Auditioners ~~~~~

[amy]

Hello everyone.  University music audition in 12 days.
Pretend you were an auditioner.. which would you take?

a) plays at performance level, marks= 70's (%)

b) plays at gr.8/9 RCM level, marks= 90's  (%)

thank you

[amee]

What do you mean?

[jeff]

you mean, would we pick someone who plays A) easier pieces well or B) harder pieces not as well?

hm... i'd say A). i think it depends on which option better allows you to show your musical ability through the music. If the harder pieces are only harder because you'd hit a few more wrong notes, i'd like to think that wouldn't matter too much. They gotta give you some credit for making the effort
last year when i auditioned for entrance into university, 2 of the 3 pieces i prepared were pretty hard (for me). One of them ('handel in the strand' by percy grainger, if you're wondering) i knew i couldn't get through without hitting quite a few wrong notes, but i made sure i played it with flair and without fear or inhibition.. and i got into the university that i wanted to get into

[amy]

Sorry guys.. lemme clarify..
which would you pick:

a) someone who's playing difficult pieces well, but in school gets 70% average.

or

b) someone playing "easier" pieces, but gets a 90% average in school.

remember, the universities are looking for marks as well as performance.  so you choose!

[ludwig]

i'd choose neither... I'd choose the person who can play difficult pieces (technnique and expression wise) very well....

[amee]

I'd say its better to play easier pieces well than harder pieces not as well.

[lea]

i think that as long as you put passion into what you play you will play well

for instance, when i was younger when i learnt a new piece i used to hunch up and sightread the unfamiliar notes timidly.

whatever you play, no matter what it is you must put your heart into it and you must play confidently.

when my older brother (also a piano player!) did an exam before he did the exam he used to peform  for family and friends........people who didnt really appreciate classical music and as he did this he was very confident for his exam (grade 8) and it really helped him alot!!

so it doesnt matter if you are a or b as if you put passion into your pieces and if you have confidence you wil succeed!!!!!!!!

[amy]

hi guys.. thank you so much for helping me!
well.. in my case.. im a 90% student..but my playing isn't that great. my pieces are fairly simple, but i can't seem to play them "perfectly"....
i guess sometimes i have passion... but im not sure...
i get frustrated because i always have that thing in the back of my head saying.. "youre not playing this right!!....."  and then my passion starts wearing out...
*sigh...
but thanks guys... i will try my best.
-Amy

[amee]

One of the important things when playing pieces is not getting every note right and worrying about it...its how you interpret the piece and how musically you play it.  Try looking at your pieces from a different angle and experiment.

[amee]

Well said, lea!