I am a jazz pianist and do not have much classical training. My sight reading is mediocre and I don’t have a classical touch.
For Eastman and Lawrence Conservatory, they want me to perform a classical audition in addition to my jazz audition.
I picked pretty easy pieces that meet the requirements and can already play them. However, I don’t sound classical and am horrible compared to classical pianists applying to colleges.
I am not too worried about Lawrence but I’m terrified about Eastman. Will they cut me any slack because I am applying for jazz or will they hold me to the standards of classical musicians? If it is the latter, I am screwed. I REALLY want to get into Eastman because it is an amazing school and I want to do the dual degree with Rochester.
Secondly, would it help for me to hire a classical teacher to work with me for my audition (which is in about 40 days) or am I a lost cause? My parents say I should just ask my jazz teacher to help me but in the past he has not been great with classical.
Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks.
If you think they will ask you to play the classical piece in the audition, then get a classical tutor to focus on that for a few lessons. They will know you aren’t classically trained, and they are not expecting perfection. It’s more to see how flexible as a player you are, same thing for my jazz guitar son he had to learn a classical piece for some of his programs, but they knew he was a jazz player. Good luck, Eastman looks like a terrific program!
I’m a big fan of Eastman. However, the foundation of their jazz program is two years of classical technique and repertoire, and the audition reflects that emphasis. I say hire a classical tutor but consider whether that’s the right direction for you. Have you considered NEC?
@drummergirl I was going to apply to NEC with the tufts dual degree. However I disliked the environment at tufts and decided to focus my audition energy elsewhere.
I feel like my lack of classical background will hurt me eventually so I would happily take two years of intensive classical training. And I am planning on reaching out to a classical tutor to help me prepare.
I second the suggestion to think about fit and not get too nervous about schools that emphasize classical when your focus is jazz. Though I understand your desire (and Eastman’s) for a “classical foundation,” I wonder if the other schools you applied to have a similar approach.
It’s your choice: you can certainly work hard for those 40 days and improve and will probably do fine.
Tufts is a wonderful school, not sure why you didn’t like it. Their music department is great too.
Did you apply to Oberlin or NEC?
@compmom I’m not crazy about tufts because I’ve gone to school with snobby rich kids my entire life and I’m looking for a more economically diverse class.
I did not apply to NEC but I applied to the dual degree at Oberlin (which I love).
I think you’ll be fine if you can play the piece moderately well; with attention to articulation and dynamics, and some musical sensitivity. Practice your sight reading and make sure your scales are solid. I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to take one or two lessons with a classical pianist to tighten it up, and it would almost certainly make you feel more confident.
S was accepted to Eastman on bass, and was somewhat in the same boat. He’d been playing bass a relatively short amount of time, was a great intuitive jazz player, but simply hadn’t had the time on the instrument to develop the finer classical bow techniques. He was freaking out about it, but it was probably the most low key part of audition day. Your classical audition will be with a jazz professor who knows what you’re there for.
Eastman no longer does 2 years of purely classical training before moving on to jazz, although classical training is incorporated all 4 years. (That changed in 2016, the year S auditioned I believe.)
Best of luck to you! Feel free to PM me if you’d like insight about the audition day…definitely the most unique, toughest and in ways most fun of all S’s auditions!
@indeestudios thank you for your response. That’s very relieving that my audition is with a jazz professor but obviously I have a lot of work to do before my audition.
Just remember that it is okay not to get in somewhere 
Most applicants at a high level, like you, get in several places but don’t get into one or more places as well. It can be a matter of studio size and openings and other factors outside our control. By all means work hard, so you know you gave it your best shot, but don’t overstress
I just saw your prescreen list - lots of good schools there - but I don’t think they’re that different from Tufts in terms of diversity. Anyway, my son auditioned in jazz guitar at Eastman in Spring 2015 and it was one of his favorite experiences too.
@drummergirl Tufts is probably a great place but another problem is lack of merit aid. My parents are not willing to shell out almost 70k a year for any instruction besides HYPS.
@compmom I am definely expecting quite a few rejections and won’t take them hard. I didn’t apply to 24 schools because I was expecting to be accepted into them all. And thank you for the advice
Good heavens, how many are audition schools!?! Good luck!! You are a brave soul…
@compmom thanks, I probably will have 8 or 9 auditions in total (depending on if I pass Northwestern).
As a pianist, both jazz and classical, I’d suggest working with a classical teacher to help you prepare. You will only benefit from the experience, in my opinion, and you will feel confident when you perform. Solid preparation will increase your skills, skills will increase your confidence. No good luck required, just put in the work.
@bubbabuddha thanks I reached out to a classical teacher a couple of days and it seems like the right decision.
That’s great! Break a leg!