Pianists not accepted after auditions?

[arianareid]

Hi everyone! So many people have discussed pieces for college/conservatory auditions, and I was curious about pieces to not play. Perhaps the repertoire of someone not accepted after an audition.

[j_menz]

How do you propose to distinguish  non acceptances based on poor repertoire choice from those based on simply not meeting performance standards?

[Bob]

They won't reject you for the piece, but they won't want to hear the same thing over and over and over.  On one hand, there are pieces that get played a lot.  On the other, those are probably also the pieces that everyone should just know. 

[faulty_damper]

When I was in school, immediately after juries, the piano faculty would be absolutely worn out.  Their faces looked incredibly tired and they were on the tips of their nerves.  They just didn't want to hear anything anymore.  In truth, it wasn't because they had to sit for several hours, it was because they had to sit through several hours of bad music-making.  That's just torture, like being a judge on American Idol during auditions.  However, every now and then, there was someone who played magnificently that the faculty was absolutely delighted and it immediately uplifted their mood and their spirits.  What did these pianists play?  The same thing everyone else played, only they were making music.

The same holds true for auditions.  You can play the most overplayed piece in piano history, but if you are actually making music, they won't mind.

Of course the caveat is that most pianists don't make music, they play the piano.

[cabbynum]

When I was in school, immediately after juries, the piano faculty would be absolutely worn out.  Their faces looked incredibly tired and they were on the tips of their nerves.  They just didn't want to hear anything anymore.  In truth, it wasn't because they had to sit for several hours, it was because they had to sit through several hours of bad music-making.  That's just torture, like being a judge on American Idol during auditions.  However, every now and then, there was someone who played magnificently that the faculty was absolutely delighted and it immediately uplifted their mood and their spirits.  What did these pianists play?  The same thing everyone else played, only they were making music.

The same holds true for auditions.  You can play the most overplayed piece in piano history, but if you are actually making music, they won't mind.

Of course the caveat is that most pianists don't make music, they play the piano.

I would have worded it less strongly but I agree here. But it is a bit risky to play something extremely overplayed.

[j_menz]

But it is a bit risky to play something extremely overplayed.

If everyone thinks like that, you'll be the only one playing it, so it won't be overplayed this year. 

[faulty_damper]

If I were to audition for a master's degree in piano performance, I would only play well-known pieces.  I do this because I know I will be making music, and not dabbling at the keyboard, but mostly because it's easier for them the make comparisons.  The ability to draw comparisons is how they decide to pick one pianist over another.

In Korea, a music audition consists of specified pieces.  You go in and play the same piece(s) the other 100-200 pianists will be auditioning with.  You make a mistake, you're rejected.  You go over the two minute time limit, you're rejected.  This is how they quickly exclude the 100+ applicants competing for a only few open seats. They are not, however, looking for music-making.    In this case, you have no choice but to play fast, play loud, and don't play Chopin Op. 10-4 longer than the 2 minutes time limit.  And don't make any mistakes.

[lecafe88]

For the purpose of this post I'll interchange the terms audition and competition, as both serve the same purpose-to isolate a few players from the rest.

Do you know how high school music competitions work in Hong Kong? Back in 2011 I participated in this Grade 8 piano solo competition which was one set piece - Beethoven Op 14. No.2 First movement. Guess how many players were in it? 27. Yes, the judge had to listen to 27 renditions of the Op 14 No.2. I praise the organizers for specifying "No repeat" in the instructions......

While my example is a bit extreme, and I understand no auditions operate that way, I think a judge would be much more inclined to hear overplayed pieces that actually sound great (See Beethoven Moonlight, Pathetique, Chopin's Fantasie Op 66), rather than hear less popular pieces that the players do not enjoy themselves. A poorly played Pathetique is certainly better to the ear than a poorly played Op 14. No  2.

It's not about what you play. It's HOW you play.