Keepers

Keepers The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: College--Auditions, double majors, etc.

Author: Rob Vitale
Date: 2009-01-16 00:26

Hi there,
Okay, this is what you can ask your schools. Often, there is a third degree option at schools that is not limited to just a B.M. in education or performance. My school also offers a B.A. degree in music which pretty much is a 3 year degree in music. It has fewer credit hours and doesn't have a precise focus other then just overall music. With the free time you gain from this degree, it leaves room to either double major (my roommate is doing this in music and math) or pick up one or even two minors. I'm sure big Universities like CMU and NWU offer such a degree. This degree is also offered because sometimes music majors get lazy with their studies and realize their junior year that they aren't on track to graduate in 4 years with a degree in performance or education. Their decision....change the major to a B.A. in music, graduate in 4 years, and mom and dad stays happy.

I will attempt to answer all of your questions that you posted. 1, Start working on your audition music asap. You cannot prepare enough! 2,The Mozart is the most played audition piece, and if they ask for a contrasting time period the Stravinsky 3 pieces is second. I auditioned on these pieces for all of my undergrad schools and let me tell you something, so did everybody else. Unless the school asks for you to play it, It would be my advice to play other music. How's your Poulenc sonata and Weber concertos? If you do decide to play it, go ahead an play it on A. The teachers will like to hear how you play on both A and Bb. lots of clarinet players sound different on their two instruments. Its should be a goal to sound as close as possible on both. 3, if you want to get into a great school like the ones you listed, playing is not enough to get you in. There is a process. Meet and take multiple lessons with every clarinet teacher at that institution. Not just the one you want to study with. At the audition they also want to see who they believe will succeed at their school. Mozart, even a fine performance wont tell that. By meeting with every teacher, you walk into an audition and they all say, hey look its clarinet977. He comes from blank. He plays on a blank. His high school is blank. His current teacher is blank. He does blank well. He needs improvement in blank. There will be over 100 clarinetists to apply to CMU and NWU this year. I guarantee that the ones that they pick will have met with most if not all of the teachers. Even if you can't meet them, at least e-mail them. 4, which answers your last question, try to get to a live audition. Its not always possible, we all live crazy lives, but it is preffered. I would definetly audition to your top schools, and at lest one of your fall back schools that you would like to attend. I realize that this is a lot to chew on. I know how crazy the process is. I went through it for undergrad and am about to do it again for graduate work. If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me. I would be most happy to help you. Good Luck!!

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics