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Wow I totally didn't notice you said you got an audition, not acceptance yet -- sorry if I jumped the gun with congratulations. My well wishes still stand though!
Like HCastorp suggests above me, you should think about where you want to go with music. If you're really interested in teaching band, it may be better to try for Music Education rather than Piano Performance, as the audition may be less demanding (I'm not actually sure if that's the case though)... and if you aren't willing to put in the hours of practice required to do well with a performance major (I'm talking 5-8 hrs a day, I don't think you can get away with less than 3), definitely consider majoring in something else while taking lessons. I ended up dropping the BMus because I didn't have enough time to practice after all the engineering psets. Anyway, let me know if there's anything I can do to help for your audition!
I dug up my old college app recordings for nostalgia's sake -- although recordings never seem to go as well as you'd like them to: My College Audition CD
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Hey I know you, you're a good Terran. I hope you get in, I have a few friends in the school of Music at Michigan. I'm not gonna lie though, they're good. I did S&E too with similar scores as yours and I don't think I could have had a chance to get into the School of Music. But I'm a violin player. Also keep in mind, S&E, at least I don't think, grades that harshly, there's not much separation between good and great.
I hope you get in! If you have anything to change on the app, I'd suggest calling into the school. They're usually very helpful.
Go Blue!
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On January 27 2012 14:21 HCastorp wrote: I just want to make sure I understand - you were admitted to UM and are attending, but still have to audition to see if you can be admitted to the music school?
Even if you are not admitted to the music school you should be able to take private piano lessons with a grad student and perhaps re-apply after a year or two.
Another important thing to do to contact some member of the piano faculty and try to have a meeting or even a lesson (if you can afford it) around the time of the audition. Regardless of whether you are admitted they will be able to give you good advice.
I think you should take some time to consider the role music plays in your life, and what role you want it to play in your future. Enjoying playing the piano is not enough to make a music degree a good idea. You have to think about what you will really be doing with that degree. You are ahead of many others in that you realize you will be teaching. Your decision is not really about music, it is about teaching. Does being a general music teacher, or band teacher, or private piano teacher sound good to you? If so, go for it. If not, get a degree in something else and take advantage of the opportunity college will give you to have piano lessons with a good teacher at no cost for four years. For reference, I have a BM in piano performance from a conservatory, and am currently working mostly as a private piano teacher. I never planned on being a teacher (I never planned on much of anything, whihc is part of the problem) but luckily I have found I really enjoy it. Even so, I regret not getting a more well-rounded education - I think I would probably have been happier doing a dual-degree program at a regular school. But hindsight can be misleading. I had a good time and consider myself pretty fortunate to be able make a living doing something I enjoy - and the conservatory degree has definitely smoothed that path.
One of my cousins did a four year music ed program that sounds similar to what you are thinking of, and she is very happy as an orchestra teacher in Texas - which despite its reputation for ignorance has some of the best public school music programs in the country. It seems strange to me that you would mention being a band teacher without playing a band instrument though - you do realize that you will have to learn *all* of them, right?
If by any chance you live in the NYC area, or are traveling through it on your way to visit/audition, I would be happy to try and help you prepare for your audition, just send me a PM.
Wow, thanks so much for the advice! That is correct, I have gotten into UM, and am going to try to get into the UM School of Music. If not, I can try to get in later like you've said, and meanwhile take lessons from the supposedly great music school :D (For UMich though actually, you do have to pay an extra $200 per semester, but that's still worth the price). If by some awesome chance I can get in my first year, I could even dual-degree for 5 years to, as you say, get a broader education! (Well I can dual-degree by starting music later as well, but usually it seems that it's better to start music before the 2nd degree simply because the music courses are more sequential)
Yup, I've thought a lot about what band teachers do and things they have to worry about, etc. etc., I think it suits me. And I do play a band instrument actually, it's just that my "main" instrument is the piano so I auditioned on that! I play flute .
