I’m fairly certain I want to do a BA program at an LAC, but I’m considering applying to piano performance double degree programs as well (Bard, Oberlin, Lawrence), though I definitely have my doubts about how competitive of an applicant I’d be. I’d like to get a better sense of the type of repertoire that would be expected in auditions. Here are my questions:
“A movement of a classical sonata” - as long as it’s not Beethoven op. 49, does it matter which sonata? Would one of the earlier Beethoven sonatas be considered too easy?
“A movement or work from the romantic era” - I notice none of these schools use the word “substantial” like some conservatories do, which I figure would imply Chopin Ballades and Hungarian Rhapsodies and the like. But since that’s not the case here, does that mean that less substantial romantic works would be acceptable? Would a Chopin Nocturne or Schubert Impromptu be considered too easy? Would a Brahms Intermezzo be considered too short?
Any other general rules of thumb I should know about?
For the BM in performance at the prescreen level Oberlin does not require a romantic composition. It does if you pass prescreen. It also requires a composition by Bach. I think the term composition as used with both Bach and the Romantic period is meant to be an equivalent type piece. So think of the Bach composition you would be playing and it would be at least the same level for the Romantic period.
@Compdad Thanks! I do know what the different guidelines are by school and for prescreen versus final, I just only posted questions about the ones that I was confused about.
I get what you mean about an equivalent piece, but the thing is some Bach is easier than others…so how would I be able to gauge what is difficult enough?
At a minimum, I would think it’s a work that contains a fugue.
@Compdad I thought that was a given! I feel like there’s still a wide range of levels within that category though. For example, do you think the amount of voices the fugue had would matter? Would a three-voice fugue be considered too easy?
I think we are talking at different levels to some degree. I am not starting from all of Bach’s works for the keyboard. My starting point is a Prelude and Fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 or 2. Of course if a Goldberg variation is in your repertoire …
@Compdad the WTC is what I was thinking of too! I was just wondering if there was anything in the WTC that would be considered “too easy” since some of them are a lot easier than others. But if there’s not, that’s better news for me!
The repertoire for admission to Bard, Oberlin and Lawrence conservatories would be viewed with the same expectations as for stand alone conservatories. This will be true for most top-level schools of music.