Really? Thirds for violin audition?

Mezzo_sMama
Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:40:41 +0000

I honestly can’t say “yes” or “no” for certain, and I doubt that anyone else here will either- it depends upon so many things: how much time is available for the audition, if they think they need/want to hear more, who is sitting on the panel, etc. This is for graduate school so the standards are higher and more is expected of the applicant. The audition specifications are listed:
“Scales, arpeggios, and thirds may be requested”

Yes, it says “may”, but does your son want to be the one who doesn’t have them prepared? The audition date had been set, so he knew that they were supposed to be ready to go. CIM is reknown for their string faculty and has far more applicants than open spaces so they do have very high standards and even more so for grad school hopefuls. Think of it this way: he’s come all of this way and worked so hard, does he really want to risk it by not being fully prepared? I remember that your son’s current teacher suggested that he apply to CIM, so my suggstion would be that he talk to her and remind her that he has several important auditions coming up and ask for help in going over the thirds and the rest of his audition rep. Hopefully, they can put the new rep aside for this week and just concentrate on the task at hand.
Wishing him the best of luck!