Tips and Hints for College Auditions

[dlu]

What are your expieriences at auditions? Anything that you wish you did/didn't do? What is your advice for any college bound musicians? ETC ETC ETC  ETC
DLu

[steinwayguy]

Know that there are a lot of people who have been playing their audition rep since they were 5. I'm not kidding. As in, that's all they have played since they were 5. Be scared.

[possom46]

My advice (I had about 6 auditions in London etc.) choose pieces well in advance, I think some places require you to choose from their list so sort that out, and make sure you pick something you really love. My teacher picked for me moreorless, and I ended up playing a Beethoven sonata which was really no good for me and hence I didn't do well in most of them.

I had never heard of people learning their pieces from age 5!!! I didn't start playing till I was nearly 13 

[Phillip]

I would say make sure that your first piece is something you can play comfortably on a strange piano - perhaps something that starts gently.  I think that Bach preludes are very good for this, and for that reason I recently started my diploma recital with a prelude and fugue from the '48'.  I am always amazed that people are capable of starting piano competition recitals with Chopin's Op10 No1 - I presume that they come straight from a warm-up room and have tried the piano beforehand - something that you might not have a chance to do at an audition.

Phillip

[ahmedito]

Choosing the right repertoire is essential. Ive seen very good pianists make this mistake and having it cost them their audition.

[greyrune]

I actually have an auditon tomorrow at Goldsmiths in London.  I'm doing Chopin nocturne op.9 no.1, it's a peice i've been playing on and off for almost six months now so i know it like the back of my hand (looks at back of hand "hey that's new").  As for things i wish i'd done differently in auditions, getting nervous.  I've even messed up this peice pretty badly.  Just relax that's all i can say, i know it's hard but if you don't get in there's always one that'll take you.  Course i can't really talk, i'm nervous as hell and it's still today, lol.

PS possom where'd you apply?

[BoliverAllmon]

What ever you play, enjoy playing it. It doesn't matter how fast you play or how hard the piece is. Whatever you play play it well.

boliver

[tds]

What ever you play, enjoy playing it. It doesn't matter how fast you play or how hard the piece is. Whatever you play play it well.

boliver

(within reasons) excellent advice, boliver! tds

[raffyplayspiano]

i agree with boliver.  Make sure that what you play is something that you can play well and that you enjoy.  you dont want your audition to be a traumatic experience..,people dont want to hear how badly you play a hard piece, but how musical and enjoyable you play the pieces at your current level.

as to things i wish i had not done...in a particular piece i went directly to the second ending and i said "sorry"  i felt kind of silly afterward...
 
raffy

[musicsdarkangel]

What are your expieriences at auditions? Anything that you wish you did/didn't do? What is your advice for any college bound musicians? ETC ETC ETC  ETC
DLu

Remember, even if you mess up, you have no reason to be nervous, because they will see your potential.

I got accepted to Indiana U on my worst audition last year.

Just remember to be comfortable, because there is no pressure.

Definitely pick out your pieces in advance, and learn them as quickly as possible, so you can focus on mastering (this might mean hardcore memory work?).  Go to the different colleges/conservatories and take a lesson with at least one teacher from each one.  Take their advice seriously.

More importantly, find a teacher whom you like.  It is not the school, it is the teacher.

I would actually highly recommend doing competitions using your audition pieces, because it will set deadlines.  I learned Bach prelude and fugue no 3 in c sharp major in 2 1/2 weeks because of a deadline.  This would have never happened otherwise.