<p>Do any of you know what to expect for the sight-reading portions of the live auditions? My DS is auditioning for classical piano performance and sight-reading has always been his nemesis. </p>
<p>My sincere thanks for any guidance you can provide!</p>
<p>Ah yes, he's gotten live auditions so far for Oberlin, Thornton/USC, U. Michigan and Vanderbilt. He's still waiting to hear from Eastman, Juilliard and NEC.</p>
<p>It’s just one component of the audition, so he needs to be as fully prepared as he can possibly be for everything within his control. He’s still got a few weeks, so he could be working on the sight reading with his teacher until the auditions begin.</p>
<p>My D did not audition for Vanderbilt, NEC or Juilliard, but among the rest I believe Oberlin was the only school that asked her to sight-read. It was not a very hard piece but of course the student is nervous – I think she tried her best to maintain a steady tempo and left out notes (i.e. playing just melody and bass line) when she had to! They were quite friendly and welcoming there. It’s sight reading, so no one is expecting perfection…Keep in mind this was two years ago and the schools may have changed what they do during auditions. Best of luck on all his auditions!</p>
<p>Thank you both so much. I really appreciate your replies. He has been practicing his sight-reading, but he gets anxious. </p>
I can’t speak for all schools, or of piano specifically, but I have heard of very few people being asked to sight read on auditions, and it definitely didn’t happen with my son’s auditions (though he was on violin, maybe piano is different???").
With sight reading, the key is not perfection as last bird said, with sight reading what they usually are looking for, going back to my days in band competitions back in the dark ages, was to see how well someone grasped looking at a piece the basics, the key signature, the tempo/meter and how well they could get the basic note structure, ie 1/8th v 16th note and so forth. If my understanding is correct (and again, take it FWIW, since it is just my impression), even if they ask for sigh reading I suspect it won’t weigh anywhere near as much as playing the prepared pieces well.
Thanks. He’s been practicing his sight-reading a fair amount, almost to the detriment of his other repertoire. Very glad to hear what you think. Thank you!
I’ve never heard of anyone being asked to sight-read at an audition, either (except for lastbird’s D, noted above.)
Doesn’t Oberlin require sight-reading? Maybe it’s specifically for piano, since they need to be able to accompany.
My D had to sight read for horn at her U Mich audition, but no idea if it’s required for piano or other instruments.
That’s good to know, since my son is also auditioning at U. Michigan as well. It certainly won’t be the highlight of his audition, but hopefully it will be good enough. Thank you for letting me know.
I remember my son having to sight read on marimba for his percussion audition at Eastman. It was actually from a an old book that he knew. It worked out as he is a very happy Sophomore there.
The only time my daughter had to sight read for an audition was for a scholarship position (in an orchestra) when she was 13. They handed her a quartet part to read and she blurted, “But I learned this at camp last summer!” (They gave her an A for honesty.)
That’s a great story. My son’s Oberlin audition is on Jan. 11. So I’ll let you know what happens. I don’t think he would be that honest.
Most of my daughter’s schools have stated they ask for sight-reading at the audition - this is for voice. I don’t know how heavily it’s weighted, but she’s a good sight reader.
At Ithaca all who audition have to do sight singing, which I know is quite different than sight reading on your instrument.
Two years ago - no sight-reading required at Michigan for piano.
Oooh, that’s wonderful. Thank you!
Oberlin had sight reading on viola, but it was pretty easy according to my kid.
My son has his Oberlin audition this weekend. Thanks for letting me know! How did it go?
The audition went well, other aspects did not and we ended up at a rival institution. Some friends are going there and they all love it.