Eastman audition

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi, I have an audition at Eastman for piano performance on Feb 4. Can anyone tell me (besides the fact that there's going to be a convocation, music test, audition) what it's going to be like? For example:</p>

<p>What level of material is tested for the theory test/how can I prepare for it?
During the audition, how many teachers usually are there to listen?
How long do performance majors usually play for the audition?
I've read about "day-of call backs". Is this why piano majors must stay till 10pm/what are they like (what do you do after you are called back)?
Is technique (ie scales, arpeggios) and sight reading/sight clapping etc specifically tested during the audition for piano performance majors, or is it just going to be a playing through of the prepared repertoire?
Will candidates be asked to start midway through a piece or larger work?
What type of questions will be asked during interview?
How much time is given for warming up?
What sort of piano (steinway?)/hall will the candidate use/is there one hall and one piano or are there going to be many auditions for piano perf going in at the same time?
Additional insights?</p>

<p>Thanks so much! Any advice from past experience and expertise is welcome. Eastman really means a lot to me, and I really want to get in.</p>

2

<p>@SCHOLAR0.2 goodluck for your audition. I have an audition too at eastman but on 17th February. As what I heard and my teacher said, Eastman always ask us to play etude, however other colleges aren’t. They only ask us to play the repetoire that we prepared and they will stop it in the middle. Usually,the audition takes 15-20 minutes for each student and they won’t ask us to play scales,arpegios or other.</p>

<p>About the test,most of conservatory are same. You can check Peabody Admission, they give us the sample test for theory test. I think it’ll be like that too.</p>

<p>I hope it can help you !! GOODLUCK :)</p>

3

<p>You are asked to keep the entire day free because of their scheduling. There are a lot of applicants on certain instruments, and sometimes they even share a venue for auditions: i.e. there may be some pianists first in Kilbourn Hall, then voice students, the back to piano, etc. Grad student auditions are usually held earlier in the day, so you can see that it’s very possible to be assigned an audition time of 8PM or later. The day begins with a group meeting if students and parents before the students are taken off for small group theory testing and discussions.
Bring reading material and a sweater for inside the buildings because it can get very chilly while you’re waiting!
Good luck!</p>

4

<p>I can’t speak about Eastman directly but from what I have heard their audition process isn’t different then the other schools, and I am speaking in that context:</p>

<p>-Piano is extremely competitive so I wouldn’t be surprised if they had multiple rounds, though I haven’t heard of that in instrumental music (have in vocal) FWIW.</p>

<p>-Audition length varies, and I can’t talk about Piano directly, but my experience is the auditions generally last less then 15 minutes (again, this is just my experience) so don’t be surprised it last less then you think, and don’t take anything out of it. Some people play longer and don’t get in , others play 5 or 6 and get in…in other words, don’t get hung up on the length of it, how the panel reacts, etc. Know that if you are going around lunchtime or at the end of the day, that the panel may be cranky! <em>lol</em></p>

<p>-What you play is up to the audition panel and they can ask you to play from any point in any piece, and the answer I got on how they choose is it is the sections they feel best show how someone plays (duh, I know)…but the thing is, that can vary depending on the panel, so don’t assume if you are doing Rach 2 that they will go to the most difficult section technically, or anything at all, have the whole thing prepared (and obviously, be able to play anywhere in a piece when asked…). </p>

<p>-Though rare in the instrumental world, you could potentially be asked to sight read, but it is unlikely IME (again, Eastman could be different)</p>

<p>-Be prepared to wait around or otherwise experience frustration before you audition, they rarely go off as planned or scheduled:)</p>

<p>As far as the piano being used I suspect it will be a well tuned, top end piano, IMO Steinway or similar level.</p>

5

<p>Don’t worry about the theory test. Your admission decision will not include the results of the theory exam. They give theory during the audition so they have a general idea of where their admitted class is in terms of theory preparation. If admitted, you will take a more advanced theory test in the fall for placement. I think this is true for most conservatory admissions. I wouldn’t worry about preparing for it at all.</p>

6

<p>Not all conservatories give another theory test when school begins; they just make placements from the tests given at the auditions. Not to worry though, if you land in the wrong class, then you can be moved either in a week (if it’s really, really obvious!), or after a semester.</p>