<p>I have played piano for 9 years, and I agree, it takes dedication. Too bad there is so much competition. My main focus now is the French horn.. hopefully that helps.</p>
<p>To Virtuoso, katho11 and yahooo... congratulations to all of you for maintaining your discipline and devotion to piano. You may not fully appreciate it now, but perhaps someday you'll realize the value and influence that piano has had. Stay with it as long as you can, even as an occasional respite to the demands you might face later in college.</p>
<p>Virtuoso, my daughter really loves Romantic era composers and performed the Chopin Ballade in g minor as one of her selections for a solo piano recital last spring. (Please ignore the bragging here... but I know you know what is involved here -- a lot of exasperation at times, right? ;) ) She also performed some French Baroque (Rameau), MacDowell, Beethoven (the 3-movement Pathetique Sonata), and Liszt. The Chopin ballade is one she performs exceptionally well, I think, and you're right, it's a wonderfully passionate and complex piece. She passed CM Level 10 as a sophomore and then participated in Panel. She was invited to the state festival 7 times and has actually won MONEY from some competitions. (The money made a real impression on her the first time it happened!) Sounds like you're doing very well yourself!</p>
<p>NorCal, I play Clarinet. Piano frustrated me too much when I took lessons...which is probably why I appreciate it as much as I do.</p>
<p>OKAY so I havn't read every post here but i read the first page and a half.</p>
<p>the truth is this. When I applied to colleges (i was HS class of 2004), I submitted as an e.c. that I played piano and trumpet.</p>
<p>IT DOES help. I have never won any major awards or anything of the such. I was first chair in high school trumpet, and i had taken piano lessons for about 13 years and apart from some piano recitals, i have never performed publicly. I am no Horowitz but I can play at a somewhat decent level on the piano.</p>
<p>When I applied, I made a tape with the help of my band director of me playing 1 song on the trumpet, and 1 song on the piano. At franklin & marshall college, which is a very good lac in pennsylvania, I was awarded the music scholarship (among other things) without even applying for it - which included I think either $1500 or $2000 a year provided I participate in some sort of music activity. Along with the tapes, I sent in a piece of music I had scored for my high school pep band. Also, one of my essays was on the piece of music I played on the tape for the piano.</p>
<p>If you show major interest and passion, I think playing an instrument - and in general being a skilled musician - definately helps.</p>
<p>i played piano for eight years. i was good - while i played. </p>
<p>i quit as soon as i hit hs to make room for friends and doing bad in school. i didnt list it as a rec, but honestly do regret quitting.</p>
<p>Congrats Jag, that's really awesome!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Virtuoso, my daughter really loves Romantic era composers and performed the Chopin Ballade in g minor as one of her selections for a solo piano recital last spring. (Please ignore the bragging here... but I know you know what is involved here -- a lot of exasperation at times, right? ) She also performed some French Baroque (Rameau), MacDowell, Beethoven (the 3-movement Pathetique Sonata), and Liszt. The Chopin ballade is one she performs exceptionally well, I think, and you're right, it's a wonderfully passionate and complex piece. She passed CM Level 10 as a sophomore and then participated in Panel. She was invited to the state festival 7 times and has actually won MONEY from some competitions. (The money made a real impression on her the first time it happened!) Sounds like you're doing very well yourself!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hi norcaldad. Thanks for the encouragement. I am trying for panel this year as well, but the competition is stiff and I probably won't make it. I've never played in a competition or anything (my other teacher didn't do those). I've played the Pathetique although I haven't picked it up in a while. The first movement is killer though! To get it up to smooth and clean takes much skill. </p>
<p>I have a question about submitting a CD a of your playing to a college app. Would you send in a CD only if you're planning to be a music major, or can anyone send it in just as an extra, something to boost your application? Will admissions officers even look at it or consider it a nuisance if you're not applying as a music major?</p>
