any suggestions for my audition?

[pianoboi666]

This weekend I will be flying to Indiana and auditioning at Ball State University and Indiana State University.  I am currently a senior in High school and it is my dream to attend ISU.  While I think that their audition requirements are fairly easy compared to the other schools that i have applied to.  I will be playing Bach- Prelude and Fugue 21 in B-flat Major WTC bk I, and Brahms- Rhapsody Op. 79 no.2 in g minor.  I have worked hard on both of these pieces, the Bach is in fairly better shape than the brahms is, but they are both in really good shape, no matter what I just can't satisfy myself with the Brahms.  I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or words of wisdom for me with my auditions.

Thanks,

       Dan

[pianowelsh]

Relax and ENJOY!

[vivacelife]

Well, if you want to improve, you can reevaluate or go back to look at each note/phrase and think about how can you play it and what can you do to play it well. Just be really good at your own piece to show your own skills.

Ps. I picked a piece for my aud that is a little bit above my level, and I guess that's why I don't think my aud went well...

PS2: GOOD LUCK!

[SteinwayTony]

This weekend I will be flying to Indiana and auditioning at Ball State University and Indiana State University.  I am currently a senior in High school and it is my dream to attend ISU.  While I think that their audition requirements are fairly easy compared to the other schools that i have applied to.  I will be playing Bach- Prelude and Fugue 21 in B-flat Major WTC bk I, and Brahms- Rhapsody Op. 79 no.2 in g minor.  I have worked hard on both of these pieces, the Bach is in fairly better shape than the brahms is, but they are both in really good shape, no matter what I just can't satisfy myself with the Brahms.  I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or words of wisdom for me with my auditions.

Thanks,

       Dan

ISU has a great music program (I hear) but a mediocre academic program.  See if there's some way you can ensure that if you are not admitted to the piano program, you can study in the academic school for the first semester (probably getting some liberal arts requirements out of the way), practice your butt off, and audition to transfer after the first semester.

Oh, and your two pieces are very popular as audition pieces.  Is this your entire program?  Do they not require a Beethoven sonata and a 20th century work?

[musicsdarkangel]

uhm, sorry to burst your bubble,
but they require more than that.

I auditioned with a 20th century, a Beethoven Sonata, Schubert Impromptu, Chopin Ocean Etude, and Bach Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major

hopefully you have these requirements, and if you do, have no worries, I messed up my audition and somehow got in heheh

[Pianostudy]

uhm, sorry to burst your bubble,
but they require more than that.

I auditioned with a 20th century, a Beethoven Sonata, Schubert Impromptu, Chopin Ocean Etude, and Bach Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major

hopefully you have these requirements, and if you do, have no worries, I messed up my audition and somehow got in heheh

While that may be impressive, that is definitely beyond that they require for an audition.  Just becuase that may have been what you did doesn't mean that's what's required.  Sorry to burst YOUR bubble.  (Although I'm pretty sure they would want more than just the two pieces mentioned)

[lostinidlewonder]

I agree with StienwayTony when he mentions the Beethoven Sonata. That has become the standard all over the world for music school auditions, so to see that they don't require it is quite odd.

I would have a Beethoven Sonata ready just incase they ask you for it, even if you learn only parts of it. Some adjudicators will not be satisfied listenening to only what you have prepared so they will sometimes ask you for something else. A bit of prophylactic preparation is good so you wont get caught off guard

The Bach Bk1 No21 has technical connection with Debussy Etude pour les huit doigts[noted from my Bach 48 Preludes and Fugues Tovey and Samuel edition]  Eg: Bar 3 and 4, why did Bach divide the scales passages between the hands? To avoid the passage of the thumb so the velocity of the notes are maintained more naturally/effortlessly. It may be interesting for the adjudicators to see how you deal with this aspect with the Debussy, since this is a more modernised approach and would be of great interest to observe in connection with the prelude.

