<p>I'm considering applying to Yale next year, and I'm inclining towards doing the piano supplement. They say that you shouldn't upload anything unless you have "unusually high levels of talent". </p>
<p>2 Questions -</p>
<p>Do you think they would consider Chopin's Piano Sonata No.2 (Op.35, the Scherzo) as a high-level enough piece? That's the example they have on their website, although idk if that's good enough for them.</p>
<p>If you've gotten in (or know someone who has) with a piano supplement, what repertoire did you play?</p>
<p>My son submitted a piano supplement two years ago – a Chopin Etude (“Winter Wind”) and a Bach Prelude & Fugue. That year, the requirement was two contrasting pieces, ten minutes total. The length thing was a challenge – it’s tough to find two contrasting, short-ish options. You should definitely contact the Department of Music to see what the precise requirements will be next year with respect to both repertoire and length. Based on previous requirements, a full movement of a sonata would be too long.</p>
<p>I have another take, based on no experience whatsoever: If you are asking the question “Is this piece high-level [i.e., difficult] enough?”, that’s an indication that your level of talent isn’t unusually high. Unusually high talent usually shows well regardless of the technical difficulty of a piece, and mere ability to finger something technically difficult – unless it’s really extraordinary – doesn’t come close to constituting unusual talent.</p>
<p>That’s kind of a harsh response, JHS. I agree that only an exceptionally talented musician benefits from submitting a music supplement, but I don’t think from the OP’s brief post we can determine whether he has the necessary chops. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. For the record, the scherzo from the Chopin B-flat minor piano concerto is a pretty virtuosic piece of music; you need more than merely pedestrian talent just to play it.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with whether recordings of original pieces are accepted if the applicant does not notate the work? I regularly improvise pieces, but I do not notate them.</p>
<p>Perhaps to rephrase a bit what others are saying–before deciding to submit a musical performance supplement, it pays to get a reality check on whether it will show “unusual talent” in the context of other Yale applicants. You may be able to get this reality check from a music teacher–but perhaps not from your family members. Another way of asking this: will the other parts of your resume also suggest that you have unusual talent on this instrument? For example, have you won competitions, performed as a soloist, attended selective summer programs, studied with a well-known teacher? Or will it simply say, “have taken piano lessons for twelve years.”?</p>
<p>As for silverturtle’s question, are you talking about jazz improvisation?</p>
<p>I think Hunt has it just right: External indicia will tell you whether you have the “unusually high level of talent” Yale and peer schools are listening for in a music supplement. I’d add to his list of possible signs participation in master classes with well-known musicians.</p>
<p>I’ve won piano state competitions, performed at conferences (with others, not a solo recital), and am scheduled to attend a prestigious summer program (not nationally, but in my region of the country). </p>
<p>My fear is that my supplement won’t hold up against the likes of those who’ve been to Tanglewood and have done (and won) every single possible music award. Furthermore, I’m vietnamese-american (good or bad?). While I think I could hold my own, I don’t want to shoot my chances down by presenting a ‘less than stellar’ supplement. The Chopin Sonata scherzo I mentioned isn’t out of reach - I’m about to start new pieces (which I haven’t decided on yet) , and any more advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>No one has won every single music award possible. I think that as a general rule, your playing should be conservatory quality to warrant submitting a supplement to Yale. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Juillliard quality, though.</p>
<p>Does your teacher have experience helping students prepare music supplements for highly selective colleges and/or conservatories? If so, s/he should be able to assess whether your work is strong to warrant submission. Otherwise, try to find a teacher who has experience helping students prepare CDs for top colleges and/or conservatories and who is willing to evaluate your playing.</p>
<p>I submitted a music supplement (clarinet, not piano, but still).
I haven’t won (or even competed in) state competitions, only regional. I’ve only performed solo once (at a nice symphony hall) and I haven’t been to any summer music camp. I did get into Yale.
You might think I had other stellar extracurriculars to make up for it, but I didn’t. I had clarinet down as my #1 extracurricular, the symphony for which I played clarinet as #2. I wrote passionately about music in both of the essays I sent to Yale.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I don’t have “unusually high levels of talent” in music, and I pretty much banked my entire application on it. So, if it really hurt to submit a supplement that isn’t completely amazing, I think I would’ve been one of the first to be knocked out. I really think that the “warning” you mention above is just to weed out the people who just “play” an instrument. You’re clearly pretty serious about piano, so go for it!</p>
<p>I plan to send a piano supplement along with a letter of interest and updates this week to Yale since I’m currently on the waiting list. I’m playing Chopin Nocturne #20 in C Sharp Minor along with another piece I haven’t decided yet. I’ll probably choose a much faster and chaotic piece.</p>
<p>It is my opinion–just an opinion, mind you–that an arts supplement that isn’t stellar won’t hurt you–it just won’t help you. An arts supplement that is actually bad, however, really could hurt you by suggesting you don’t know what you are doing.</p>
<p>Rep selection in and of itself is not necessarily indicative of technical or artistic ability. The common wisdom is to nail the highest level piece you can master, rather than muddle through a more technically challenging option.</p>
<p>No one here can assess your ability without hearing you play.</p>
<p>These decisions about rep are often best done in conjunction with your private instructor/mentor.</p>
<p>Your credentials as presented suggest a piano supplement MAY be appropriate in your case. </p>
<p>The advice to seek professional outside assessment is sound in attempting to “peg” you within an international pool of highly accomplished musicians. </p>
<p>Questions like this are usually best addressed to a knowledgeable authoritative source from the school(s) to which you are sending the sup. You may be given free rein, they may want selections from the standard literature.</p>
<p>I think you might be doing yourself a potential disservice by sending in a sup of original material. Has any been published, premiered? If so, then my response may well change.</p>
<p>If you are applying for the BA in music, with a composition focus the answer swings to maybe, dependent upon how much prior contact you may have had with the department and faculty.</p>
<p>If the sup is to be comprised of original material, I would send a full score, but you are in a better position if you follow any published guidelines from Yale, or call for clarification.</p>
<p>Thank you; I will contact the colleges. I hope I am allowed to directly convey my passion, as it is in many ways integral to my life. If it comes to it, however, I will merely send in a sample that is consistent with the requirements for pre-written piano literature.</p>