<p>i made the panel thing too, and i won some $ from piano competitions haha, and piano does help, but maybe i didn't bring it out properly. cuz my dad kinda went over my app and thought it was a good idea to kind of "show off" the piano stuff in my app, but looking back i think i shoulda shown that i had a deep passion and commitment to music (which i do) but i didn't show it well enough on my app. so just a heads up to ppl applying this year..show ur passion and submit cds etc.</p>
<p>Anyone can send one in, virtuoso. If they offer you a scholarship, though, they may require you to play in one of their ensembles like Jag said. </p>
<p>I got a scholarship from my local Band Boosters. I have to be in concert band for the first year, but I don't have to be a music major or anything. Different schools vary in their scholarship criteria, though.</p>
<p>Glad to see there are some pretty accomplished pianists in this thread. If you plan on making a recording (as a non major) you should limit the time to 15 min at the very most. Some colleges will provide guidelines for piece selection, but generally for piano what I would recommend is a selection of Bach (absolutely necessary) and one other piece you believe you perform strongly, preferably something more Romantic to demonstrate versatility. If you opt to have a third piece I would recommend a relatively brief etude (obviously if you put in an etude make sure it is the first track).</p>
<p>By the way, a couple schools specifically state that artistic supplements will not be considered in the admissions process. Just as a heads up.</p>
<p>Nice. So a CD will provide a little boost to your application?</p>
<p>Do you think Bach Prelude and Fugue no.17 in Ab from book I is a good choice? And Chopin ballade no.1? Or should I play a Chopin etude instead?</p>
<p>infamy, do you know if for panel you have to play a complete sonata or is that only for YAG? What was your repertoire for your panel audition?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have a question about submitting a CD a of your playing to a college app. Would you send in a CD only if you're planning to be a music major, or can anyone send it in just as an extra, something to boost your application? Will admissions officers even look at it or consider it a nuisance if you're not applying as a music major?
[/quote]
Virtuoso, as Veggz states... be aware of what individual schools will want/allow. Also, a CD that is sent to the Admissions people as a supplement to your application may not receive much attention or even get tossed. My daughter sent a copy of the CD to Admissions (at Emory) with another copy and letter to a music professor she had made contact with when we visited the campus. The purpose in sending to the music professor was also to be considered for a music scholarship, but it can also work in your favor because the music professor can then "nudge" the Admissions department. Serendipidously, this same professor was on the committe for the Emory Scholars Program, and that may have worked in my daughter's favor as well (she was named a semi-finalist, and though not named a finalist, was made a recipient of a very generous merit scholarship). Ultimately, she was not made a recipient of less than a handful of the music scholarships offered. However, the CD was used as her audition vehicle for a music major (requires audition), and she was accepted as a double major. The major benefit to her is that she will receive free instrument lessons (I've been paying $90/hr. to her current teacher.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do you think Bach Prelude and Fugue no.17 in Ab from book I is a good choice? And Chopin ballade no.1? Or should I play a Chopin etude instead?
[/quote]
I think this prelude/fugue would be great... the Ab key will display your skills better. As for Chopin, the ballade is simply too long, I think. An etude would be a good choice for your contrasting piece. Good luck!</p>
<p>Etudes are hard :) I don't know anyone my age that can play the double thirds etude. My piano teacher spent decades working on that piece; the double trills are the devil. I can't even do it at a slow speed because my fingers are too weak!</p>
<p>True, the thirds etude is crazily difficult. I haven't played and plan to keep away from it for a while...</p>
<p>CD recordings will help demonstrate your passion toward passion. However, only send in a recording if you are good. Music departments do not want to waste time listening to a mediocre performance.</p>
<p>Personally, I've been playing piano for 9 years, and I have take the ABRSMs, gone to the festivals, but I know I cannot compete with the kids that send in CD recordings, who are often Juliard material.</p>
<p>How do you decide whether it's worth sending in a CD?
