OBOE STUDIO AUDITION GUIDE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS
1. TAKE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS (if you are not doing so already!)
Most students who will be auditioning will have already been studying privately for varying amounts of time. I would be delighted to give you a list of names of private teachers in your area if needed. Tell your private instructor that you are interested in auditioning for music schools, and ask your private teacher to teach you not only your solo for Solo and Ensemble festival but the technical foundation and musical skills you will need to be successful for your college entrance auditions. You should be working out of the Barret Oboe Method, or something similar, in addition to solo repertoire and technique exercises. As part of your private lessons, learn at LEAST your major scales by memory, ideally both major and melodic minor scales, by memory. Be able to play these slurred and articulated. NEVER practice these without metronome, and work to be able to play all keys at the same metronome speed. As part of your audition for EMU, you will be expected to perform scales in the same patterns as you prepare them for Solo and Ensemble festival.
2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
If we were to compare music to athletics, you would not be surprised to hear that athletes who are intending to be involved on a sports team in college would spend much of their time in high school practicing the sport plus much time in the weight room or on the track or pool—improving their form and endurance. The practice room is our equivalent weight room. Make time to practice at least an hour a day, six days a week. Two hours is even better! Incorporate fundamental skills such as long tones, technical studies, and articulation in that session as well as repertoire.
3. APPLY EARLY for admission to EMU and any other school you are interested in attending. September or October is not too soon! For almost all schools, you will need to apply for admission to BOTH the university and the music school. Search for any scholarships for which you are eligible and make sure you meet the admissions deadlines. At EMU, our top scholarship competition, the Presidential Scholarship competition, generally occurs the first two Saturdays in December. Check the EMU Department of Music and Dance website for current information and dates. If you have a 3.3 GPA, you may qualify to take this exam and receive a scholarship. Priority deadline for application to take the exam is generally the third week in November. Check the Presidential Scholarship website for eligibility:
http://www.emich.edu/admissions/visit/psc/psc2.html
For consideration for ALL academic scholarships at EMU, you must be admitted to the university by mid February. Again, please check websites for current dates so you don’t miss out on these opportunities!
4. PLAY A SOLO AT DISTRICT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
You can likely use the same solo as your audition music for auditions for music schools. Start learning the solo NOW. Enlist your teacher’s assistance to find a solo that works best for you.
PLAY PROFICIENCY III AT STATE SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL You do not have to have passed proficiencies I and II to play Proficiency III, you just have to be a senior. For Proficiency III, you need to learn all your scales major and melodic minor and sight read. This will only help you be ready for your music school auditions, especially since you’ll have to perform scales and sight read as part of your audition at EMU.
PREPARE AN ENSEMBLE FOR FESTIVAL in addition to your solo. Extra practice preparing chamber music and learning as much repertoire as possible are only beneficial to your musical growth.
5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVENTS LIKE EMU'S CLINIC DAY or Honors Band in January. Other schools offer similar events. Visit the campuses of schools in which you are interested. Get to know the oboe professors. Meet the other oboists in the oboe studio. (Feel free to talk to the EMU oboe studio members today! They are a terrific bunch and will answer any questions you may have.) Find the place where you are most comfortable yet challenged to reach for your goals.
6. COME TO CAMPUS FOR A LESSON
I am always delighted to offer a “get acquainted” lesson at no charge at our mutual convenience. Please contact me at:
kreynolds@emich.edu
7. AUDITION EARLY for admission to the Department of Music and Dance at EMU. We have audition dates in November, January, February, and March. On audition day, you will audition on oboe as well as take theory and piano placement exams. You may also wish to visit campus on another day and “shadow” an oboe major for the day by going to classes and rehearsals.
8. KEEP PRACTICING and STAY IN TOUCH after the audition. You can expect to hear the status of your audition no later than April 1st. At your audition, I will ask if you are auditioning at other schools, and I encourage you to do so!! If you make an early decision about another school, I would be happy to know that. In the meantime, I can keep you updated about where things are in the EMU process.
SUMMARY TIME LINE:
September: Take private lessons (if not already in progress)
November: Apply for admission to EMU. Apply for admission to EMU Music & Dance and request an audition date. Apply to take the Presidential Scholarship Exam, if eligible. Attend EMU Clinic Day and audition for Honor Band. Start preparing solo repertoire for District Solo and Ensemble Festival.
December: Presidential Scholarship Exam, if eligible. Contact Professor Reynolds about a “Get Acquainted” lesson. Keep up the private lessons. Continue preparing for Solo and Ensemble. Practice, practice, practice! (with a metronome!)
January - March: Have a lesson with Professor Reynolds. Visit campus. Perform for District and State Solo and Ensemble festivals. Audition for the Department of Music and Dance at EMU and other schools. Stay in touch with Professor Reynolds.
