
Chopin Polonaise in F-sharp Minor
Scriabin Fantasy in B Minor
Prokofiev Sonata No. 4

For the schools that ask for a Bach piece I could play P and F in C from Book 2 and if they ask for an etude then Chopin Op. 25/11

Would the Haydn be acceptable for a major classical work, or would it be better to play a sonata?

The 3 schools that I would like to audition to are: University of Illinois, Michigan State and University of Cincinnati. Any of you have any experience with these schools?

Those of you who have auditioned into DMA programs, can you let me know what rep you used?

I should probably have 45-50 minutes of rep ready for these auditions. Any advice that you guys could give would be greatly appreciated!

Objectively speaking Haydn does function as a major classical work.  Somehow I am uninspired in general by this collection of pieces, they don't seem to go together well at all.  I am tempted to ask, why do you want to do a DMA?  I'm not getting a strong sense of who you are, based on this program.

For one thing, these are all in minor keys.  That doesn't bode well for contrast.  For another thing, except for the sonata, they are all about the same length.  It gives a slight impression of blandness.  I don't say that to be mean, but I just don't feel inspired by the choices.

What are the requirements for your audition?

Walter Ramsey

[cherub_rocker1979]

Objectively speaking Haydn does function as a major classical work.  Somehow I am uninspired in general by this collection of pieces, they don't seem to go together well at all.  I am tempted to ask, why do you want to do a DMA?  I'm not getting a strong sense of who you are, based on this program.

For one thing, these are all in minor keys.  That doesn't bode well for contrast.  For another thing, except for the sonata, they are all about the same length.  It gives a slight impression of blandness.  I don't say that to be mean, but I just don't feel inspired by the choices.

What are the requirements for your audition?

Walter Ramsey

I want a DMA for the same reasons other people want them - to have a greater chance of teaching at the university level and hopefully make more money, as well to continue to grow as an artist.  I love performing and I hope to be able to do that as much as possible.  Right now I'm finishing my MM in Performance at UNC-Greensboro.  My teacher is John Salmon, he has some Brubeck and Kapustin CDs on the Naxos label.  Here's myspace: https://www.myspace.com/raulmanjarrez

I might learn Schubert's D. 664 Sonata and use that instead of the Haydn. I absolutely adore the Chopin and the Scriabin, so changing those is absolutely non-negotiable.

My new proposed program looks like this:

Schubert Sonata D. 664
Chopin Polonaise
Scriabin Fantasy
Brubeck Glances - it's a 4 movement suite that lasts approximately 14 minutes, one of Brubeck's 'serious' piano works

And if they want some Bach, then Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp Minor from Book 1

Be sure to check out my MM recital in the Audition Room!  I posted it recently.

[weissenberg2]

I want a DMA for the same reasons other people want them - to have a greater chance of teaching at the university level and hopefully make more money, as well to continue to grow as an artist.  I love performing and I hope to be able to do that as much as possible.  Right now I'm finishing my MM in Performance at UNC-Greensboro.  My teacher is John Salmon, he has some Brubeck and Kapustin CDs on the Naxos label.  Here's myspace: https://www.myspace.com/raulmanjarrez

I might learn Schubert's D. 664 Sonata and use that instead of the Haydn. I absolutely adore the Chopin and the Scriabin, so changing those is absolutely non-negotiable.

My new proposed program looks like this:

Schubert Sonata D. 664
Chopin Polonaise
Scriabin Fantasy
Brubeck Glances - it's a 4 movement suite that lasts approximately 14 minutes, one of Brubeck's 'serious' piano works

And if they want some Bach, then Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp Minor from Book 1

Be sure to check out my MM recital in the Audition Room!  I posted it recently.

are you sure they consider Schubert to br classical? 

[go12_3]

Cherub,

Have you performed Debussy's Toccata?  It's 13 pages long and it's fast, light and with airy passages that will take the audience breath away.  It was a piece I learned when I was a piano major performance in college.   And best wishes on your recital and your moving into your apartment.   

best wishes,

go12_3

[cherub_rocker1979]

are you sure they consider Schubert to br classical? 

That sonata is early Schubert, so I would think so.

[cherub_rocker1979]

Cherub,

Have you performed Debussy's Toccata?  It's 13 pages long and it's fast, light and with airy passages that will take the audience breath away.  It was a piece I learned when I was a piano major performance in college.   And best wishes on your recital and your moving into your apartment.   

best wishes,

go12_3

I love that toccata!  At the doctoral level I would have to play the whole Pour le piano suite, though.

[amanfang]

I think that's a good program.  I like the Schubert idea better than the Haydn.  I'm not familiar with the Brubeck pieces.  Would they go over better than a Prokofiev sonata?  I still think that what you play (within reason, of course) is less important than how you play, so play whatever you like and you're good at.   


I have friends in all 3 schools.  My friends at Illinois and Michigan are in the MM program, and I have one friend in the DMA at Cincinnati.  I know nothing about their respective audition processes nor the difficulty of getting into any of those schools.