I've been playing for 12 years, 13 by the time I graduate and it's a big part of my life. I attend a local music school, and I perform there a lot, festivals, master classes, student recitals, etc. This summer, I'm doing solo recitals (one this afternoon actually, at my music school, and one next week in Shanghai, China). My recital includes Bach Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major (Bk. 1, No. 21), Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 5 in c minor (Op. 10 No. 1), Brahms' two Rhapsodies (Op. 79 No.s 1&2), Two Debussy Preludes (Girl with the Flaxen Hair and Fireworks), Chopin Impromptu in Ab Major Op. 29, and Schubert Impromptu in Ab Major, Op. 90 No. 4.</p>
<p>Granted, I still don't think I'd ever would be Julliard material, but should I send in something anyways?</p>
<p>Good point, gxing- I forgot to mention that a subpar recording can actually hurt your chances rather than help them if the adcoms realize that you have made yourself out to be better than you actually are in your application. That is, make sure you get started on it early, and be fully prepared before you go into the studio (they are VERY expensive). Though you don't necessarily have to be quite Juilliard material (though you should understand that almost all of my friends from Juilliard precollege also applied to elite schools and sent in recordings), you want to be sure that you don't send in a recording that will put you in a bad light.</p>
<p>You should be able to listen to your recording and accurately gage out how good you are (if not, play a professional recording first and then yours). </p>
<p>I <em>always</em> recorded myself playing my etudes, pieces, and scales for Region and State competitions because anything funny/bad sounding jumps out on recording. That and dynamics...sometimes I thought I was giving it my all but could barely hear the difference on the recording. It's helped me tremendously as far as dynamic contrast goes.</p>
<p>juniorinhs,</p>
<p>
[quote]
How do you decide whether it's worth sending in a CD?
[/quote]
Very good question... and good comment by gxing... obviously, if you're going to go through the trouble of putting together a CD, make sure it works in your favor. I think veggz has some good points. All too often, your family and even your piano teacher may not be the best, most objective judges of quality. With my daughter, I am able to stay very objective. She will tell you that I have my "public face", which is encouraging and positive... and my "private face", which gives her the detailed criticism that she needs to build her skills (mind you, she has performed publicly in competitions/recitals for the past 12 years on average of 7 or 8 times a year, so critical feedback is needed more than if you do not compete much -- which is fine). In my opinion, most parents I've known think their kids are terrific -- and they are, but most are not virtuoso in their talent. It's sometimes difficult to admit that your son/daughter is less talented when compared against some brilliant performances, but that's reality sometimes.</p>
<p>My daughter's piano teacher is so intensely positive and encouraging that my daughter and I both feel that we can't always take her seriously. Sometimes, you know that you may have performed a piece to the "perfection" you wanted; however, the 3 adjudicators judged the performances to slightly different criteria. That's OK, so long as you've executed the nuanced interpretation as you know you wanted. For instance, Bach composed much of his music for harpsichord, prior to the advent of the piano. Some dynamic interpretations are innovations to Bach's music that he didn't intend, because the harpsichord doesn't provide for the same extent of dynamic control, e.g., peddling or even fundamental articulation of passages (e.g., crescendo/decrescendo) . The best bet is to get an informed person such as another piano teacher to give you the honest feedback you want. Nobody's saying you have to be the reincarnate of Vladimir Horowitz, but if you are only so-so, then a CD recording would not be worth it.</p>
<p>Here are a few considerations for a CD:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>SELECTIONS (choose contrasting pieces that will typically be compositions of different musical eras, plus pieces that will exploit your expressive and articulation abilities)</p></li>
<li><p>LENGTH (I wouldn't recommend more than 25-30 minutes of music total.)</p></li>
<li><p>QUALITY (It does no good to have expression that can't be discerned. A tape made on a cassette player probably won't cut it. We used a professional sound engineer and gained access to our church's sanctuary to use their concert-quality Steinway grand. It took a total of 2 hours of recording time -- each piece performed multiple times -- plus another hour of sound studio time by the engineer to tweak and enhance the sound to produce master CD's. Cost was $150. We kept all tracks and then "produced" a music CD on our home PC for family members and friends. When one of her recommending teachers received the CD, he raved (he's a big Beethoven fan, and she included some Beethoven) and said it was the best gift he could possibly receive from her.)</p></li>
<li><p>AUDIENCE (I think it makes sense to send to both the Admissions Dept. and the Music Dept., preferably a music professor who will be reviewing the piano auditions (or whatever instrument you play))</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I've been playing the piano for eleven years. I am also considering on sending music supplements to colleges. My biggest concern is the same as that of the OP's. I have been competing for over a decade now, and I have created recordings for a while. I took up violin at seven, but unlike the piano, I've never really performed outside of recitals and orchestra concerts. Although I am passionate in playing on the violin, I'm most likely not going to send out any violin samples because I'm just not as advanced as some other musicians are.</p>