Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-11-18 03:21
CIM, CCM, and Oberlin are about as competitive as you'll find anywhere else, including Juilliard or other schools. I'd say the easiest would be Ohio State, then Cincinnati, then Oberlin or Cleveland is really a toss-up.
Just a note, more than 2 hours a day for any high schooler is quite potentially too much. It takes time to build muscle. Pros who practice 3 or 4 hours a day have spent over 10 years, sometimes decades building up muscle, to which practicing 3 to 4 hours a day is more like "giving a workout" to those muscles. I'd strongly suggest you evaluate how "intensely" you practice during those periods of time, because chances are you'll wreck your jaw with TMJ from biting (as I did), or form other bad habits (I'd say I spent the first 5 years forming bad habits, and the next 5 years getting rid of those bad habits). I've played for 16 years and practicing 3 hours a day is quite a bit for me. I have to be in top shape, and I'd probably be breaking it up in 3 sessions, 30 minutes long, 10 minutes rest, 30 minutes long, 6 hours rest.
If you're really serious about the instrument, (and I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt considering the nature of your previous posts on this forum), I would suggest you take a drive over to Ohio State University and take a lesson with the professor. Listen (AND BE HUMBLE!!! I WAS A YOUNG ARROGANT BASTARD WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.) to what the professor has to say, and give it your best.
Seriously, unless you have strong God-given talent on the instrument, getting into a conservatory after only 3.5 years of playing is probably not an option. I went to NEC and HATED the conservatory life. I enjoyed studying more subjects at a big University than hanging around a conservatory, finding how many ways we could criticize Chicago's new Shostakovich 5 recording or speculating who the next Boston Symphony conductor would be. Going to a Conservatory might not be the best option for you.
If you're willing to go slightly out of state, I'd recommend Michigan State with Jan Eberle, or perhaps audition to Indiana University with Linda Strommen. They're probably less than a day's drive for you, and you'd have a much better chance of admission at the locations.
Finally, thanks for posting a serious topic. I think you'll find in this forum that people are willing and happy to lend helping advice when you're taking them seriously. By showing disrepect to other oboists, you'll find that they will obviously disrespect you. Similarly, when you sincerely ask for their input, they'll be much more inclined to be helpful to you. This website is an invaluable resource, even to folks who have played for quite some time. Use it wisely; don't abuse it.
Edit:
Marcello - a mediocre piece, probably not the strongest
Telemann - Unless you're darn good at legatos and want to show off your understanding of note groupings, perfect legato and vibrato, perhaps. Otherwise, it's pretty weak.
Ferling 8 - Seems like a good one, but you'll be heavily criticized if you take it any less than 112 (it's marked 120)
Standards for the major conservatories
Mozart Quartet
Mozart Concerto
Saint-Saens (All Mvts. 3rd mvt needs to be at least 110)
Hindesmith (Both movements)
Marcello - Demonstrate your Baroque ability, but rarely asked for I've found
Ferlings are always good, if you can get them within striking distance of the marked tempo
Barret Grand Studies - The fast ones are always good, particularly if you can get them fast.
Just to give you an idea, when I got into NEC I played:
Strauss - All Mvts (They asked for exposition of 1st, exposition of 2nd, and pickups to the exposition of 3rd)
Barret Grand Study #7, the theme and variations one, all of it.
Hindesmith (Exposition of 1st mvt, Exposition of 2nd mvt, slow only)
BTW, Exposition = opening statement, or theme
Hope this gives you an idea. If you're serious about playing with the big boys, be ready to play the big boys' music.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
Post Edited (2006-11-18 03:33)
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