This is the LAST THREAD I'll make about college applications

[faulty_damper]

Agreed.  Don't look for a school.  Look for the teacher.  That being said, there are many teachers can't teach technique.  This is something to consider if you need help with improving it.  Most teachers at the conservatory level teach musical expression, not something that is important if you're still struggling with technical issues.

I've had famous and well-known performing teachers but they were terrible at improving my technique.  It was only after I stopped taking lessons with them that I learned how to play with ease.

[oxy60]

Ditto! Assuming your playing is at concert/recording level you still will need to assess how you will make a living. You need to follow the money back from your pocket. Where is it all coming from?

My faculty adviser was a conductor of a local symphony orchestra. In all of the meetings he never spoke about the money. All he mentioned was the dreariness of those receptions with the "clueless" board. That was the board that paid him and the orchestra, plus all the other expenses. All he wanted to do was add new music to the programs and not play "war horses."

It turns out that people bought tickets just to hear those "war horses."

[rachmaninoff_forever]

What the heck everyone is hearing back from Oberlin and NEC and I haven't!

Are they saving the people who got denied for last?  NOOOOOOOO!!!

This wait is freaking tearing me apart!!!

[j_menz]

What the heck everyone is hearing back from Oberlin and NEC and I haven't!

Are they saving the people who got denied for last?  NOOOOOOOO!!!

This wait is freaking tearing me apart!!!

Christmas mail is always a bit screwy heer, I'm guessing USPS is the same.

[faulty_damper]

They may be waiting for those who were given acceptance to accept or decline admission.  If they decline, the seat will be offered to second tier applicants.  That may be YOU!!!  Good LUCK!  j.k

[rachmaninoff_forever]

They may be waiting for those who were given acceptance to accept or decline admission.  If they decline, the seat will be offered to second tier applicants.  That may be YOU!!!  Good LUCK!  j.k

People are already hearing from them what the heck?!?!

[vsrinivasa]

People are already hearing from them what the heck?!?!

It could just be exactly what faulty damper said.

[emill]

They may be waiting for those who were given acceptance to accept or decline admission.  If they decline, the seat will be offered to second tier applicants.  That may be YOU!!!  Good LUCK!  j.k

It is still too early for acceptance to the Fall 2013 entry.  At present schools are sending invitations for live auditions which will be the order of business until the end of January 2013.  Live auditions for most will be from February to March.  Only after the live auditions will one receive the final verdict. 

However until end of January if one does not receive an invitation to a live audition or one is not allowed to send a final recorded audition which some schools allow ..... then it is the "end" of one's journey for Fall 2013.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

It is still too early for acceptance to the Fall 2013 entry.

Well I did mean the prescreenings.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Well it turns out my teacher just submitted my letter of recommendation for NEC like...

Now.

[vsrinivasa]

Well it turns out my teacher just submitted my letter of recommendation for NEC like...

Now.

When was it supposed to have been submitted?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

When was it supposed to have been submitted?

December 15th

[vsrinivasa]

December 15th

So almost two weeks late? I hope they won't penalize you for it.

[emill]

Well it turns out my teacher just submitted my letter of recommendation for NEC like...  Now.

WOW!!!!  I read somewhere that your teacher told you that you had a very slim or no chance at NEC, and a much better chance at Oberlin.  Well that explains it ... why she submitted the recommendation letter LATE! She probably felt it was a waste of time? PLease forgive me if I got it all wrong; but did your teacher explain why she submitted it just now?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

WOW!!!!  I read somewhere that your teacher told you that you had a very slim or no chance at NEC, and a much better chance at Oberlin.  Well that explains it ... why she submitted the recommendation letter LATE! She probably felt it was a waste of time? PLease forgive me if I got it all wrong; but did your teacher explain why she submitted it just now?

I emailed him and he hasn't responded.

He also didn't submit to Oberlin either!!!  The same thing with my music theory teacher.  Cause when you submit the application, they send an email to your teachers telling them to send a letter of rec.  I thought they took care of it, but I just got an email from NEC confirming that my private teacher just sent one like right now.  So that must mean that I get an email for every letter of rec sent.  So that means that I have no freaking letter of recs!!!  I talked to my music theory teacher and he said that it probably went to his spam folder.  So he'll take care of it tomorrow.  The Oberlin extension is up till the end of December now, so I think I'll manage.  A for NEC, I don't know.

