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Offline kurzya

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Preparing audition program
on: January 09, 2016, 04:55:05 PM
Hello all,
In about 10 months time I plan on auditioning for a music school. I need to have prepared a program of two contrasting pieces, and 3-4 short items of technical work (studies, scales, ect). My audition can be no longer than 15 minutes.  Unfortunately that's the only information I've been able to get regarding repertoire for my audition.
So: I'm currently working on the Beethoven sonata no 1 in F minor, Beethoven sonata no 14 in C sharp minor (Moonlight), Chopin Etude Op 25 no 11, and a Liszt Paginini Etude no 5 ("La Chasse"), and have recently "finished" (more or less; obviously one can never truly finish a piece) the Chopin Nocturne Op9 no 2, and the Mozart sonata Kv 309.
Due to the short time allowance, I realise that none of the sonatas will really work for my audition. So would anyone be able to give me a few suggestions regarding what could work? Perhaps particular movements or something? Or just other pieces that would fit my time allowance and make an impact. Also which etudes i should use (and any others that could be worth learning- I do have quite a bit of time to prepare)?
I have been learning piano for 8-9 years now with teachers- of course, you may say "why don't you just ask your teacher?" but I will be moving back to my home country in a few weeks so now isn't the ideal time to be starting new pieces with my teacher here (but there is nothing wrong with thinking  about it now).
Thanks  :)
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Offline abbyes

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Re: Preparing audition program
Reply #1 on: January 09, 2016, 09:57:37 PM
Do you have to play an entire sonata or are you allowed to play just one movement ? Also, does the music school your auditioning for has a minimium level requirement for the pieces ? 10 months it's not much time if you're preparing a program with very technical-demanding pieces ; so if you are playing those two etudes, I think you should concentrate in those. If you need more studies, ( since you said you need to play 3-4 technical works ) there are plenty of studies you can play ; maybe if you gave us more information for what you are looking for...maybe some Scriabin, Chopin, Rachmaninoff,Músorgski...

If you're gonna learn a new sonata, consider the time you have. Mozart is usually easier to read and learn, but it's usually very technical demanding and harder to perform than Beethoven ( on my opinion ). Actually in my conservatory, most people who is gonna audition for music schools usually takes a Beethoven sonata instead of Mozart. ( Some of Haydn's sonatas or Clementi are fine though ).

If you specify what you're looking for, it might be easier to suggest !
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Offline kurzya

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Re: Preparing audition program
Reply #2 on: January 10, 2016, 03:32:00 PM
Quote from: abbyes on January 09, 2016, 09:57:37 PM

If you specify what you're looking for, it might be easier to suggest !
It's a bit hard for me to specify things, but I can try!
Regarding sonatas, it doesn't specify that I need one- the only information I've been able to find regarding repertoire is "two contrasting works, 3-4 short technical works (scales, studies, ect)". So really I can't clarify much there. But if I was to do a sonata, I would only be able to play one movement, because my time limit wouldn't allow for any more (unless it was an extremely short sonata). So learning another sonata probably isn't the best-  shorter works are better. I'm not sure what could work though- I'm completely to all suggestions of repertoire.
Regarding level required, I haven't really been able to get much information there, but I'd say equal to AMEB Grade 8 or above (I'm not sure how many other Australians are on here, but that's the only exam system I've used and I'm not sure how it compares to ABRSM or others)
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Offline kurzya

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Re: Preparing audition program
Reply #3 on: January 10, 2016, 06:12:26 PM
Also, level wise, I'm 15 and will be auditioning in year 10 (if that helps)  :P
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Offline abbyes

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Re: Preparing audition program
Reply #4 on: January 10, 2016, 10:41:49 PM
So you need at least 3 teachnical works and you're already playing/learning :
   
    1 - Chopin etude op 25 nº 11
    2 - Liszt Paginini Etude no 5 , La Chasse.

It's kinda ambiguous since pieces which are not studies can be very technical demanding works. But if you want another etude, maybe you should take one from another composer rather than Liszt or Chopin, so there would be variety...There TONS of etudes, as I said in my last post : Scriabin, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Schumann,  Czerny, Clementi, Cramer,Moszkowski...I'll suggest you Rachmaninoff tableaux etudes ( op 33 and op 39 ) and Scriabin etude op 8 nº12 ( But this might be hard considering the time you have ).

Take a look to this :







Maybe also take a look to Moszkowski op 72. etudes.

Now the "contrasting" pieces. Any movement of any Beethoven or Mozart Sonata last for at least 4-7 minutes with repetitions. So dont go for 2 sonatas, chose at least one. Maybe Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31/2 , the third movement. Or Beethoven - Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2, the first movement.


[/youtube]



About Mozart, any sonata may be fine, I just do not recommend you K 310 in A minor, since it's not a really good piece to bring to a contest or an audition for a music school. There are a lot of criticism about this piece, some people will tell you that playing it "this way" is fine, and others will refuse that way...etc.

Another options are Scarlatti's sonatas, they are short ( some lasts 3 minutes the whole piece ). Ill suggest you these three :

[/youtube]





It's a good option, since most of your repertoire is romantic and post-romantic. So you should play some baroque or classicism. I think that you k 309 sonata is alright, and you already know it, maybe you should go with the first movement of it and keep working and polishing it.

As the other piece, you should go for some Bach's prelude and/or fugue.






Also, if you want to play some unknow music ( that may surprise the jury ) take a look to this piece from Otar. T.




I hope it helped you, but I really think you should talk to your teacher before chosing any piece.

Best wishes and good luck !



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Offline joaosousa

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Re: Preparing audition program
Reply #5 on: January 11, 2016, 10:40:01 PM
Quote from: kurzya on January 10, 2016, 03:32:00 PM
(unless it was an extremely short sonata).

Have you tought about playing a sonatina? Maybe Ravel's... It is demanding but I think it's in the same level of the 'Moonlight'. And there's a plus: you can easily find a contrasting work.
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Reply #6 on: January 12, 2016, 01:50:16 AM
spam
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