April: Final results from EMU sent.
1. TAKE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS (if you are not doing so already!)
Most students who will be auditioning will have already been studying privately for varying amounts of time. I would be delighted to give you a list of names of private teachers in your area if needed. Tell your private instructor that you are interested in auditioning for music schools, and ask your private teacher to teach you not only your solo for Solo and Ensemble festival but the technical foundation and musical skills you will need to be successful for your college entrance auditions. You should be working out of the Barret Oboe Method, or something similar, in addition to solo repertoire and technique exercises. As part of your private lessons, learn at LEAST your major scales by memory, ideally both major and melodic minor scales, by memory. Be able to play these slurred and articulated. NEVER practice these without metronome, and work to be able to play all keys at the same metronome speed. As part of your audition for EMU, you will be expected to perform scales in the same patterns as you prepare them for Solo and Ensemble festival.
2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
If we were to compare music to athletics, you would not be surprised to hear that athletes who are intending to be involved on a sports team in college would spend much of their time in high school practicing the sport plus much time in the weight room or on the track or pool—improving their form and endurance. The practice room is our equivalent weight room. Make time to practice at least an hour a day, six days a week. Two hours is even better! Incorporate fundamental skills such as long tones, technical studies, and articulation in that session as well as repertoire.
3. APPLY EARLY for admission to EMU and any other school you are interested in attending. September or October is not too soon! For almost all schools, you will need to apply for admission to BOTH the university and the music school. Search for any scholarships for which you are eligible and make sure you meet the admissions deadlines. At EMU, our top scholarship competition, the Presidential Scholarship competition, generally occurs the first two Saturdays in December. Check the EMU Department of Music and Dance website for current information and dates. If you have a 3.3 GPA, you may qualify to take this exam and receive a scholarship. Priority deadline for application to take the exam is generally the third week in November. Check the Presidential Scholarship website for eligibility:
http://www.emich.edu/admissions/visit/psc/psc2.html
For consideration for ALL academic scholarships at EMU, you must be admitted to the university by mid February. Again, please check websites for current dates so you don’t miss out on these opportunities!
4. PLAY A SOLO AT DISTRICT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
You can likely use the same solo as your audition music for auditions for music schools. Start learning the solo NOW. Enlist your teacher’s assistance to find a solo that works best for you.
PLAY PROFICIENCY III AT STATE SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL You do not have to have passed proficiencies I and II to play Proficiency III, you just have to be a senior. For Proficiency III, you need to learn all your scales major and melodic minor and sight read. This will only help you be ready for your music school auditions, especially since you’ll have to perform scales and sight read as part of your audition at EMU.
PREPARE AN ENSEMBLE FOR FESTIVAL in addition to your solo. Extra practice preparing chamber music and learning as much repertoire as possible are only beneficial to your musical growth.
5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVENTS LIKE EMU'S CLINIC DAY or Honors Band in January. Other schools offer similar events. Visit the campuses of schools in which you are interested. Get to know the oboe professors. Meet the other oboists in the oboe studio. (Feel free to talk to the EMU oboe studio members today! They are a terrific bunch and will answer any questions you may have.) Find the place where you are most comfortable yet challenged to reach for your goals.
6. COME TO CAMPUS FOR A LESSON
I am always delighted to offer a “get acquainted” lesson at no charge at our mutual convenience. Please contact me at:
kreynolds@emich.edu
7. AUDITION EARLY for admission to the Department of Music and Dance at EMU. We have audition dates in November, January, February, and March. On audition day, you will audition on oboe as well as take theory and piano placement exams. You may also wish to visit campus on another day and “shadow” an oboe major for the day by going to classes and rehearsals.
8. KEEP PRACTICING and STAY IN TOUCH after the audition. You can expect to hear the status of your audition no later than April 1st. At your audition, I will ask if you are auditioning at other schools, and I encourage you to do so!! If you make an early decision about another school, I would be happy to know that. In the meantime, I can keep you updated about where things are in the EMU process.
SUMMARY TIME LINE:
September: Take private lessons (if not already in progress)
November: Apply for admission to EMU. Apply for admission to EMU Music & Dance and request an audition date. Apply to take the Presidential Scholarship Exam, if eligible. Attend EMU Clinic Day and audition for Honor Band. Start preparing solo repertoire for District Solo and Ensemble Festival.
December: Presidential Scholarship Exam, if eligible. Contact Professor Reynolds about a “Get Acquainted” lesson. Keep up the private lessons. Continue preparing for Solo and Ensemble. Practice, practice, practice! (with a metronome!)
January - March: Have a lesson with Professor Reynolds. Visit campus. Perform for District and State Solo and Ensemble festivals. Audition for the Department of Music and Dance at EMU and other schools. Stay in touch with Professor Reynolds.
April: Final results from EMU sent.