What scale to play to impress in an audition?

[nickadams]

One of the requirements for an audition I have coming up in a few months says:

1. Play a major scale in the key of your choice, for at least one octave, and hands separately. If you are familiar with other forms of technique such as arpeggios and cadences, you may also play these, in the key of your choice.


So what would be a good thing to play for this? Can someone link me to sheet music for a major scale that would impress them? I hear admittance is pretty competitive so I think they want people to come in with something that really shows off their abilities.

[pianoplayjl]

Any scale should be fine, as long as you play it with precision, speed and dynamics. every scale is just as hard. Maybe you play the one you are most confident with?

[cjp_piano]

I would not be more impressed by one key over another. But I would be impressed by evenness, tone, etc. I would play arpeggios and cadences, blocked and broken chords, too, since they said other forms.

[nickadams]

thanks for the responses guys. when i play scales with my teacher the book just has it going up two octaves with the hands moving up together but on youtube I have seen people do much more elaborate things for scales so I was wondering what constitutes a scale and what type should I play in the audition?

[cjp_piano]

Play whatever you are comfortable with and can execute accurately and fluently. If the requirements don't specify any details, then you're on your own!

[quantum]

It would be more important to play any scale well, then to play a difficult scale without finesse. 

Speak to people who passed the audition in previous years.  See what they played.