The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amber
Date: 2000-06-08 01:14
How hard is it to get accepted into a music ed. program? I am fairly decent (I hope!) but no where near first chair material or Benny Goodman. I can play Weber fairly well, I am going to polish all of that off this summer.
What should I be doing to prepare for a marjor in Musil ed? I am taking lessons for clarinet now, and am enrolled for Music theroy AP next year. Some people say to learn piano, some are saying to taking singing lessons and others are saying to concentrate on the oboe that I am learning so I can audition on both Bb clarinet and oboe.
I am soo confused!! My consuler is no help, my directer is leaving, and I am starting to feel overwhelmed. What do I do? Can I get in? I know I am prepared academically, no problem, but I feel behind in music!! Calm down, panicking isn't goig to help...please help me!
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2000-06-08 03:11
As far as theory goes, you'll be fine! I wish I had been able to take theory classes in my high school. Unfortunately, because of the budget, the class wasn't offered. :(
In the school that I am attending, the music department required me to sightsing simple melodies and be able to sing back pitches after they were played on the piano. Sightsinging is hard, and most people hate it--even singers!
I had to take a written theory exam and know that I could have done better.
The audition didn't require that I play the piano, since all entering freshmen in my school are placed in Keyboard Competency I, the beginning piano class. You should ask the schools that you are auditioning for what they recommend you do for the piano.
I do recommend that you be able to sing simple melodies and sing pitches back when they are played from the piano. This was a very weak area for myself, and I didn't get accepted into the music program until my freshman year of college.
As for the clarinet audition, know your scales! They will not ask you minors, but I had to play E Major at mine. Also, sightreading is probably required.
Good luck!
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Author: William
Date: 2000-06-09 01:14
As a clarinetist (and oboist ???), you are probably going to be an instrumental major and a solid background in keyboard (piano) would be most beneficial. Along with the k.b. experiance will also come a lot of basic theory and ear training that will be of great help to you. Also, keep up the work on your clarinet, most probably your major instrument. Learn something on the saxophone as well--it;s the natural double for clarinet. Bottom line, and, "my final answer" to your question, study the piano. It will be a davantage when you take all those wonderful college theory courses--enjoy!!!!!
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Author: schnoozy
Date: 2000-06-09 01:54
Kim L wrote:
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They will not ask you minors, but I had to play E Major at mine.
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If a school does not ask for minor scales, I would question the validity of their program. Knowing your scales should be a given at any audition you do.
Besides knowing your piano and theory, learning other wind instruments will be very beneficial for a music ed major. A saxophone would be the most natural instrument to learn next, and also, a clarinet/saxophone studio would earn a lot of business. With all of this you should be fine. A music ed major audition generally does not require as your performance skills to be as high as a performance major so you probably need not worry about that aspect too much; though it is still important.
hope this helps,
schnoozy
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2000-06-09 03:41
Something that surprised me with the scales: Two, maybe three weeks before my jury in May, I asked one of the professors if I should know my minor scales. He said that we should know only what our applied music instructor taught us. I was surprised, but I do find it kind of pathetic that going into my second year as a music major I do not know my minor scales. I will work on these over the summer.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-06-09 11:35
Kim,
I'm very surprised, too. The University of Indiana, a highly regarded institute for music education, has the same requirements for music ed and performance for admission. The requirements for clarinet:
"BM applicants should prepare major and minor scales (3 forms) through 7 sharps and 7 flats, one slow etude, one fast etude, and portions of 2 contrasting solos from the standard repertoire."
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Author: David Goss
Date: 2000-06-10 18:00
You may also be required to go to an interview. I had an interview with one of the music ed faculty, also the band director. I was asked questions about my background, why I want to teach music, other interests. Nothing that I felt was intimidating.
Learning other intruments, especially saxophone is important, but when preparing for auditions I'd concentrate on your primary instrument.
Good luck!
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