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 College Auditions
Author: tylerharris 
Date:   2013-03-22 03:55

As an upcoming senior, I have college auditions coming up in about a year. I have a general idea of what I want to play, and I wanted some feedback to see if what I chose would be appropriate. I am auditioning at Florida State, University of South Florida, and University of Miami.

All of the schools have similar requirements: Two contrasting etudes and a solo. I was thinking about doing Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie and etudes #5 and #6 from Rose 32. For the Florida State audition I might have to play another solo so I was thinking about playing Mozart's Clarinet Concerto movements 1 or 3.

Thoughts? Thanks!



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 Re: College Auditions
Author: Johnny Galaga 
Date:   2013-03-23 23:29

The Mozart Concerto is very overdone. I bet everybody's brother will play that and then you'll have perfect competition.

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: tylerharris 
Date:   2013-03-24 04:03

Johnny Galaga wrote:

> The Mozart Concerto is very overdone. I bet everybody's
> brother will play that and then you'll have perfect
> competition.

Do you think I should do something besides Mozart?



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 Re: College Auditions
Author: Morrigan 
Date:   2013-03-25 21:51

I think quite possibly do something other than Mozart, unless you can play it very well or very originally, with a very strong sense of your style. Well, both if you can manage it actually!
It's hard to give you alternatives, as I don't know what your standard is. Play up to your strengths, as you've got a few years at music school to explore your weaknesses!



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 Re: College Auditions
Author: brycon 
Date:   2013-03-25 22:31

Quote:

I think quite possibly do something other than Mozart, unless you can play it very well or very originally, with a very strong sense of your style.


The word choice in that sentence is rather humorous (and perhaps unintentionally insightful). I like the either/or: one must play it well or originally, as if to say that playing the Mozart with a "very strong sense of your style" is the same as playing it poorly.


To the OP,

Speak with your teachers, who know your playing better than anonymous internet posters. Your program sounds good to me, for what it's worth.

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: orangeclarinet 
Date:   2013-03-26 01:57

Wow, I am an upcoming senior as well and was planning on playing the exact same things. I won't be auditioning in Florida though.

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: MrJozzerBeast 
Date:   2013-03-26 17:04

Instead of Mozart, really consider the Weber or Spohr concertos :)

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: oldvter 
Date:   2013-03-26 17:07

Your program is just fine, though it would certainly be acceptable to do a Weber piece in lieu of the Mozart. Whatever you are most comfortable with is what you should do.

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: Christopher Bush 
Date:   2013-03-26 18:44

Hello Tyler,

After years of listening to high school students audition for college and professional clarinetists audition for orchestras, I have discovered a rather refreshing attitude amongst most audition judges.

The vast majority of us don't really care what repertoire you play, as long as you play it well. When you see audition repertoire lists, they exist mostly to make sure that the jury can get a variety of different facets of your playing. At your age and general level, the Rose, Mozart, and Debussy tell us plenty. In fact, most judges need about 30 seconds to get a general read on your level. After that, we're just hoping that you'll allow us to hear you play something particularly effectively.

In case you're interested, the first things we notice from your audition: pitch (both intonation and right notes), rhythm, tone quality and variety, dynamic variety, and a musical opinion. Please don't think that the last item on that list should allow you to be deficient in the previous items.

Please don't worry about anything being "overdone." Although I have heard the exposition to Mozart literally thousands of times, I'm always happy to hear it (and anything else) played really well.

Christopher Bush
Prof. of Clarinet, New York University - Steinhardt School of Music
Princ. Clarinet - Glens Falls Symphony
Director - NYU Composers Ensemble
Clar/Exec. Dir. - Summerland Music Society

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2013-03-26 19:25

I think your choices are excellent. Good contrast and traditional. When I taught at the Peabody Consevatory we required all freshmen auditions to include the slow mov't of the Mozart as a source of comparison for musicianship, tone, intonation etc. If you can play the Mozart well then of course do them. But with any piece you choose, including the Debussy, you have to be able to play them well. It is better to do something a little different that you can really play well than to do something more difficult for you that you only play mediocre.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: tylerharris 
Date:   2013-03-30 05:16

Thank you for the advice! I have a few colleges from Florida listed here, but are there any better schools for clarinet performance that I should consider?

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 Re: College Auditions
Author: Pappy 
Date:   2013-04-01 23:37

Waaaaayy back in the 70's all the schools I looked at REQUIRED the Mozart. I doubt any serious judge would be rolling their eyes at that choice.

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