violindad

stradmom: Yeah, I think I've put titles down on far too many competition entry forms with the minor keys in lower case. I just went and checked a few volumes of repertoire by different publishers from different eras and all of them use upper case for the key letter (although often lower case for "minor").

fiddlestix

Hi soviolin,

Violindad has given you excellent advice.

The only thing I'd add is in regards to the "etudes or methods studied" listing. Have you studied any etude books - Mazas, Kreutzer, Dont op. 37 - or more advanced Rode, Gavinies, Dont op. 35, etc? That's really the kind of info that is being looked for - gives an idea of technical background - level and extent. I'm thinking that if you leave this section mostly blank, listing only 2 individual etudes, you are not presenting a picture of a student with a background of systematic technical training. It's not assumed that you would prepared many (or any) etudes for public performance - just literally that you have studied these etudes and addressed the violinistic problems presented. Ask your teacher about what you should be including here.

KeyofH

Here's a question for the detail-oriented regarding repertoire lists -- do you follow standard, English language capitalization conventions (i.e. initial caps on all words longer than three letters or do you follow the capitalization conventions of the language in which the piece was originally named?

fiddlestix

^^^^

Probably can't go wrong with copying the song or instrumental composition title exactly as it appears on the front of the score or table of contents if in a book!

I wouldn't worry about this AT ALL for applications - sometimes it's nice to be especially careful for recital programs, but I do think that capitalization concerns on a repertoire list is one area of the application/audition process where the student and his/her parents can relax!

And - I do understand why you raised the question - don't mean to be offensive with my response.

Out in the "real world" you can find variations - check out how CD tracks are listed, recital programs presented, etc and you will find differences in capitalization, language used, to opus or not, etc!

soviolin

Ok so this is how my solo repertoire list looks:

- Federigo Fiorillo, Etude No. 28
- Fritz Kreisler, Sicilienne and Rigaudon
- Henryk Wieniawski, Etude No. 4 Op. 18
- Jeno Hubay, Hejre Kati
- J.S. Bach, Partita No. 1 in B minor, Corrente and Double
- Max Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, I, II, III
- W.A. Mozart, Concerto No. 3 in G major, I


but have I alphabetized them correctly or hsould I write the last name of the composer first and alphabetize using that. I thought using the last name first would make it easier to find/ recognize the composers quickly.

Thank you!

violindad

Yes, I would definitely alphabetize by last name. Check out the rep lists online for major international soloists. They are alphabetized by last name.

musicprnt

I am going to throw something in here heard when someone from Juilliard's admission office was talking about admissions to Juilliard and even general questions about getting admitted.

What I took out of it was what others have written, that the idea of the repertoire list is to try and show where the person is in terms of what they have done both musically and technically, that the idea is to paint a picture of breadth of experience and so forth (how well you play comes out in the audition itself). One of the things she strongly recommended was not putting every little thing in the repertoire list but rather those things that painted the picture in as few colors as possible, so to speak. I have seen some kids reportoire lists and if I was an admissions person and had to wade my way through what looked like hundreds of lines of "did a recital on 10/26/xx at church of YYY" and the like I would go blind.

musicprnt

I am going to throw something in here heard when someone from Juilliard's admission office was talking about admissions to Juilliard and even general questions about getting admitted.

What I took out of it was what others have written, that the idea of the repertoire list is to try and show where the person is in terms of what they have done both musically and technically, that the idea is to paint a picture of breadth of experience and so forth (how well you play comes out in the audition itself). One of the things she strongly recommended was not putting every little thing in the repertoire list but rather those things that painted the picture in as few colors as possible, so to speak. I have seen some kids reportoire lists and if I was an admissions person and had to wade my way through what looked like hundreds of lines of "did a recital on 10/26/xx at church of YYY" and the like I would go blind.

soviolin

The point from Juilliard is a good one. Thank you, I just dont really have anything more than what I have posted already. This is because Ive only just started with a new teacher 5 months ago and before him I didn't truly study anything properly. So what is on my list is mostly what I am playing currently for my auditions to the different music colleges. That is why I want to include the two etudes as pieces; also because they are quite melodic and often performed in concerts.

Another question: I have studied Schradieck, The School of Violin- Technics, Book 1 and Sevcik Op. 8 Shifting the Position and Scale-Studies. Are those a respectable enough level to put on the list of Etudes and Methods Studied? I want to avoid looking like a remedial violinist simply because I haven't properly studied etudes that in the last year or two. I have improved tremendously in this time and would now be able to study much more difficult etudes so I don't want to put something on their that doesn't correctly represent who i am as a violinist now.

I have eliminated the first names of the composers on my list to alphabetize by last name. Does this look alright?

- Bach, Partita No. 1 in B minor, Corrente and Double
- Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, I, II, III
- Fiorillo, Etude No. 28
- Hubay, Hejre Kati
- Kreisler, Sicilienne and Rigaudon
- Mozart: Concerto No. 3 in G major, I
- Wieniawski, Etude No. 4 Op. 18

Thank you for your help!

fiddlestix

I think your list is fine. Thanks for explaining your circumstances a bit. I would not include Sevcik or Schradieck for the reasons you've stated. Did you happen to study Flesch or Galamian scale books? That would be OK to include - but don't worry if you haven't studied those.

Again, understand how your "repertoire list" is likely to be used - that may take care of some of your concerns! Caveat - I don't know where you are applying.

1) If the repertoire list is asked for on the application, it may not even be seen by teachers or those auditioning you. It will just be reviewed by the admissions dept. It gives the admissions people an idea of your depth of study - like asking how many years of private lessons. A potential teacher may not be given or need the information - the playing in the audition will speak for itself.

2) Some applications will have a second place to list audition repertoire. This the teachers/audition panel may get a copy of - or you will be asked at the time of audition to write it down or tell them what you have.

I think you understood this - but I also think you may be overly concerned with the general repertoire list described in (1). It's nice to have a clear list, but isn't going to factor hugely in any admissions decisions.

3) If you are auditioning at smaller places or for one teacher, the audition may include some discussion of repertoire or your background and the teacher might even have a copy of your full application. Fine - you can discuss your background and everything will be considered along with the playing you demonstrate at the audition.

4) When you are admitted and begin with a new teacher, (s)he will likely want a full repertoire list or discuss repertoire with you. Now is the time to indicate the extent and circumstances of your etude study (Sevcik, Schradieck) and any other solo/concerto/sonata work that you did with previous teachers. The new teacher will know how to set you up with appropriate technical and solo material. Many teachers don't want to immediately repeat works previously studied, so they ask about past study.

Good luck to you!