Wow, once again thanks for your kindness. Too bad I don't live in that area ^^
On January 27 2012 15:36 Melchior wrote:Wow I totally didn't notice you said you got an audition, not acceptance yet -- sorry if I jumped the gun with congratulations. My well wishes still stand though! Like HCastorp suggests above me, you should think about where you want to go with music. If you're really interested in teaching band, it may be better to try for Music Education rather than Piano Performance, as the audition may be less demanding (I'm not actually sure if that's the case though)... and if you aren't willing to put in the hours of practice required to do well with a performance major (I'm talking 5-8 hrs a day, I don't think you can get away with less than 3), definitely consider majoring in something else while taking lessons. I ended up dropping the BMus because I didn't have enough time to practice after all the engineering psets. Anyway, let me know if there's anything I can do to help for your audition! I dug up my old college app recordings for nostalgia's sake -- although recordings never seem to go as well as you'd like them to: My College Audition CD
Oh haha, I thought maybe you were talking about getting into the school UM, in which I did get into.
And once again thanks... this is an old thread haha, I have a bunch of these threads about college/life/music... Music Education of course is where I'll be going with, not a Piano Performance + Teaching Certificate (I realize now that that doesn't certify you to become a band teacher, it simply lets you teach piano in public schools, and, well, that's not something you see in public schools anyways)
Yeah I did hear that engineering is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, degrees to dual-degree with music/performance.
Thanks for your help
Oh, is that CD your prescreening or is that your final audition? Listening to it and wowwwww you were so good xD (still are, right?)
On January 27 2012 15:40 Chaggi wrote: Hey I know you, you're a good Terran. I hope you get in, I have a few friends in the school of Music at Michigan. I'm not gonna lie though, they're good. I did S&E too with similar scores as yours and I don't think I could have had a chance to get into the School of Music. But I'm a violin player. Also keep in mind, S&E, at least I don't think, grades that harshly, there's not much separation between good and great.
I hope you get in! If you have anything to change on the app, I'd suggest calling into the school. They're usually very helpful.
Go Blue!
=O did we meet somewhere before? CSL?
Thank you! Yup you're right, it's either you do well on your performance and get an A or Division I (they seem to be much easier on piano players and much harder on wind/brass though... which is strange since usually people start with piano much earlier), until you get to State S&E level where they grade you out of 100 (50 of those points are for your solo selection here).
I can second that, they are amazingly helpful and convenient! Before I was really afraid to call them, worrying that they're really busy and all that, and not wanting to help... but they are all really friendly and upbeat and seem to know almost exactly what you want to find out even if you don't word or explain it well xD
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Nope almost 100% never met, but you have a lot of cool replays and strats that I use to mix it up. I think I use one of your TvP strats, not sure. I graduated in 2010, when SC2 wasn't even out yet and headed to S Korea. Unless you've been in S Korea in the last 2 years, we haven't met
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how long have you been playing piano?
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Fuck yeah! Congrats on the audition, Yoshi! Kick some ass!
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On January 27 2012 17:09 Chaggi wrote:Nope almost 100% never met, but you have a lot of cool replays and strats that I use to mix it up. I think I use one of your TvP strats, not sure. I graduated in 2010, when SC2 wasn't even out yet and headed to S Korea. Unless you've been in S Korea in the last 2 years, we haven't met
Oh haha ok. I was wondering how you knew me.
Oh i see =O
On January 27 2012 21:13 forelmashi wrote: how long have you been playing piano?
Exposed to it when I was 2-3, wasn't patient enough to start learning (or rather, my mom/brother/dad aren't good teachers, they're impatient, etc. etc.). My brother started teaching me when I was 4-5, and then I got piano lessons at 5.
I never practiced much though... aside from the 30 minute piano lesson, I would only practice about an hour a week... once I hit later elementary school and middle school I was practicing like 30 minutes a week. I really regret it but at the same time I'm surprised I'm not as bad as I think I should be. If I had played 1 hour a day, or heck even 2 hours, I can't imagine how much better I would be.
On January 27 2012 23:42 Aeres wrote: Fuck yeah! Congrats on the audition, Yoshi! Kick some ass!
Please fuck me!!! kick my ass!
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Good luck! Just finishing up my last semester here at UofM Best place ever <3
I am so jealous you are starting this process and (unbiasedly of course) think you should Go Blue. I have a friend (and TLer!) who is a UofM piano music major (double major with Econ, which is what I am studying). I'll try and get him to check this out and share any advice he has.
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On January 28 2012 05:36 imPERSONater wrote:Good luck! Just finishing up my last semester here at UofM Best place ever <3 I am so jealous you are starting this process and (unbiasedly of course) think you should Go Blue. I have a friend (and TLer!) who is a UofM piano music major (double major with Econ, which is what I am studying). I'll try and get him to check this out and share any advice he has.
