I’ve been playing the piano for a while now?
Posted on March 4, 2010
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Its been about 7 years and i really want to study music in a conservatory or college. Id say im about just there right at the end of intermediate and the beginning of advanced. I have 4 more years of school before i have to devote my life to what i want to do. I practice for hours a day and really love the piano. But the problem is, im not in that weird LSRM grade 8 testing craziness formalized piano bureaucracy thing. im just taking lessons from a book and from a pretty good teacher i think. Do i have a decent chance of getting into a college for music? or do they see that im not in that thing and immediately shun me?
March 4, 2010
From what you have said it will be problematic. You haven’t mentioned any repertoire, festivals, competitions or a real track record. I don’t want to discourage you but you may have to take a different course and go to a local college and look into a music education degree. You will be up against a lot of talented and hardworking people who have a lot of experience . Is your teacher certified and a member of a music teachers association that has events for you to establish a track record. If not you should find such a teacher. Best wishes.
March 4, 2010
You should find out the repertoire expectations of a conservatory you know to be demanding. Better to find the requirements expected of a first-semester freshman jury. Often, that repertoire is similar to what you should have been doing just prior auditioning. The first jury likely requires a Bach Prelude and Fugue from either books, you should have worked on several already. Ditto one Chopin Etude, etc, etc. Mozart, Beethoven, several sonatas, and on and on.
There is a value to performing in public (getting used to it) and playing in competitions (win or not the pressure is undergone, experienced, and survived.)
If those exams are a set standard in your country, they are likely expected from the conservatory of its applicants. You may have to bite the bullet and pay the money. I will be very interested to hear of your personal estimation of the teacher you are with now and the ‘official’ music teacher.
best regards, p.b.