String Auditions

Hi, can someone give me a detailed description on what to expect on audition day for strings? Thanks.

Audition days vary a lot by school! My S (wind player) did 7 auditions and every one was different, though there were common elements. Some were done within 2-3 hours, others had activities (both optional and required) all day. If you tell us some of the schools where you are auditioning we can offer better information.

I’m auditioning at USC soon

My son auditioned for USC popular music on guitar – he was asked to play two prepared pieces, and then they asked him a few questions about why USC, his background…it took about 20 mins total and then he took the music theory test, which took him about a half hour.

Are you auditioning on the overflow dates? The day was very well organized and everyone was very helpful and nice. Good luck!

I have a question about Thornton School audition if anyone could help me with, then I’d be really appreciate. My son had his audition on viola last weekend. The piano accompanist tole me that the playing time would be around 10 minutes since each audition is 15 minutes apart. My son’s audition went over time by 5 minutes and they didn’t ask him any questions. He went in at 2:15 and came out at 2:35 and he got to play a good portion of each piece. Is it a good sign?

There’s no way to know if there’s any meaning at all to the length of the audition. Could be good. Could be bad. Could mean nothing at all! You’ll just have to be patient and wait for the results. It seems like forever, but it’s only a few more weeks…

The problem is, this is my son’s only college application and only live audition-since he’s a high school junior applying USC’s RHP. We don’t even have a comparison. My best knowledge is all from CC forums.

How much of my rep should I expect to play?

I think you should prepare to play till the end of each piece. You’ll never know what they’d ask.

stressedsenior36
My S auditioned for USC violin performance three years ago. He was asked to play a good portion of each required pieces. He didn’t have to play the cadenza but they asked him to play whole “applicant’s choice” piece even it was about 10 min. long. They told him before he played the piece that this was the one they really would like to listen from him. They also asked him why he is applying USC and a few question about his Bach’s interpretation. Very organized and people were very friendly and sweet. The warm up room was so nice! It was a bit far from actual audition place but the small walk in the campus definitely made him relax. Good luck with your audition!

pdxtigermom
We intended to think that “over time” must be a good sign. However my S’s experiences tell me that we don’t know it was whether good or bad like SpiritManager says. USC is a school which send the admission decision by postal mails. You should check USC CC forums!

@violinmom29 thank you for your information. I’m not worried about the “overtime” anymore. I’m just a little confused by the panel not asking my son any questions. Maybe they’d already seen the notes written down by the lady at front desk. I just want to make sure the panel knows that my son is a high school junior applying RHP and USC is the only school he has applied.

pdxtigermom
I am sure they know your S is a high school junior applying RHP. The high school seniors who are applying to “first time freshman”, have to audition same time with people who are applying to their master’s program. Which tells me that the audition panel have to know. My S remembers that they were looking at some kind of papers while he was auditioning at USC. They may have the all student’s information in their hands.

Also my S was not asked any questions from at the panel of a few schools but he was still accepted. Again you will never know the reason why they didn’t ask your S any questions. One of my students auditioned Juilliard two years ago in piano. She was told very positive comments and asked very good questions. She got so excited because she though they really liked her. But she was not accepted. We will never know why they praised her at the audition.

I have a friend whose D was accepted USC with RHP in piano. Your S must be very smart!! Good luck