Study at the Royal Academy of Music to London

[luct]

Hello everyone.
I'm an Italian student, this year I'll graduate in a
Hotel management school, I study piano from 8
years about, I study english from 2 month about
well and I know a basic english. I prepare me for
to access how solo pianist in a Music Istitute in
Catania, but I would like study abroad, preferably
in London at the Royal Academy of Music, would
you know suggest a little about what I should do?
I'm preparing the programme that Musical
Istitute want, that is one piano sonata ( I do the
Beethoven's Pathetic), three piece of Bach's
suite English or French, two etudes and one
romantic piece ( paraphrase liszt's rigoletto).
My problem can be three: language, examination
for access in the Music school, and work for
could pay the study.. I know not information well
about tha situation in England.. Do you know help
me? excuse me if I make grammatical errors!!

[chopinlover01]

If you want to study at said school (my teacher studied there), you'll likely need higher difficulty rep than the Pathetique Sonata to make it in.
A good audition rep is usually comprised of the following:
One prelude and fugue of JS Bach
A classical Sonata (usually Beethoven or Mozart)
(Sometimes) One Chopin Etude
One other romantic piece
One impressionistic/20th century piece

[rachmforever]

If you want to study at said school (my teacher studied there), you'll likely need higher difficulty rep than the Pathetique Sonata to make it in.
A good audition rep is usually comprised of the following:
One prelude and fugue of JS Bach
A classical Sonata (usually Beethoven or Mozart)
(Sometimes) One Chopin Etude
One other romantic piece
One impressionistic/20th century piece

Hi I have one question. Is there possibility to play Chopin or Scriabin sonata instead of Beethoven's?

[luct]

the program requested by the school is not a free choice? I am preparing from months this programme, Bach's suite English Suite no 3 the first three piece (prelude,allemande, courante),Czerni's etude op.740 no3, Clementi's Gradus ad parnassum no 12, one romantic piece (Liszt's paraphrase rigoletto), Beethoven's sonata no 8 Pathetic! how rep Is not good?

[verqueue]

Usually the program to conservatory/university isn't a free choice... I don't know any school with auditions with free choice repertoire.

Repertoire you mentioned could be good for pre-college maybe?

For almost every conservatory I know you need change your Bach to Prelude and Fugue, play Chopin Etude instead of Czerny and some other at this level. I'm not sure also if Liszt's paraphrase rigoletto counts as major romantic work, but it depends on school I think.

If you really want to study there, why can't you check the requirements on their page?

[luct]

Maybe here in Italy this programme is pretty good! I trought to do same in both! before I try in Italy in September and then in December in London, so if the audition goes well I study in London, if audition not good I study in Italy.. however here in Italy pre-college + college are 10 years about, just college is 5 years! I know not well from you!

[rachmforever]

Ye It intrigued me little. Because when I did examinations on academy they required classical sonata so I played Beethoven. Anyway I mean Chopin sonata is harder than Beethoven (for me) So I was interested why couldn't play chopin's and it was only Because academy have it in rules which someone made and no-one changing it. By the way If there wasn't classical sonata, you needn't play any piece from classical epoch and they want hear some probably.

I think Pathetic sonata isn't bad to play if you must play classical sonata. You know there are some more difficult from Beethoven like Appassionata but too It depends HOW you are able to play piece.

You can play appassionata like pig or play Pathetique beautifully and it's clear they will be happier for something beautifully than something hard but bad played.

[luct]

Oh.. yes!! Is true! perfectly! I thing too so, my teacher said me same things!!! He said me is better to play a easy piece that to play bad a difficult piece!! But I thing that this piece are average and that if play good I can succeed!!

[chopinlover01]

Hi I have one question. Is there possibility to play Chopin or Scriabin sonata instead of Beethoven's?

Not usually, no. It has to be a classical sonata, as they want to see your competency with music of all periods. That said, you could also go for Hadyn, Mozart, Salieri (if he even wrote one), or any other classical composer. Some schools are composer-specific, however, and almost all require a Bach PF.

[chopincat]

Usually the program to conservatory/university isn't a free choice... I don't know any school with auditions with free choice repertoire.

Repertoire you mentioned could be good for pre-college maybe?

For almost every conservatory I know you need change your Bach to Prelude and Fugue, play Chopin Etude instead of Czerny and some other at this level. I'm not sure also if Liszt's paraphrase rigoletto counts as major romantic work, but it depends on school I think.

If you really want to study there, why can't you check the requirements on their page?

This is from RAM's website:

"You should offer a free-choice programme of solo piano music (not concerto repertoire), minimum of three works (undergraduates: 20–40 minutes; postgraduates: 40–60 minutes). The programme can include movements of works and should show a wide diversity of character and style as well as evidence of technical accomplishment. The audition panel will select from this programme within the time limits available, but you may specify one work which you particularly wish to perform. "

[chopinlover01]

Typical me, not doing the obvious and actually checking what they want. Oh well.
You know, given that it's an English conservatorie, and the whole stereotype of English being uptight and strict etc (which is more true than one might think), they have a surprisingly loose program requirement. Go figure.

(Disclaimer: The stereotype of English people being more uptight and strict or whatever is more of a joke.. though I have met people who fit the trend)

[verqueue]

Strange thing. A few years ago I'm almost sure that they had standard requirements. But still I think the Czerny Etude isn't a piece for auditions on this level - there will be plenty people who will play Chopin Etudes on a decent level. Even one of the nouvelles etudes instead of Czerny could make your repertoire look better for jury.

[chopinlover01]

Strange thing. A few years ago I'm almost sure that they had standard requirements. But still I think the Czerny Etude isn't a piece for auditions on this level - there will be plenty people who will play Chopin Etudes on a decent level. Even one of the nouvelles etudes instead of Czerny could make your repertoire look better for jury.

Agreed, but when were Czerny etudes mentioned?
Also, Chopin etudes are good and fine, but Liszt etudes will blow them away XD

[verqueue]

Agreed, but when were Czerny etudes mentioned?
Also, Chopin etudes are good and fine, but Liszt etudes will blow them away XD

Yeah, I think that for this kind of audition it's better to have some decent opused Etude by Chopin or some by Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin...

In the fourth post in this topic OP mentioned his repertoire:

Bach's suite English Suite no 3 the first three piece (prelude,allemande, courante),Czerni's etude op.740 no3, Clementi's Gradus ad parnassum no 12, one romantic piece (Liszt's paraphrase rigoletto), Beethoven's sonata no 8 Pathetic

[chopinlover01]

Ah, thank you for pointing that out. My bad!