Wow that'd be great :D And yes I should definitely go Blue I 99% will at this point.
Do you play an instrument too then?
Too bad I won't get to see you there next year though lol
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On January 27 2012 16:43 Yoshi Kirishima wrote:Oh haha, I thought maybe you were talking about getting into the school UM, in which I did get into. And once again thanks... this is an old thread haha, I have a bunch of these threads about college/life/music... Music Education of course is where I'll be going with, not a Piano Performance + Teaching Certificate (I realize now that that doesn't certify you to become a band teacher, it simply lets you teach piano in public schools, and, well, that's not something you see in public schools anyways) Yeah I did hear that engineering is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, degrees to dual-degree with music/performance. Thanks for your help Oh, is that CD your prescreening or is that your final audition? Listening to it and wowwwww you were so good xD (still are, right?)
The CD is one of those "supplemental materials" I sent to the other non-music schools I applied to and not an actual audition tape -- however, those are the pieces I auditioned with, minus the Liszt. I wish I was still good! I pretty much stopped after my third year, and the past couple years post-graduation have been a little rough career-wise so I hadn't gotten around to picking it back up. Reading your thread yesterday inspired me to play again for an hour or so though. Fingers incredibly rusty but surprising how much music I still have memorized! I think I'll try to aim for my just-entering-college level again at least.
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Hi there Yoshi! First of all, congrats on getting an audition!
I'm currently a Piano Performance major at Michigan, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the audition process. I don't know too much about the teaching certificate program, but I can referr you to some friends in the program if you'd like. Feel free to reply or shoot me a PM if you'd like to chat.
As for audition "difficulty," I still have my old audition recordings from 3.5 years ago if you want to listen, though keep in mind that the competativeness of the audition process changes from year to year, since there are only 6-8 slots for piano students per year.
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On January 28 2012 06:01 Hapahauli wrote: Hi there Yoshi! First of all, congrats on getting an audition!
I'm currently a Piano Performance major at Michigan, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the audition process. I don't know too much about the teaching certificate program, but I can referr you to some friends in the program if you'd like. Feel free to reply or shoot me a PM if you'd like to chat.
As for audition "difficulty," I still have my old audition recordings from 3.5 years ago if you want to listen, though keep in mind that the competativeness of the audition process changes from year to year, since there are only 6-8 slots for piano students per year.
Holy geez! 6-8? I hope you mean piano performance, not just piano in general? =O
I've actually read that 2 years (or was it 3?) ago, their website stressed that while an audition could help your chances of getting in, piano skills weren't actually needed. It was strictly for piano placement. And like you said it changes from year to year. Not sure how helpful it will be Thanks though! If I need it later it'd be great if you let me listen.
On January 28 2012 05:55 Melchior wrote:Show nested quote +On January 27 2012 16:43 Yoshi Kirishima wrote:Oh haha, I thought maybe you were talking about getting into the school UM, in which I did get into. And once again thanks... this is an old thread haha, I have a bunch of these threads about college/life/music... Music Education of course is where I'll be going with, not a Piano Performance + Teaching Certificate (I realize now that that doesn't certify you to become a band teacher, it simply lets you teach piano in public schools, and, well, that's not something you see in public schools anyways) Yeah I did hear that engineering is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, degrees to dual-degree with music/performance. Thanks for your help Oh, is that CD your prescreening or is that your final audition? Listening to it and wowwwww you were so good xD (still are, right?) The CD is one of those "supplemental materials" I sent to the other non-music schools I applied to and not an actual audition tape -- however, those are the pieces I auditioned with, minus the Liszt. I wish I was still good! I pretty much stopped after my third year, and the past couple years post-graduation have been a little rough career-wise so I hadn't gotten around to picking it back up. Reading your thread yesterday inspired me to play again for an hour or so though. Fingers incredibly rusty but surprising how much music I still have memorized! I think I'll try to aim for my just-entering-college level again at least.
Ah I see xD I thought something was off, since I didn't see a complete sonata which is usually required for a performance degree, but I saw 5 instead of 3 songs (performance degree is usually the only one that requires 5 pieces), so I was a bit confused.