[outin]

I emailed him and he hasn't responded.

He also didn't submit to Oberlin either!!!  The same thing with my music theory teacher.  Cause when you submit the application, they send an email to your teachers telling them to send a letter of rec.  I thought they took care of it, but I just got an email from NEC confirming that my private teacher just sent one like right now.  So that must mean that I get an email for every letter of rec sent.  So that means that I have no freaking letter of recs!!!  I talked to my music theory teacher and he said that it probably went to his spam folder.  So he'll take care of it tomorrow.  The Oberlin extension is up till the end of December now, so I think I'll manage.  A for NEC, I don't know.

This teaches you not to trust adults or other people in general to take care of your things...you need to check and double check everything...

[faulty_damper]

It says a lot about your teachers for them not to give a damn.  I know how it feels.

[outin]

BTW, R-4:
Went snowboarding with my friend's kids the other day...the snow is hard enough, why on earth would you want to do anything like that on asphalt??
So maybe you should apply to Sibelius Academy, because then you could start snowboarding instead
You can still apply in March and of course education is ridiculously cheap, usually almost free around here...

[vsrinivasa]

BTW, R-4:
Went snowboarding with my friend's kids the other day...the snow is hard enough, why on earth would you want to do anything like that on asphalt??
So maybe you should apply to Sibelius Academy, because then you could start snowboarding instead
You can still apply in March and of course education is ridiculously cheap, usually almost free around here...

Ugh, snowboarding is terrible. I did it for ten minutes once and can't bring myself to try again.

I doubt R_4 wants to go to Finland. BTW, are you Finnish? I thought you lived in Sweden or Denmark for some reason.

@R_4: Really sorry about the recommendation letter. I know how that feels. That also is really saying something about your teacher.

[outin]

Ugh, snowboarding is terrible. I did it for ten minutes once and can't bring myself to try again.

Not really my thing either, I am not a sporty person at all...

I doubt R_4 wants to go to Finland.

Probably not unless he gets desperate enough

BTW, are you Finnish? I thought you lived in Sweden or Denmark for some reason.

Yes, I'm Finnish...

[vsrinivasa]

Not really my thing either, I am not a sporty person at all...

Neither am I. My least favourite sport has to be ice hockey or baseball; what's yours?

Yes, I'm Finnish...

That's interesting. I've always wanted to go to Scandinavia.

[outin]

Neither am I. My least favourite sport has to be ice hockey or baseball; what's yours?

I hate most sports equally

That's interesting. I've always wanted to go to Scandinavia.

Officially Finland is not part of Scandinavia. It's an odd place kind of in between Eastern and Western Europe, mostly because it has been under both Swedish and Russian rule.

[vsrinivasa]

I hate most sports equally

Officially Finland is not part of Scandinavia. It's an odd place kind of in between Eastern and Western Europe, mostly because it has been under both Swedish and Russian rule.

I could see why; I hate most sports but I hate ice hockey and baseball more than the rest.

Oh, right. I knew that. 

[emill]

I emailed him and he hasn't responded.

He also didn't submit to Oberlin either!!!  The same thing with my music theory teacher.  Cause when you submit the application, they send an email to your teachers telling them to send a letter of rec.  I thought they took care of it, but I just got an email from NEC confirming that my private teacher just sent one like right now.  So that must mean that I get an email for every letter of rec sent.  So that means that I have no freaking letter of recs!!!  I talked to my music theory teacher and he said that it probably went to his spam folder.  So he'll take care of it tomorrow.  The Oberlin extension is up till the end of December now, so I think I'll manage.  A for NEC, I don't know.

My I am really sorry that this had to happen to you.  Did your teachers know that they had to submit those recs 2 weeks after the deadline?  If it is any consolation ..... I have been exchanging a good amount of emails between the registrars of these schools and many more.  It had something to do with the transcript as graduation here in high school will only be on late March. Then the TOEFL, test of English as a foreign language, which some schools required for Dec.1 ... my son took it only on late November.   

