<p>I play cello and am interested in continuing when I get to Cornell. But having never done a real "audition" or taken private lessons, I have a few concerns.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Do they expect you to have actual sheet music, and do they ask for a copy so that they can follow along? I'm currently preparing a short, technically demanding (at least it is for me) piece by Bach that I can't play very well but at least have the music for. I'm looking for another piece, something slower and more modern or romantic, that might help me play a bit more expressively. There is one orchestral excerpt that I would like to play, but I don't have music for it. (I just remember the music because I played it in my high school orchestra.)</p></li>
<li><p>How do auditions generally go? Do they randomly select a scale and ask you to play it? </p></li>
<li><p>How is the sight reading? I suck at it beyond belief. </p></li>
<li><p>What are my options for renting an instrument? I'm allowed to rent a cello for the summer from my school. I emailed someone in the music department, but didn't get a clear answer, as he only responded that there is limited availability of rental instruments. He suggested Hickey's, but their rates are not affordable for me. </p></li>
<li><p>What are the procedures for taking private lessons offered by Cornell, and how much do they generally cost?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Yes, they do expect you to have sheet music, and for them to be able to see it. There is sight-reading and it's relatively easy stuff. You'll have to go through some technical stuff too. Erm, I'm not sure about renting an instrument, but I think it would be a better idea if you bought a cello, there are used ones that are pretty good and an instrument can last you your whole life if you take care of it. </p>
<p>I took private piano lessons for a semester, and I think it was about $40/hour. Not everyone who tries out will get lessons, and they instead may suggest a private teacher not affiliated with Cornell. I'm not sure how good you are, but nearly everyone I knew whow as taking lessons had played for quite a while on their respective instruments.</p>
<p>What do you mean technical stuff, as in not limited to scales? </p>
<p>My parents are taking out a loan to help pay for college, so I might get lucky and have some money to buy an inexpensive cello. </p>
<p>$40/hour sounds pretty expensive, haha. At least my friends say theirs usually are in the 20s or 30s. w/e. </p>
<p>I'm just nervous because I've never really played competitively.</p>
<p>Yes, they actually expect you to prepare sheet music. I do not remember if they actually saw what I played since it was the conductor and the private lessons instructor sitting together at a table. They did ask me what I was playing though and who it was composed by. You will want 2 contrasting pieces: something fast and something slower which shows your music style. I think they stopped me after 5 lines, but you should be prepared to play the entire piece in case they ask you to play more.</p>
<p>They randomly pick 2-3 scales for you to play. They're pretty easy though. I think I had C or G and B flat major and you should atleast be able to play 2 or 3 octaves of the scale. </p>
<p>Regarding sightreading, I think it was something that the orchestra was currently playing or had played previously. </p>
<p>The audition pretty much is as follows:
-come in to the room, they ask you your name and any paperwork necessary
-they ask you what you have prepared. Play it
-they ask you to play the scale. Play it.
-they give you the sightreading. Play it.</p>
<p>After the audition, generally, the private lessons instructor gets in touch with you and asks if you want private lessons and what times you'd be available. I think my private viola lessons were about $25 per lesson. It really depends who you're taking lessons with. I'm not really sure what the exact policy is now or who will be auditioning you in August. I took private viola lessons in the fall and my instructor ended up moving for the spring to Texas. I did not do orchestra since it was too much of a commitment for me although when I did audition I auditioned for both orchestra and private lessons. </p>
<p>I know that they highly stressed confidence, dynamics, vibrato, sound quality and posture.</p>
<p>for lessons, they offer scholarships for students who are in ensembles. So I think to have an hourly lesson once a week was like $500, but w/ the scholarship, you only have to pay half that amount.</p>
<p>Haha, I never learned 5th position so ant 3-octave scale or 2-octave scale beyond b flat might be a challenge, though I can sort of BS. Oh well, thanks everyone.</p>
<p>My D2012 has received a LL to from Cornell CoE, and is very excited!</p>
<p>She plays cello at a fairly advanced level (e.g. Hayden concerto, starting Bach Suites). Although a major or minor in music isn’t in her plans, she would like to continue taking lessons and playing with an orchestra and/or chamber group. At home, she practices ~1hr/day, usually late at night. (It’s her way of relaxing after a busy day.)</p>
<p>If there are any current string players reading this group, can you please share what is available at Cornell, or perhaps off-campus in Ithaca? I would love to hear how you participate in music, and how that interacts with your studies (especially if you are in a particularly demanding major). </p>
<p>I would also like to hear how you handle the logistics. Did you bring your own instrument to Cornell, or rent one? Is there a music building with instrument storage lockers, and are lockers available to non-majors? Where and when do you practice? Are there practice rooms in your dorm? Where does your group meet? How do you get your instrument back-and-forth when the weather is foul? If you take lessons off-campus, how do you get there and how much do you pay? </p>
<p>Are you currently in an orchestra or chamber group? What pieces are you playing and when/where will you perform? How often are rehearsals scheduled? Were you charged a fee to participate?</p>
<p>I am continuing this old thread rather than starting a new one because there is good info down below. Hopefully some current student(s) can update?</p>
<p>@mihcal1 - I’m a non-music major wind player at Cornell, and hopefully I can shed some light on music groups, but hopefully there’s also a string player who can be more specific.</p>
<p>For string players, I know of the Cornell Symphony Orchestra and Cornell Chamber Orchestra, both of which are audition ensembles. </p>
<p>There is a music building on campus, Lincoln Hall, with instrument storage lockers. Lockers are available to non-majors, though preference is given to students in an ensemble group. There are also practice rooms in the building which are first-come first-serve during the building’s hours (8am-10pm M-F, and reduced hours on the weekends). West Campus non-freshmen dorms usually have 1 practice room per building, but I don’t recall any North Campus freshmen housing having any practice rooms in the dorms (though I’m pretty sure the music program house JAM would be open to practicing music in the dorm). </p>
<p>Concerts are generally on campus, in Bailey Hall or Barnes Hall at least twice a semester. Rehearsals are generally twice a week. With a lot of studies, the music commitment can be time consuming, but if your daughter enjoys it, I’d certainly recommend trying out! There are quite a number of engineers in ensembles too. While there are a number of music majors in them, I feel that a large number of students in ensembles, even a majority even, are non-music majors Hope this helps a bit!</p>
<p>Thank you, gateways!<br>
JAM house sounds amazing! Do you know whether it’s very competitive to live there? It looks like they also have out-of-house memberships, allowing access to the facilities.</p>
<p>You’re welcome! I’m not sure how competitive it is to live there - though if your D is interested, she can mark it off as her first choice for housing, and hopefully she gets in! (If she doesn’t get in, I might suggest waiting to get an out of house membership and see if the free facilities in the music building suffice)</p>
<p>Hmmm. I am a string player and going to major in music. So i sent my audition cd to the music department, and got a letter from one of the professors at cornell (orchestra related) saying that he will write a letter of support to the admissions office. is this a likely letter? or should i expect a acceptance?? or what… rejection??? 
hmm… what does this mean?! someone please help me!</p>