 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hammer_sickle01
Date: 2009-04-16 02:45
I sent in an application to a conservatory that hosts a summer program each year. I have just received confirmation for an audition on April 26th.
On the program it says the following:
"Present two or more selections from contrasting style periods, demonstrating slow and fast tempi and two scales (one major, one minor) demonstrating a variety of articulation patterns in at least two octaves. Chamber Music applicants playing piano or string instruments should present three octave scales. Expect sight-reading. "
I signed up for it last minute (they started accepting as early as February and the deadline was today...i found out about the program 2 days ago). So...on hand I have the following music that I have previously studied. I just need recommendations on what to play (or, if you were in my shoes preparing for this and had this very same music what would you select)...this is my very first audition (im 16) so naturally im sort of nervous about this. XD
So heres the music and the passages that Ill be capable of playing by next week:
Mozart Concerto-classical era (mov. 1 considered fast temp?) (mov.2 slow temp)
Saint Saens-romantic era (mov. 1 considered fast?) (mov. 2 fast temp)
poulenc sonata-20th century (mov. 1 considered fast?)
im working on weber right now but I dont know if I should take a risk and attempt playing it at the audition. I still have to work out an even tempo. But if you recommend it and you have the music on you I can tell you what selections I do feel comfortable auditioning on.
For the scales Ive picked out F melodic minor (3 octaves) and E major (3 octaves) which i can play at 96 tempo.
they said that it's competitive so I don't know if I should play the entire movement from whatever piece(which would be 2-3 in total) or just excerpts from the movements I choose. It did state selections but I'm unsure.
BTW, it's at the san francisco conservatory. so if anyone has had any experience auditioning specifically there, it would be even more helpful. and, in case I wasnt clear, Im not auditioning to attend the school; im auditioning to be apart of their chamber music ensemble that they have during the summer (they accept ages 12-18 and what 4 years minimum private instruction. I've been playing for 7 years...5 of which with instruction and 1st chair in my high school currently)
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2009-04-16 03:15
You've chosen a good variety of music. I'd stick with the repertoire that you feel most comfortable with, whatever that is. Poulenc and Mozart would make for a nice contrast in my opinion.
My general audition advice is to commit to the literature you're going to play and prepare it as perfectly as possible. The further in advance you decide this, the better! Of course I would continue to work on other things, but I also think it's necessary to really focus on polishing things for a set audition/performance.
Best of luck!
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-04-16 04:34
I second everything Christopher wrote.
I would also add that I really think you should, if possible, work up entire movements from these works, not just excerpts. A general rule for auditions, I'd say, is that it's better if they ask you to stop than it is for you to stop before the movement is over. More material is also preferable to less.
If I were you, I'd work up Poulenc and Mozart, and then if you're happy with those, work up Saint-Saens, too. But in any case, don't play anything you're not 100% comfortable with playing.
Poulenc is a great audition piece because it's not only challenging and modern, but it doesn't rely as much on an accompanist to make the music work, like the Brahms and Hindemith Sonatas do (I'm assuming you're auditioning without an accompanist). The last audition I played (not counting YouTube), I played Poulenc, too, except I played the 3rd mvt. rather than the 1st.
Best of luck to you!
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