All the schools accommodated .... in fact what became clear to me was that these paper requirements though important to them was not the primary consideration ...... foremost and primary to them is how you play your main instrument like the piano. That is why more than anything else send them the best video or audio recording you have. NEC requires audio only for the prescreen. 

In fact one registrar who obviously was in a light mood emailed me not to worry about these things as all they want when spring comes is for something to read and not to be looking all over for this and that ... referring to documents required.  Come to think of it, September is still far away!

[oxy60]

"test of English as a foreign language" What's up with that?

If I wish to go to the Sorbonne do I take a test of French as a foreign language?

[outin]

"test of English as a foreign language" What's up with that?

If I wish to go to the Sorbonne do I take a test of French as a foreign language?

Not necessarily. In many European universities you can study in English. But some may require an English test if you come from a country where people don't study in English. This is to avoid a situation where the student doesn't speak either the language of the country or English. Without a common language it's a bit difficult to teach anything...

[vsrinivasa]

Not necessarily. In many European universities you can study in English. But some may require an English test if you come from a country where people don't study in English. This is to avoid a situation where the student doesn't speak either the language of the country or English. Without a common language it's a bit difficult to teach anything...

Makes sense really. I had to take a few of these tests to get into MIT, and I applied to the Sorbonne as well, and had to submit the same test scores. I was accepted for both, but chose MIT.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Alright took care of it!

So it turns out NEC will start sending people Their prescreening results via email starting January 2nd.

I don't know about Oberlin.

[vsrinivasa]

Alright took care of it!

So it turns out NEC will start sending people Their prescreening results via email starting January 2nd.

I don't know about Oberlin.

Hope you do well!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Hope you do well!

For Valentina Lisitsa!!!

[vsrinivasa]

For Valentina Lisitsa!!!

?

[emill]

"test of English as a foreign language" What's up with that?    If I wish to go to the Sorbonne do I take a test of French as a foreign language?  

Most American Colleges require the TOEFL for applicants from countries where English in not the native tongue.  I can imagine its purpose ....  a Japanese or Chinese who does not speak a word of English or speaks only rudimentary English like He robs you!  instead of He loves you!! may be a serious concern even in courses like the piano.

The  TOEFL for many here in our country does not require any review as the medium of instruction from high school to college is in English.  It just really tests the basics and the day to day English.  In the school of my son.... he will be on his 12th year of English instruction in practically all subjects when he graduates this March from High school.

  

Makes sense really. I had to take a few of these tests to get into MIT, and I applied to the Sorbonne as well, and had to submit the same test scores. I was accepted for both, but chose MIT.

Music and math .... served by the same area in the brain.  My!! you are one lucky person ... although luck without industry and vision leads nowhere!!  I have always envied persons who have math and music embedded in their brains!

?  .... Rach4ever is enamoured with Lisitsa!!!  and will go to any lengths to win her!!!

[vsrinivasa]

 
Music and math .... served by the same area in the brain.  My!! you are one lucky person ... although luck without industry and vision leads nowhere!!  I have always envied persons who have math and music embedded in their brains!

?  .... Rach4ever is enamoured with Lisitsa!!!  and will go to any lengths to win her!!!

True, I am very lucky. I always liked math and music, but my parents always encouraged my math side much more. Since I am Indian, I am apparently supposed to be good at math, according to my parents.

I realize that r_4 is enamoured with Lisitsa, but the construction "For Valentina Lisitsa!" did not immediately make sense to me, due to the fact that getting into a music school does not necessarily cause one to win the heart of a concert pianist. 

I am not a big fan of Lisitsa myself. Her technique is wonderful, but I think she takes everything a bit too fast, somewhat like Argerich sometimes.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I got denied to Oberlin, I am such a freaking loser!!!

[outin]

I got denied to Oberlin, I am such a freaking loser!!!

Sorry...That means nothing though. How many applications do they get? A lot I am sure. Obstacles will just make you stronger and more determined. There are other schools and there's always next time...You'll have time to consider if it is the thing you want most or maybe something else would be just as good or even better.

