<p>I don't mean to be disrespectful in any way.
But honestly, putting down the debates you've been in?
I mean, just put down like, 'member of the Senior A school debating team', or "Regional representative", or "awarded Best Speaker in blah blah tournament", or something.
But really, I don't know if they wanna know the moots of every single debate you've been in, aye.</p>
<p>And Fur Elise, I really really really strongly discourage you from sending that in.
I mean, I guess it's too late now, but seriously, that isn't gonna help you in anyway whatsoever, and if anything, it'll probably harm you.
If you just write that you've got Grade 5 or whatever, at least you give them the benefit of doubt that you might be playing more advanced pieces.</p>
<p>And there are just a whole lot of other things there that won't help you in any way, like certificates of participation and stuff.
Any random kid can participate in most competitions, you just need to pay like $5 or whatever for the entrance fee.</p>
<p>Grade 5 if you follow most piano book levels is excellent. I am uncertain if he is refering to piano or year in that, but if it's piano, the basic grades are 1-5, beyond that is virtuoso. Grade 5 takes about 4-6 years to reach if you are a good student.</p>
<p>I really don't mean to undermine anybody's achievements or devalue them or whatever.
I really honestly don't.
But in ABRSM, and I know ABRSM as well as TCL exams, grade 5 is pretty average.
Seriously, a good student can get Grade 8 in a couple of years.
Of course, a normal average student who just gets a lesson a week or something, will take way more, like 5 ~ 6 years.
But any decent piano player will get up to Dip.ABRSM if not LRSM.
Look, Fur Elise, I've taught that piece to some people who were completely new to piano.
And after they practice it for a couple of months, and try to put in some emotion, they can play most of it pretty smoothly.
I am a piano player myself with my ATCL exam, equivalent of Dip.ABRSM, in a few months.
I just say that so that you know that I'm not just making stuff up.</p>
<p>There is grade 1 to about 3, which I'd call beginners/elementary.
Grade 4 to 6, pretty basic, but not completely beginners.
Grade 7 to 8, okay, fairly good.
Dip.ABRSM, quite good, can give basic concerts in small local settings.
LRSM, very good, can legitimately call himself an amateur pianist.
FRSM, is professional.</p>
<p>So Grade 5 and Fur Elise?
I don't think that's really outstandingly excellent that it deserves to go on an otherwise strong (but way too long) resume for Harvard, even if Harvard is not a professional music school.</p>
<p>What level books do you use? Maybe mine are really old, but the one's I use for my students (which are granted, once a week lessons), level 5 is about the top level, beyond that is the virtuoso series and the un-simplified piano pieces from the great composers.</p>
<p>well....see i agree with lots of people. Briliant opinions u guyz got. Let me correct something in here. In India we cant get into competitions by paying $5 or the equivalent as we have to be selected into it through our schools etc..I hope Harvard knows the Indian system. I agree 'bout Fur Elise but I had stopped playing the piano bout 5 yrs back ( i got bored..so idiotic of me). If u re-read my resume, u'll find I got many awards when I was young-significantly more than my age group. I know none of u have time for ramblings in this forum, but I just wanna mention that I sorta feel bad bout fooling around since the 8th grade........</p>
<p>by the way, i used to use Grade 6 to Grade 8 books. I could play Tarantella very well at one point of time..lol....the Fur Elise I played was unsimplified. I've decided to restart my piano playing. So evn if I dont get into Harvard, my re-interest will be a plus that came outta my apps. Sith,eric can u tell me where I can get unsimplified Chopin pieces from. I simply love his music after watching the pianist.</p>
<p>p.s. The Chopin nocturne that they used for The Pianist's trailers etc. was Nocturne in C# minor, Op. Posth. You might also like the Nocturne in E-, Op.72, No.1 (I "think" this was also used in The Pianist.)</p>
<p>Congrats on your rekindling of your piano passion; music is a GREAT thing to be involved with (especially the piano (or rap)--but I'm a bit biased.) </p>
<p>Try Chopin's Op.48 No.2 C minor Nocturne as well.
But just want to point out that Chopin's Nocturnes are much much much harder to play than they sound.
I mean, some of his nocturnes, like the one I am suggesting, is on the repertoire list for LTCL, equivalent to LRSM.
Enjoy his music, but do it justice.</p>