Haha, yea memory is a cool thing. You can relearn a piece much much faster than you first learn it. Good luck on your career, hope you find time to play piano if that's what you want :D
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On January 28 2012 06:18 Yoshi Kirishima wrote:Show nested quote +On January 28 2012 06:01 Hapahauli wrote: Hi there Yoshi! First of all, congrats on getting an audition!
I'm currently a Piano Performance major at Michigan, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the audition process. I don't know too much about the teaching certificate program, but I can referr you to some friends in the program if you'd like. Feel free to reply or shoot me a PM if you'd like to chat.
As for audition "difficulty," I still have my old audition recordings from 3.5 years ago if you want to listen, though keep in mind that the competativeness of the audition process changes from year to year, since there are only 6-8 slots for piano students per year. Holy geez! 6-8? I hope you mean piano performance, not just piano in general? =O I've actually read that 2 years (or was it 3?) ago, their website stressed that while an audition could help your chances of getting in, piano skills weren't actually needed. It was strictly for piano placement. And like you said it changes from year to year. Not sure how helpful it will be Thanks though! If I need it later it'd be great if you let me listen.
Oh sorry, yeah 6-8 slots for Piano Performance enrolees. I wasn't aware there was a non-performance piano degree though. There are pianists in the music school who are Music Ed, Performing Arts Tech, or Composition majors, but they aren't considered Piano majors unless they are also doing a Piano Performance degree.
As for the "piano skills not required" bit, you don't really need much performance background if you're just applying for music education or a teaching certificate. If you are interested in getting in to Piano Performance or doing a dual degree with Performance and Music Ed, I believe you need quite a bit of piano expertise.
Then again, things could have changed since I applied...
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On January 28 2012 07:14 Hapahauli wrote:Show nested quote +On January 28 2012 06:18 Yoshi Kirishima wrote:On January 28 2012 06:01 Hapahauli wrote: Hi there Yoshi! First of all, congrats on getting an audition!
I'm currently a Piano Performance major at Michigan, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the audition process. I don't know too much about the teaching certificate program, but I can referr you to some friends in the program if you'd like. Feel free to reply or shoot me a PM if you'd like to chat.
As for audition "difficulty," I still have my old audition recordings from 3.5 years ago if you want to listen, though keep in mind that the competativeness of the audition process changes from year to year, since there are only 6-8 slots for piano students per year. Holy geez! 6-8? I hope you mean piano performance, not just piano in general? =O I've actually read that 2 years (or was it 3?) ago, their website stressed that while an audition could help your chances of getting in, piano skills weren't actually needed. It was strictly for piano placement. And like you said it changes from year to year. Not sure how helpful it will be Thanks though! If I need it later it'd be great if you let me listen. Oh sorry, yeah 6-8 slots for Piano Performance enrolees. I wasn't aware there was a non-performance piano degree though. There are pianists in the music school who are Music Ed, Performing Arts Tech, or Composition majors, but they aren't considered Piano majors unless they are also doing a Piano Performance degree. As for the "piano skills not required" bit, you don't really need much performance background if you're just applying for music education or a teaching certificate. If you are interested in getting in to Piano Performance or doing a dual degree with Performance and Music Ed, I believe you need quite a bit of piano expertise. Then again, things could have changed since I applied...
Ok that sounds less scary xD Oh I see, yeah that's what I meant, like I applied for Music Ed and said my main instrument was piano.
Thanks again :D
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I have been to UM before, wonderful place.
That being said, conventional wisdom goes that you SHOULD have backup plans. So go apply to other schools, too. If you think UCB is too close, then drop it (California is broke anyway ) but do try Texas if you can.
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On January 28 2012 09:54 Sufficiency wrote:I have been to UM before, wonderful place. That being said, conventional wisdom goes that you SHOULD have backup plans. So go apply to other schools, too. If you think UCB is too close, then drop it (California is broke anyway ) but do try Texas if you can.
Haha ok yeah UCB is awesome cus you don't have to audition, though tuition is really high and I'm out of state xD I'll be trying Texas, but recording only I'll need to find a good place to record lol... luckily a new music store just opened up with a recording studio xD
I'll be settling down at UM though first, and not apply to any other music schools, since i'm not 100% sure i even want to do music (my piano teacher says you might find something else you like while you're in college, he himself isn't full time because he says it can be frustrating making money only as a musician)
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