I will kiss your feet if you did this for me.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Okay So...  This is how it is...  Apparently I'm gonna apply for college soon, and I'm preparing my audition repertoire.  When I say preparing, I don't mean like still trying to find pieces to play, I mean like almost ready to record everything.  I should go to a recording studio or make my own recording around October.  Before you read on, just disregard the Bach.  I know I posted mine in audition room, but...  Whatever dude, it's better now.  Okay?  Jeez...  What a hassle...


Except there's one problem...  I can't choose a college because none of my teachers were from freaking America!  My first one is from Germay, my second one was from like Holland, and the one I have now is from China!  He's also a university teacher...  But still, he's not from America!  And when I already talked to him about this, he freaking tore me apart!  And I AM NOT doing that again!


So this is where you guys come in!  To know where I stand, could you please, dig within the depths of your heart, and send me your audition tape and the places where you got accepted to with that audition tape?  I promise I won't send it to anyone else, and it'll be private.  I won't even say who sent me who's tapes.

If you do this for me...  I will kiss your feet.

[49410enrique]

are none of yours live? just curious if i had an audition tape i would gladly send it but all my auditions were in person/live events at the actual schools i was applying to at the time.

as for recording i think if you can swing it and you have access to a nice studio, quality instrument and a knowledgeable person running the show with experinece with the kind of music you're playing, it certainly sounds like  fine idea. is your audition recording audio only or do they want video too?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

are none of yours live? just curious if i had an audition tape i would gladly send it but all my auditions were in person/live events at the actual schools i was applying to at the time.

as for recording i think if you can swing it and you have access to a nice studio, quality instrument and a knowledgeable person running the show with experinece with the kind of music you're playing, it certainly sounds like  fine idea. is your audition recording audio only or do they want video too?

Most schools I checked want audio and video for the prescreening audition.  Then of they like that, they'll invite you to a live audition.

[davidjosepha]

Except there's one problem...  I can't choose a college because none of my teachers were from freaking America!  My first one is from Germay, my second one was from like Holland, and the one I have now is from China!  He's also a university teacher...  But still, he's not from America!  And when I already talked to him about this, he freaking tore me apart!  And I AM NOT doing that again!

I'm sorry, I'm really missing something. What's the problem with the teachers not being from America?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I'm sorry, I'm really missing something. What's the problem with the teachers not being from America?

They're not familiar with the schools in America.

That's not my assumption.  They told me themselves that they can't really help me out there.  Except the third one, he just flamed me.

[49410enrique]

Most schools I checked want audio and video for the prescreening audition.  Then of they like that, they'll invite you to a live audition.

oh ok. gotcha! sorry i dont' think i can be of much help. i have recorded little, and know even less about it (hence my post w q's on piano recording which ive come to realize is terribly complicated and even more expensive than i imagined for do it yourself).

i will nonetheless be cheering for you. we have some fine pianists here i am certain you can get some good guidance from them on the matter.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

(hence my post w q's on piano recording which ive come to realize is terribly complicated and even more expensive than i imagined for do it yourself).

My school literally just spent a sh*t ton of money on camera/audio/lighting equipment over the summer  I don't remember how much, but I remember it was like WELL over 40,000 dollars dollars.

Which is why I took creative film class! I think that's the name of it.. But anyways, they let students use their equipment.  I asked my teacher and he said that 99 out of 100 times, if you need a mic or a camera, we have it.

Good place to learn how to make audio/video recordings!  I mean, not to brag but...  Our studio is better than at least half of all the colleges in the US.  Several hundred thousand dollars of equipment in that room.

Swag...  

[davidjosepha]

Good place to learn how to make audio/video recordings!  I mean, not to brag but...  Our studio is better than at least half of all the colleges in the US.  Several hundred thousand dollars of equipment in that room.

Swag...  

Where do you go to school, Donald Trump's basement?

[iansinclair]

May I make a suggestion?  Don't limit your thinking and search only to colleges or conservatories which require an audition.  There are some very fine music departments in other colleges and universities which will prepare you just as well, in terms of your performance capabilities, and which might just prepare you better in terms of overall musicality, history, and appreciation -- never mind more general academic considerations.  I have no idea what your academic level is, nor is it particularly relevant, but... 

I'm sure that you have a pretty good idea of conservatories and such -- obvious choices that come to mind being the New England Conservatory (Boston) and Julliard (New York) (there -- that reveals my geographic bias, doesn't it?!).  But among colleges, take a look at the smaller, top end liberal arts schools.  Places that come to mind there are Carleton (Northfield, Minnesota), St. Olaf (also Northfield; Lutheran), Oberlin, Swarthmore... your high school guidance counselor, if he/she is any good, should have some other suggestions.

[davidjosepha]

I'm sure that you have a pretty good idea of conservatories and such -- obvious choices that come to mind being the New England Conservatory (Boston) and Julliard (New York) (there -- that reveals my geographic bias, doesn't it?!).  But among colleges, take a look at the smaller, top end liberal arts schools.  Places that come to mind there are Carleton (Northfield, Minnesota), St. Olaf (also Northfield; Lutheran), Oberlin, Swarthmore... your high school guidance counselor, if he/she is any good, should have some other suggestions.

Just a note, it's nice up here in Minnesota. A little chilly, at times, but how are you supposed to become a hardened man like your Russian heroes without a little cold?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

May I make a suggestion?  Don't limit your thinking and search only to colleges or conservatories which require an audition.  There are some very fine music departments in other colleges and universities which will prepare you just as well, in terms of your performance capabilities, and which might just prepare you better in terms of overall musicality, history, and appreciation -- never mind more general academic considerations.  I have no idea what your academic level is, nor is it particularly relevant, but... 

your high school guidance counselor, if he/she is any good, should have some other suggestions.

