I am a junior in high school, and I am looking for a piece that I can record and send to my prospective colleges...a little early, I know, but I want to have as much time as I need. I'm looking for something a bit out of the ordinary...I'm a big fan of gypsy and klezmer-esque music, and I'm looking for something like that that is relatively technically challenging. Basically I don't want to do the typical classical suite that I have had to do for so many audition pieces. Any suggestions would be fabulous, thanks!
You really should consider doing the classical stuff even if you don't really want to. Most schools listening to the tapes will want to know you can play Mozart or Bach or Telemann or whoever well. Klezmer/Gypsy-esque music plays a much less dominant role in the flute literature than other styles of music, and assuming you'll be auditioning into a flute studio, you won't be playing too much Klezmer. Not to mention that many schools have requirements on what you must play that includes classical/baroque music. Check out the requirements of schools you're thinking of applying to, and make a decision based on what they want.
ditto. I would also work up some contrasting pieces. I played (for my college auditions) Mozart's Concerto in G major, and I played the "Saraband" movement from Bach's Partita in A minor. So, have some variety in your choices. Have one or two really technical pieces that are very well known, and have one or two pieces to show off you musicality.
However, if the pieces are really famous, make sure that your teacher helps you with them, so that way you dont accidentally butcher them, and ruin your audition(s).
I want the recording to be more of a suppliment than anything else...I'm looking to add to my application (my top choice is Dartmouth) rather than have the tape be my biggest thing. I want it to be a "well, she's a good flute player in addition to the other things, so let's let her in!" kind of thing. You do have a very good point about the classical stuff...I might end up doing both. What do you think of doing a Bach or Mozart and then doing a klezmer in addition? As I said, I want to go for something a little out of the ordinary...and even if I don't use it for a college piece I wouldn't be the worse off for another solo!
I love the recording that I have of Mozart's concerto in G, thanks for the suggestion...and I also will look into any required repetoire that they have. And yes...not butchering audition pieces is always a good thing!
I want the recording to be more of a suppliment than anything else...I'm looking to add to my application (my top choice is Dartmouth) rather than have the tape be my biggest thing. I want it to be a "well, she's a good flute player in addition to the other things, so let's let her in!" kind of thing.
So are you headed into music, or is the tape just to show your strengths in music, but you'll be majoring in something else? If you don't have any intention of becoming a music major, Klezmer and a little classical might make a nice tape just to show you off, but if you're going for a flute studio as a BM student, some classical/baroque, mixed with a little "out there" modern music might be a better way to go to get your fill of unusual music, and still show off your strengths as a musician in such a way that would appeal to the auditors.
Mmm...I'm planning on majoring in English, although I want to be involved with the music program at whatever school I end up getting into. Sorry, that would have been a good thing to mention at the getgo, wouldn't it...
So it brings me back to my original question, I guess. I still want to have a fairly impressive audition tape that's technical and still shows off my musicality, so I'm leaning towards the Klezmer/classical right now.
That sounds like a good plan, at least to me. Most schools have groups you can perform in even if you aren't a music major, and some of these don't even require auditions. The Klezmer/classical combo should make an interesting tape, which is never a bad thing.
Are there any klezmer pieces that you know of that are technical? The classical will be easy, I'm leaning towards that concerto in G already but, as you mentioned, there isn't a ton of klezmer flute literature, at least that I know of.
I'm afraid I can't help you there. Klezmer is not my particular area of interest. You might want to join the Galway Flute Chat, and Flutenet (both Yahoo groups) and ask there. There are a huge number of flutists on those sites, with a huge number of interests, and if anyone can help you, chances are you'll find them there.
Check the archives of the Larry Krantz flute pages, the posters' lists, (or maybe just search his site), as I know there are some posters who are avid klezmer musicians, and have posted in the past.
You might also consider doing something more technical in the classical realm if you can't find a suitably technical Klezmer piece. Let the Klezmer show off your musicality.
If you can work out the logistics, I'd suggest making an appointment to play for someone on the music faculty, in addition to sending a tape with your application package.
There is no guarantee that the application committee is going to hunt down a tape recorder and listen to your tape. However, if you meet with someone in the music department (say, whoever is the wind teacher) and let both your musical prowess and your enthusiasm for Dartmouth shine, that can go a long way towards your acceptance.
When I applied to college, I made an appointment to meet with the music department (I didn't even think to make a tape; however, I knew that my GPA/SAT/ACT numbers were well over the acceptance average at the one college I applied to, so I wasn't terribly concerned) and this really helped me a lot -- when it came time for auditions my freshman year, I'd already taken a great step towards "establishing" myself as a reliable musician within the department, even though I'd just set foot on campus three days before.
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