Piano Forum

Hello, fellow pianists and music lovers!

I'm planning to apply to a few colleges/conservatories for the 2018/19 school year.  I am seeking a master's degree in piano performance.

This last year, I was successful in the prescreening auditions at Eastman and Jacobs schools of music.  I got to live audition but was ultimately unsuccessful in impressing the judges.  

This year, I'm hoping to prepare an outstanding audition that will set me above the other students.  I will provide some info and then I would like your feedback!

I'm hoping to reapply to Jacobs (Indiana University) as well as Juilliard, Michigan, and a less prestigious school (still need to research).

Thanks!



Here is my 2017/18 audition repertoire (unsuccessful):
Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique" by Beethoven
Chaconne from Partita No. 2 by Bach/Busoni
Five Bagatelles (1998) by Carl Vine
Etude No. 5, Op. 10, "Black Key" by Chopin

It was somewhat 'thrown together' hence the more 'undergraduate' Pathetique sonata.  I felt this lineup did not exhibit my strengths and personality.



Here are the successful prescreening videos:










I am, however, considering a very different kind of program for 2018/19.  I thought that the Chopin, Busoni, and Beethoven were somewhat similar - little opportunity for showcasing a variety of colors and styles.

I believe my new program should present a more varied approach with distinct styles represented - baroque, early classical, romantic/impressionistic, and twentieth century.  I love ragtime and considered learning a Nikolai Kapustin piece - but I stand against 'hard' jazz for personal, moral reasons.  I couldn't find anything by him that was impressive, toned-down (jazz-wise), AND musically interesting to me.  However, I would be interested in such a piece and am open to suggestions.



Here is some repertoire I'm currently considering:

Baroque
Prelude and Fugue no. 18 in G Sharp Minor from WTC Book 1
Possibly a Toccata and Fugue or Partita or French Suite?
 
Classical
Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata” by Beethoven
Sonata No. 21 “Waldstein” by Beethoven
Mozart Sonata in Bb Major, K. 281, by Mozart
Different Mozart? Sonata in F Major, K. 332?
Haydn Sonata?
 
Romantic
L’isle Joyeuse by Debussy
Kreisleriana by Schumann
Carnaval de Vienne by Rosenthal
 
Twentieth Century
Kapustin?
Original composition?

Etude
Transcendental Etude No. 8 "Wilde Jagd" by Liszt
Etude No. 6, Op. 25 "Thirds" by Chopin
Etude No. 4, Op. 10 "Torrent" by Chopin
Finish Op. 25 and have judges decide.

As you can see, I am also considering composing a piece for the twentieth-century portion of my audition program.  I think this would be a great idea because I could showcase my love for ragtime music and integrate important styles not represented in my other pieces.



Here is my current repertoire list.  Maybe you will see something that I'm missing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XBLa45jNJz2PZFMVLPpTtaRnH7z8C6pXDf9R9Ysbah4/edit?usp=sharing



Also, here are the requirements at Jacobs School of Music and Juilliard for Masters of Piano Performance live auditions.

Jacobs: https://music.indiana.edu/admissions/auditions/piano.shtml

Julliard: https://www.juilliard.edu/apply-audition/application-audition-requirements/master-music-and-graduate-diploma/master-music-an-2#piano



IMPORTANT NOTE: at the live audition, judges generally listen to ONLY the first 3 minutes of each piece, so I should be careful to select pieces that start off with a 'bang.'