<p>I remember that my daughter had at least one 30 minute (string quartet) in her portfolio.</p>
<p>The length may not really matter since you usually cue the three to five minutes that you consider your best work, no matter how long the piece is. </p>
<p>Curtis specifically used to say that they prefer students who have written orchestral pieces. Most schools will accept some portion of the portfolio from Finale/Sibelius/MIDI: I don’t remember if Curtis wanted these orchestral pieces actually played!</p>
<p>Some schools may appreciate the ambition you are showing.</p>
<p>That said, it was frustrating trying to find musicians for yet another long piece my daughter wrote (35 minutes) the following summer (after acceptances). There was no context in which taking that much time in a student concert would have worked. I wondered if she might have more chances for performance with shorter works. She did end up using the string quartet in residence at her school, for a couple of readings of long pieces. In the past year or two, she has written more 10 minute pieces specifically geared to student concerts, and has therefore gotten all her pieces played.</p>
<p>So for admissions, length is fine, but for learning by having pieces played, it can help to have shorter pieces that have more chance of being played.</p>
<p>Most important really is to have really good musicians, if you are going to record a performance of a work. Not just for admissions but for yourself and your own learning. Sometimes musicians will volunteer or work for less pay for students who are still in high school.</p>