Yeah I thought of those but...  I still have no freaking idea!

And I doubt my counselor could help me either.  I mean...  she doesn't even play an instrument!  She hasn't even heard me play, so she couldn't really tell me where to go.

Ya know what I mean?

[davidjosepha]

Yeah I thought of those but...  I still have no freaking idea!

And I doubt my counselor could help me either.  I mean...  she doesn't even play an instrument!  She hasn't even heard me play, so she couldn't really tell me where to go.

Ya know what I mean?

If you can afford to fly out and tour Carleton and St. Olaf, I think you'll be very impressed, especially with St. Olaf's music program.

Also, I know you say you'll keep working at being a musician till you die, but going to a liberal arts college and double majoring in music and math or a science allows you to pursue music and try to get a job in it, but also have a fallback plan if you can't. I know people say, "I'd be fine just being a music teacher, not even being a performer", but you might find you have trouble doing even that, given our economy's current state. A math or science degree does miracles to help you get a job, even outside of the areas of strictly math and science, since it shows you are a good logical thinker and problem solver, great traits for a job in many fields.

Something to think about. Not trying to discourage you from pursuing music, but it's also important, I think, to be realistic about what could end up happening if you can't get a job.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

If you can afford to fly out and tour Carleton and St. Olaf, I think you'll be very impressed, especially with St. Olaf's music program.

But I still don't know if I'm good enough to get in or not.

[asuhayda]

Damn.. things have changed in the last 15 years.  I had to audition in person at every single University I applied to.  Accept for Juliard.. I made a recording for their prescreen.  Needless to say however, I didn't go to Julliard.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Damn.. things have changed in the last 15 years.  I had to audition in person at every single University I applied to.  Accept for Juliard.. I made a recording for their prescreen.  Needless to say however, I didn't go to Julliard.

I will kiss your feet if you send me a recording of that audition tape and the list of schools you got accepted to.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Where do you go to school, Donald Trump's basement?

I would tell you the name of my school but...

If someone from my school happens to be on this forum and read this comment...

I would be done for.

[davidjosepha]

But I still don't know if I'm good enough to get in or not.

Carleton, you'll probably want pretty close to a 4.0 with mostly honors or AP or some equivalent classes. ACT, average is around 31, I think. SAT, average is 1400/1600, 2100/2400. 27% acceptance rate.

St. Olaf will be much easier to get into. I don't know average GPA of those admitted, but I know people with only one or two honors classes and a decent (3.0-3.5 I think) GPA who got in. 59% acceptance rate, so not too bad to get into. Average ACT 29, average SAT 1295/1600.

Definitely try applying to at least St. Olaf if it interests you at all. Very good school and a pretty good acceptance rate.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Carleton, you'll probably want pretty close to a 4.0 with mostly honors or AP or some equivalent classes. ACT, average is around 31, I think. SAT, average is 1400/1600, 2100/2400. 27% acceptance rate.

St. Olaf will be much easier to get into. I don't know average GPA of those admitted, but I know people with only one or two honors classes and a decent (3.0-3.5 I think) GPA who got in. 59% acceptance rate, so not too bad to get into. Average ACT 29, average SAT 1295/1600.

Definitely try applying to at least St. Olaf if it interests you at all. Very good school and a pretty good acceptance rate.

I'm retaking my ACT next Saturday.

Charleton is out of the question, and St. Olaf, maybe...  Depending on what I get on my ACT.

[asuhayda]

I will kiss your feet if you send me a recording of that audition tape and the list of schools you got accepted to.

I honestly would man... but I haven't had that tape for years.  But I will tell you the schools I got accepted to:

University of Illinois - Piano Performance
Lawrence University Conservatory of Music - Piano Performance
DePaul University - Piano Performance (I would've studied with Dmitry Paperno or Mary Sauer..)
Northern Illinois University - Piano Performance (this is where I did my undergrad, because I got a full ride)

Juliard - prescreen - I got past the pre-screen, but I didn't follow up with an audition. Even if I had gotten accepted (which I doubt I would've been at the time).. it would have been too expensive for me to go there anyway.

I got in to every school I applied to. It basically came down to money and NIU offered me the most of it.  I studied with a great professor there.  No regrets at all.

Hope this helps.

[quantum]

All of my auditions were live.  Video tapes were only for those people who lived very far from the school.  Even then, there was a preference for those candidates that made the effort to attend a live audition. 

[chopin2015]

So what is your audition rep? (you can email me if you want)
 You can always go to the school's site and get in contact with a professor, also schools will have a requirement of how many pieces of which length and from which time period, that you will have to follow. So it's not really like you get to play whatever you want. BTW my teacher told me I don't have enough repertoire to be a piano major. I'm still going to audition, and I am going to rock it! You will need recommendation letters.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

You will need recommendation letters.

My teacher is currently a piano teacher at my local university as well.  Good letter of recommendation perhaps?  However I'm afraid to ask him.  I don't want him to tear me apart again...

[quantum]

A letter from your teacher would be wise.  Don't beat around the bush, just ask him straight up.

It would look odd not to have a letter from your teacher.  If you've only known him a short time, perhaps a letter from a former teacher you have spent more time studying under. 

[starstruck5]

I'd only let Yuja Wang or the Valentina kiss my feet -not that they would want to or have any reason to -

Anyhow, I hope you find a really good school-

[chopin2015]

My teacher is currently a piano teacher at my local university as well.  Good letter of recommendation perhaps?  However I'm afraid to ask him.  I don't want him to tear me apart again...

Yeah I don't talk to my piano teacher about stuff like this anymore, she does the same thing, just tears me apart. I asked my guitar teacher who knows me as a musician, not just a piano player. Break a leg!