[pianoboi666]

Thank you all for your input.  Dark angel, all I saw on the website for audition requirements was, two solos of contrasting style, major scales, and sight-reading.  but just in case I have in my repetoire Beethoven- "Tempest" sonata,  Prokofiev- Sonata nos. 1,2,6(not memorized, still working on it) and 7, Balaikirev- Islamey (not in the greatest condition) that's still a work in progress, Chopin- "Black Key" etude and the "Ocean" etude, Debussy- Hommage au Rameau, deux arabesques, and the first half of book one of the preludes.  so if need be I am prepared for more if it's requested of me.  i will double check on Saturday after my plane arrives and I go to my lesson with one of the professors there.  But even if they do require more, I have no worries.  well yeah I do have worries but not about repetoire,  I'm just nervous as hell and I'm freakin out. 

     Thanks,
         Dan

[steinwayguy]

Thank you all for your input. Dark angel, all I saw on the website for audition requirements was, two solos of contrasting style, major scales, and sight-reading. but just in case I have in my repetoire Beethoven- "Tempest" sonata, Prokofiev- Sonata nos. 1,2,6(not memorized, still working on it) and 7, Balaikirev- Islamey (not in the greatest condition) that's still a work in progress, Chopin- "Black Key" etude and the "Ocean" etude, Debussy- Hommage au Rameau, deux arabesques, and the first half of book one of the preludes. so if need be I am prepared for more if it's requested of me. i will double check on Saturday after my plane arrives and I go to my lesson with one of the professors there. But even if they do require more, I have no worries. well yeah I do have worries but not about repetoire, I'm just nervous as hell and I'm freakin out.

 Thanks,
 Dan

So why are you doing the horribly over-played B-flat major Prelude and Fugue and the horribly overplayed Brahms rhapsody instead of Prokofiev sonatas or Islamey?

[musicsdarkangel]

While that may be impressive, that is definitely beyond that they require for an audition.  Just becuase that may have been what you did doesn't mean that's what's required.  Sorry to burst YOUR bubble.  (Although I'm pretty sure they would want more than just the two pieces mentioned)

Are you sure?

I remember that this is what they required at Cleveland and Manhattan.

Would they really require less for I U?

[jlh]

uhm, sorry to burst your bubble,
but they require more than that.

I auditioned with a 20th century, a Beethoven Sonata, Schubert Impromptu, Chopin Ocean Etude, and Bach Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major

hopefully you have these requirements, and if you do, have no worries, I messed up my audition and somehow got in heheh

Yeah, while that may be the REQUIREMENTS, universities want to see what you're capable of, especially when dispensing scholarships.  If you can play multiple styles with equal command and ease, you will be ahead of the pack.  Obviously the better you can play more advanced repertoire the more desirable you will be, though some schools aren't as picky as others.

I had an audition at a school in Arizona a couple weeks ago, and though I prepared a 60 minute program, they had me play Chopin and a bit of Beethoven and said "thanks".  I guess it all depends.

[pianoboi666]

Thank you all for your input.  Dark angel, while the requirements for IU may be much more, I was auditioning at ISU which is totally different.  For all those wondering,  I did switch at the last minute, and I played Islamey, and the "Ocean" etude.  and My audition went wonderfully.  I have been offered a full ride at both schools for piano performance, so I'm not sure which school i will attend, that's the hard part.  the thing that shocked me most about this weekend was that I truly did have fun and it was the best weekend of my life.

Dan

[sharon_f]

Congratulations, Dan!

[musicsdarkangel]

Thank you all for your input.  Dark angel, while the requirements for IU may be much more, I was auditioning at ISU which is totally different.  For all those wondering,  I did switch at the last minute, and I played Islamey, and the "Ocean" etude.  and My audition went wonderfully.  I have been offered a full ride at both schools for piano performance, so I'm not sure which school i will attend, that's the hard part.  the thing that shocked me most about this weekend was that I truly did have fun and it was the best weekend of my life.

Dan

congrats!  That's wonderful