[outin]

Here's what you can do...become a professional piano technician instead, still practice your playing, go work on Val's piano one day, play a little for her and win her heart! 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Sorry...That means nothing though. How many applications do they get? A lot I am sure. Obstacles will just make you stronger and more determined. There are other schools and there's always next time...You'll have time to consider if it is the thing you want most or maybe something else would be just as good or even better.

I'm still sticking to music...

And I'm over Valentina Lisitsa now.

[p2u_]

I got denied to Oberlin, I am such a freaking loser!!!

Here is my New Year's advice for you: contact the Oberlin teacher you would like to study with in the future and plan regular private lessons with him/her or with someone he/she refers you to. That will get you in. Amen.

Paul

[outin]

And I'm over Valentina Lisitsa now.

WHAT !!!!!!!???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My hands....noooooooo!!!!!!!

[j_menz]

Here is my New Year's advice for you: contact the Oberlin teacher you would like to study with in the future and plan regular private lessons with him/her or with someone he/she refers you to. That will get you in. Amen.

Paul

Excellent advice, and the same no doubt applies to other conservatories as well.

I'm still sticking to music...

And I'm over Valentina Lisitsa now

Good. On both counts.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

WHAT !!!!!!!???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My hands....noooooooo!!!!!!!

SIKE!!!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

So...  I'm feeling VERY salty right now...  I'm the only one at school who didn't get into Oberlin.

And now I know I'm not getting into NEC.

So I guess I'm going to audition again next year. I think the reason why I got denied is because of my bad playing and the low gravity of pieces I chose.  So I'm going to try to step it up a bit.

I'm going to swap the Rachmaninoff for...

and swap the Babajanian for...

I'm debating on whether or not I should keep the Beethoven sonata I have or swap it for Appasionata.


Do you guys think the Scriabin is romantic enough?  By the way, it's his 4th sonata.  I don't know why it doesn't show on the title of the video.  Or if the Stanchinsky is 20th century/contemporary enough?

[cmg]

Okay, I like your spirit!  You can't get a good man down for long -- you may find him salty, but not defeated!

Scribian 4th is plenty romantic.

What was the Beethoven sonata you've been out there selling to conservatories?  

I'd do Opus 110.  It got me rave reviews in auditions.  Mature, lyrical, mystical with a big fat fugue at the end where Beethoven has God take off his Ray Bans   and show us THE EYE OF GOD!!

The Appasionata is a big pain and if you want to experience two or three little strokes, go ahead and learn it and see how NOT fun it is to play.  Too scary.  It's a piece you want to live with for a few years before you trot it out to win a fan base.  Frankly, I'd take a pass.  Opus 110 is flashy enough and profound.

Happy New Year, rach.  The best is yet to come.

p.s. Valentina heard you dumped her.  She's been playing the Chopin Funeral non-stop.  Very annoying.  Make it up with her.  

  

[rachmaninoff_forever]

p.s. Valentina heard you dumped her.  She's been playing the Chopin Funeral non-stop.  Very annoying.  Make it up with her.  

  

NOOOOOOOOOOO  I was just kidding!!!!

Now I'm REALLY down...

[emill]

Okay, I like your spirit!  You can't get a good man down for long -- you may find him salty, but not defeated!

Scribian 4th is plenty romantic.

What was the Beethoven sonata you've been out there selling to conservatories?  

I'd do Opus 110.  It got me rave reviews in auditions.  Mature, lyrical, mystical with a big fat fugue at the end where Beethoven has God take off his Ray Bans   and show us THE EYE OF GOD!!

The Appasionata is a big pain and if you want to experience two or three little strokes, go ahead and learn it and see how NOT fun it is to play.  Too scary.  It's a piece you want to live with for a few years before you trot it out to win a fan base.  Frankly, I'd take a pass.  Opus 110 is flashy enough and profound.       

I must agree regarding the Appassionata, unless you are very confident, been well tutored on it and play it very well,  it is one "helluva" risk!  That was the advice given to us BUt it can work wonders in your favor more than "simpler", very well played pieces if you can fulfill those criteria.  If you plan to reapply next year.... there is sufficient time, but you and your teacher would know best the extent and capacity of your abilities and temperament. 

