<p>We have been advised to make a notebook of all my son's audition music, copied and configured so it opens flat and has the fewest possible page turns, for the convenience of the accompanists.</p>
<p>I am uncomfortable making photocopies of copyrighted material. Back in my days of studying the flute seriously, my teacher told me I should never, never, give a competition judge a photocopy rather than an original. Recently I noticed a similar admonition in the instructions for a classical singing competition.</p>
<p>Is it REALLY acceptable to use photocopies at MT auditions?</p>
<p>This is an interesting question. I can tell you for sure that college auditions and professional MT auditions all make use of photocopies for the ease of the pianist. I think if you have a paid for copy of the music in book form in your collection somewhere you should rest easy about the version you put in your binder. It’s important not to rip off any composers! </p>
<p>If an MT singer were to show up at an audition carrying a piano songbook, instead of a binder, it would look very inexperienced and non professional. </p>
<p>As your son moves ahead in MT, he will be building his book (binder) with songs representing various decades/styles of musc, so that at any audition he is ready for anything. He really wouldn’t want to carry that many piano books around him as he goes from audition to audition in NYC! :)</p>
<p>(I am not a lawyer. Just an observant mom.)</p>
<p>My S was at a festival this past summer and was informed that he would not be allowed to perform publicly without original music - but audition and rehearsal were OK with photocopies. It may have made a difference since he was actually working with the composer - might have looked funny to show up with photocopies! But typically he has photocopies of everything in binders for the pianist. I think they assume that you have purchased an original somewhere along the way.</p>
<p>prodesse, this came as a surprise to us, too. My boys were used to piano competitions where photocopies were absolutely a no-no. But indeed, for use in the MT student’s audition book, photocopies are standard. (Also necessary since you may not want to mark cuts on your original sheet music/music books.) We purchased our own originals (digitally purchased sheet music was ideal, as it could just be printed and came pre-marked “purchased by xxxxxx”). We could also create different versions for 32-bar, 16-bar, 1-minute cuts, etc.</p>
<p>Note that bound sheet music books are typically larger than letter-sized paper, so you need to reduce to approx. 91% for it to fit in binder. Some schools requested no plastic sleeves, others had no preference. Ultimately, for the vast majority of schools, the boys organized their song cuts in plastic sleeves, however. </p>
<p>Good for you for asking a smart question. Break a leg to your S.</p>
<p>Break a leg at VTA auditions! I coordinate the college pre-screens for SETC, so (although I am at VTA) I am not at the HS auditions for JMU. My colleague will be sitting in and faculty and students will be at out table off and on all day. Tell your son to pop by before the audition, if possible, to touch base with Wolf Sherrill at the table :-)</p>
<p>Ps. Photocopies of music are indeed standard for MT auditions. Although certain competitions do require originals (NATS, etc…) </p>
<p>I know I am late to the conversation, but prodesse, your first paragraph is quite correct. There are, of course, several good approaches - but all involve photocopies! Best wishes.</p>
<p>I’m re-visiting this thread from last year, because I think it’s relevant to this years seniors.</p>
<p>I have a question to add to this thread:</p>
<p>What KIND of notebook should I purchase for the song “Book”? I know it needs to be a 3-ring binder, but if anyone can give me feedback as to a particular kind/style that worked/didn’t work for them, please post.</p>
<p>My D uses a 1 inch 3 ring binder. So that the accompanist has fewer page turns, she will hole punch the right side of the first page and then the 2nd page punched on the traditional side so that when the binder is open both pages are in front of the accompanist. Any third page is taped to the second page so that when folded out, all three pages are before the accompanist. I was so fascinated when I saw this for the first time. I think I was just happy that she was getting all aspects of training with her voice teacher. Money well spent! :)</p>
<p>GSOMTMom - you lost me hole punch the right side LOL I need a youtube video to see this. I like the idea of all three pages being before the accompanist. I’m going to ask my S if he’s seen this, sounds so much easier than turning the page.</p>
<p>HAAAAAA!! Think of an open book (or just open a book…heh heh) and see the two pages in front of you. The page on left (the first page) is bound on it’s right side. That’s the side you would hole punch. I’m telling you, I was AMAZED when I saw the kid do it…like I would’ve never thought of that.</p>