<p>ok i posted this on the princeton forum, but was wondering the general sentiment to this topic...</p>
<p>i spent a lot of time on violin, i practice maybe an hour and half a day, and have done so for the past 10 years... but, i don't want to send in a recording that's not spectacular, and have them construe it as arrogance, in addition i don't want to audition prior to applying and have that lower my chances... perhaps half of this stems from insecurity of how good i am, but i'm really on the fence here, i hear that submitting it can only be a plus, but i'm afraid it comes back to haunt me</p>
<p>& my essay is on music, as are a lot of my activities, would it be frowned upon if i didn't submit this part?</p>
<p>First off, I don't know the specifics about Princeton. However, I don't know of any non-conservatories that offer auditions, even to prospective music majors. </p>
<p>Unless you are really an abysmal musician, I am sure that after the amount of time you seem to spend on music you are good enough to make a recording. I do NOT agree at all that submitting it can only be a plus, though. If you submit it, it will be evaluated. I don't think it would be frowned upon that you didn't send a tape, but I think that you should send one. </p>
<p>What you should really do is ask your teacher. If your violin teacher says that you shouldn't submit a tape, then by all means do not do it. If, as I suspect, your teacher thinks you should send one, then get that music ready and record it ASAP. There's not too much time to waste.</p>
<p>I went to a recording studio that my teacher recommended. The charge was $50 / hour, plus the CDs. If you decide to make one, ask your teacher what pieces to put on. I would suggest 2-3 pieces that are different from each other (different tempos, time periods, skills used, etc.) that you know well. Do not try to include a piece you have just recently learned. Put on pieces that you enjoy playing and are comfortable with. My CD had three pieces: a simple and lyrical piece that showed musical interpretation, a dramatic piece that showcased one technical aspect of my playing, and a technically difficult piece written by a well known composer on my instrument.</p>
<p>cujoe169 -- could you please clarify a couple of things? Are you planning on majoring in music? If you are interested in performance, according to their website, the Princeton program offers a certificate and the audition for admittance takes place at the end of the sophomore or beginning of the junior year. Other than performance, it is not clear why an audition would be required. LACs and Universities with large/strong music programs require auditions for all performance majors and typically a student would need admittance to both the school and the music program. </p>
<p>If you are being asked for a recording, the standard these days for major music programs is a CD; but if the recording is an additional aspect of your general admittance package, a recording on high quality microphone and cassette may suffice. Ask for clarification to make sure what they are looking for -- Good luck with your admission and your music.</p>
<p>noo... not a major in performance, but it is really important to me that a school has a strong music program... not really sure why, i don't have to audition, but the apps sometimes say it's recommended to show an interest in the arts, which again makes up a lot of my app...</p>
<p>i guess this is too specific to generalize to all schools, thanks for the help tho</p>
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<p>However, I don't know of any non-conservatories that offer auditions, even to prospective music majors.>></p>
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<p>I'm not sure what you mean by this...DD is not applying to Ivy type schools. However, she will be auditioning at U of South Carolina as a non-major in music. This audition will be for music merit aid which is awarded to non-majors who wish to continue studying music and playing in ensembles. </p>
<p>One note on this thread...many (and I mean MANY) students applying to the Ivy League schools are accomplished violin players.</p>
<p>I said I didn't know of any--not that they do not exist. However, I am not at all surprised that a school would require an audition before scholarship money is given out. The majority of the schools I am applying to do not offer merit aid, so I overlooked that possibility.</p>
<p>As Thumer said, these schools get tons of violinists. The chances that you would ever have the opportunity to play in one of Princeton's more selective orchestras is pretty small, I would guess. Top schools have numerous unbelievably talented musicians, so unless you are better than they are or play a intrument in higher demand, I think that you probably will not get to play in a high level orchestra (assuming this is your goal).</p>
<p>The nice thing about many colleges, though, is that new musc groups get formed all the time by students who did not get to join the existing ones.</p>
<p>i'm thoroughly confused, i know of some <em>ahem</em> very mediocre musicians in some of these ivy orchestra's it almost seems like some of the top players shy away from doing it... that seems odd to me, it's also a small shimmer of hope that i'd actually get to play</p>
<p>I don't have an answer to your main question, but if you are an extremely talented musician and looking for a career in the field, then try applying to Julliard.</p>
<p>I would not give up on playing with the Princeton orchestra so easily, particularly if cujoe is at the level where he has a complete violin concerto ready to record. I did not attend Princeton, but was a member of one of their musical ensembles more years ago than I care to admit. At least at that time, the students in the music department tended more to musicology and composition than performance. There were some outstanding instrumentalists, but not so many that they would turn away a really good violin player. Having heard them play a couple of years ago, I don't think the situation has changed all that much.</p>
<p>As to what cujoe should include on his recording, I would think contrasting movements from a concerto would do nicely. If you happen to have a Bach partita or something of similar difficulty from a musical period that is different from your concerto, that would make a solid addition. If you can afford a few hours of studio time, that is a far better way to go than trying to record it yourself on your PC. A poorly made recording of the best playing in the world can still sound like crap.</p>
<p>Cujoe, I see that you are also from NJ (if unwillingly so.) If you need references for a studio, send me a PM and I may be able to give you a few if you are not too far from the part of the state I live in.</p>
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I don't have an answer to your main question, but if you are an extremely talented musician and looking for a career in the field, then try applying to Julliard.
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<p>no chance, i'm not that good! haha, i'm maybe good enough to make regionals, probably not all state cuz well, i live in jersey...</p>
<p>as for repertoire, i shyed away from the sonatas and partitas having only played the partita no 3 in e major... and i'll see about the recording part, i'm still torn, gonna ask the teacher again this week</p>
<p>How impressive is making All-State band in a competitive state (MA)? Is it okay but nothing to get excited about, or is it fairly impressive? Btw if it matters I play clarinet.</p>
<p>I think it certainly connotes a certain level of musicianship. My son went to All-State band and orchestra three times, and it was a great experience. But, many good musicians don't enter the festival competitions for one reason or another, so there are more players at that level (or higher) than you might think.</p>
<p>It also depends on the instrument. The competition can be tough among the violins, cellos, clarinets and flutes. In my daughter's sophomore year, only two bass players tried out for all-state band. (Yes, the band and the wind ensemble each take one string bass.) Both of them made it. That same year the orchestra was looking for a harpist right up to the first rehearsal.</p>
<p>Lkf725 is right though, some excellent student musicians don't bother with high school honors ensembles. Still, making all-state on clarinet in a populous state like Massachusetts is a nice credential to have on a college application.</p>