I guess the above Scribian will fall under - one other piece of the applicant’s choice. 

Oberlin also requires one étude of virtuosity - we were advised against the "La Campanella" even if you play it very well as it may come off as "showy" and prick egos of teachers.  I do not know how true or valid this is but we followed the advice and chose "Winter Wind" instead.   

Another requirement is a composition by Bach - we were advised to chose a challenging prelude and fugue. My son took the P&F that was recommended: Prelude & Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892

Good luck to you Rach4ever!!!   The problem among many not only in piano courses is sufficient focus and determination.  Most of the time the ability and skill is there. Maybe if you can just take your mind off Lisitsa for a while...
 



 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Oberlin also requires one étude of virtuosity - we were advised against the "La Campanella"

What the heck that's exactly what I played!!!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Good luck to you Rach4ever!!!  The problem among many not only in piano courses is sufficient focus and determination.  Most of the time the ability and skill is there. Maybe if you can just take your mind off Lisitsa for a while...
 



 

It's probably the other way around for me.

Did the guys at Oberlin advise you on the audition rep, or was it just your Lorenzo's teacher?

Also, what else did your son play?  I did the Beethoven sonata Op. 13 No. 8 in C minor, Bach prelude and fugue in A flat major book I, a Rachmaninoff prelude, and some unknown short 20th century piece by some unknown composer.

[emill]

Hi!

We were inclined to include a Filipino piece, but again advised against it as it would probably be rated "average" even if played best, to the composer's requirement. The factor here would be unfamiliarity on the part of the faculty-juror. On the other hand playing very well a familiar piece may impress the faculty-juror and may work to your favor.  That is a risk one takes when one plays an "unknown short 20th century piece by some unknown composer". 

We went with the Appassionata as Lorenzo seemed to have assimilated it well into his system. He has learned it and has been playing it for about 1 1/2 years. Luck also favored him as he had almost three hours of a masterclass with Prof. Rolf Dieter Arens, former soloist of the Berlin Symphony and former chair of the Liszt Conservatory in Germany who was in the country last August.

He also chose the Chopin's Scherzo No.3 as he has also well assimilated the piece having learned and been playing it for also about a year and a half.

To round up we had the Bach Prelude & Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892 and the "Winter Wind".

He has also prepared the Chopin Nocturne in B Flat minor, Op.9, No.1, the Liszt-Paganini Etude No.6 and Bartok"s, Two Rumanian Dances, Op.8a for requirements of other schools if he gets invited. He is taking a risk though as all these pieces including the Bach P&F and "Winter Wind" were only started in mid-August.

One "trick" is to schedule a public solo piano recital where the pressure to perform at the highest level will be heightened 10-fold. So 3 recitals were scheduled, Nov. 8, Dec. 6 and January 12 where he played his audition pieces. He also started the Rach2 concerto last August and played this in a 2 piano arrangement on the same dates.  The 3rd recital, on January 12 is with assistance from the Manila Symphony Orchestra for Rach2.

I am telling you all of these as it can never be overemphasized that the competition especially coming from students of China, Korea and Japan is overwhelming. Talent is never enough. It must be coupled with a determined and systematic preparation.

You still have "sufficient time" ..... my wishes for your success next time. Happy New Year!!!!

Our advise comes from "gossip" from applicants forum of the different schools    , from Lorenzo's teacher who also went through US Schools and a Professor of Music (piano) of a middle tiered school of music in Maryland.  He generously gives several hours of lessons to Lorenzo during his annual vacations here.   

[littletune]

Emill, I think Lorenzo is so VERY lucky to have a dad like you! I mean I know he's very talented anyway, but it must be sooo cool if your dad helps you with things like that and encourages and supports you with what you want to do!!!!!!!!!!! That must help a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck Rach4ever! Don't think so bad about yourself! I'm sure you're talented too! Maybe you just don't have so much help and support, but I'm sure you can do it!!!! 

[ahinton]

And I'm over Valentina Lisitsa now.

Figuratively or literally?

Best,

Alistair