College Audition

[Dubby]

When given the choice between and étude or solo, which would you choose as your audition piece? I have an audition in a little more than a month and would like some opinions. And please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be best to play something well within your comfort zone and abilities to make it as musical and perfect as possible compared to playing a piece that is too technically difficult?

Feel free to share any advice you have. Everything will be appreciated (even pictures of girls and food).

If anyone is wondering, the audition is: solo/étude, major scales through 5 flats and sharps, chromatic scale, and sight reading. The scales don't need to be memorized.

Any thoughts/opinions are welcome. Thank you.

[Ken Herrick]

"wouldn't it be best to play something well within your comfort zone and abilities to make it as musical and perfect as possible compared to playing a piece that is too technically difficult?


BINGO !!!! No more need be said.

[Mattuba]

And please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be best to play something well within your comfort zone and abilities to make it as musical and perfect as possible compared to playing a piece that is too technically difficult?

I think you've definitely got the right idea here. Maybe I'm not the best person to be talking about what your potential teacher will be looking for, but having done my college auditions relatively recently (just over a year ago), I'd like to share my little insight. I played a relatively simple solo (the Haddad Suite, fwiw), an étude (conveniently enough that year's regional audition piece), and had some orchestral excerpts ready to play.

I picked up the solo not terribly long before the audition - perhaps no longer than a month. It had enough technique to show what I thought I was capable of around that time. If you need to add something quick to your audition, I highly recommend that piece.

The étude is where the majority of my auditioning experience went. If you can play an étude with control and musicality, it speaks miles to both your ability as a tubist and your ability as a musician. I don't think I ever actually played any of those orchestral excerpts, and the solo was always cut off earlier than I would have anticipated. The étude was the primary focus of each audition, and I think it would definitely be worth your time trying to make the most music that you can out of one. Good luck on your audition!

[michael_glenn]

Precisely. Play what you're comfortable with. Instead of butchering the Vaughan Williams, I played "His Majesty, The Tuba" for one audition (got me a full ride) and "Air and Bourrée" for another (got me a large chunk). Both not easy. But both were perfectly comfortable for me. It wasn't a stretch. Play what's comfortable. Don't be afraid to take tempos down just a bit if it means your tone is more clear, and you can get better musical expression.
These are my steps for learning any piece 1) learn the contour of the piece (up and down/rhythm) 2) get the exact notes in your head by playing it on piano, or listening to a pro. 3) add extra musical expression in your head. 4) sing it EXACTLY how you want it played INCLUDING dynamics, articulation, and expression. 5) play tuba.

Notice how the first thing you learn is the music... Not the buzzing or fingers. Keep music first. Always.

[bort]

Unless you're talking a conservatory, just go in and play the best you can. They want to see an accomplished young player who has the talent, ability, and motivation to go farther.

I was a math major, but had a calculus professor who said that if we already knew how to do of it, we wouldn't be in the class. Same goes for music. If you were a perfect player already, why would you even be in school?

Be great, be human, and do your best. If you show you are great and have great potential, you will do just fine, no matter what you play for them.

[hbcrandy]

Play a piece of music, solo or etude, that tells the prospective instructor where you are today as a musician. When I listen to auditions, I want to hear a piece played with technical accuracy and musical sensitivity at whatever level the candidate is playing at the time of the audition. I am not impressed by someone who thinks that they can play the "Minute Waltz" in 42 seconds and sounds like thay are trying to play tuba and fall down a flight of steps simultaneously.

[Uncle Buck]

I don't have anything to add to the excellent advice you've already been given except one anecdotal story.

While an undergraduate music major (early 90s), my university hosted an Octubafest and brought in John Stevens as a guest artist.

At a reception following a day of events, one of my fellow students commended that he wished he had played something more difficult than the Haddad Suite for the masterclass. John responded that he had successfully auditioned for his job with the University of Wisconsin-Madison by playing the Haddad Suite, and that he has nothing but positive vibes for that piece of music.

Looking back, the only significant regrets I have about student auditions usually involve trying to audition on something that was just barely out of my playing ability.