Conservatoriums - GENERAL: Entry, atmosphere, auditions etc. (2 Viewers)

[Bunny04]

It does have a factor in the BMus courses... but there is always loop holes. The reason why - Sydney Uni main campus. But you can transfer easily. Thats what happened to me. I got into maj performance, but my uai being below 50 Syd Uni said no.. but the con said yes.. so they put me in dip mus and im now in Bmus (perf) and a 61?? No need to worry at all!

 

[Nicci_15]

For the Composition audition/portfolio, it says that you need to have 3 different genre pieces.

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1. I specialise mainly in jazz music, but can i submit three different pieces in a jazz style because each one is in an entirely different genre of jazz?

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2. Can i also submit more that 3 pieces?

 

[Phanatical]

You can submit more than three. My recommendation though is to submit three compositions of contrasting styles (jazz being just one) - because none of the audition panel are actually jazz musicians.

 

[Nicci_15]

ok. thanx. by the way, is it ok to submit an electronic piece for the audition?

 

[BeatMaker]

BMusCompo

Hi all!!! any one know whos doing BMusCompo or BMusEd - Compo for 2006 undergraduates? if yes could u please ask what uai they got? cause unfortunantly 61.10 didn't cut the sydney con 2006 undergraduate. I need to wait til 1st of Feb. Thanks all...

 

[187]

Re: BMusCompo

Hey there, I have a few questions for all you talented Con artists.

Firstly, I haven't heard anyone talk about entering for Performance with classical guitar. What's it like? How many people are accepted, and does it depend on the instrument (e.g., 5 classical guitarists every year, or 80 musicians of any instruments per year)? Is classical guitar as hectic as Piano?

Secondly, could someone explain what Major level and Minor levels are?

Finally, what are the requirements for entering the Con? I'm doing Music 1, so will I have to finish 6th grade theory, or do I have to switch to Music 2? Also, how "good" must one be to be accepted for Composition and what styles are allowed? I've heard that how a piece sounds is the least important factor - it's all about structure and meeting the criteria. Is this true? Will I need to become a stereotypical classical composer for string quartets and full orchestra, or is a modern, "Nobuo Uematsu" style acceptable?

Thanks.

 

[ur_inner_child]

Re: BMusCompo

Hey there, I have a few questions for all you talented Con artists.

Firstly, I haven't heard anyone talk about entering for Performance with classical guitar. What's it like? How many people are accepted, and does it depend on the instrument (e.g., 5 classical guitarists every year, or 80 musicians of any instruments per year)? Is classical guitar as hectic as Piano?

Secondly, could someone explain what Major level and Minor levels are?

Finally, what are the requirements for entering the Con? I'm doing Music 1, so will I have to finish 6th grade theory, or do I have to switch to Music 2? Also, how "good" must one be to be accepted for Composition and what styles are allowed? I've heard that how a piece sounds is the least important factor - it's all about structure and meeting the criteria. Is this true? Will I need to become a stereotypical classical composer for string quartets and full orchestra, or is a modern, "Nobuo Uematsu" style acceptable?

Thanks.

you dont have to do music 2 to get in - many come from music 1 or no highschool music subjects (but did outside AMEB training) to get in.

major and minor levels - the difference is the hours focusses on practical work as well some other stuff.. i forget.. im sure phanatical will soon step in a kick my ass with the info but in a cold-hearted plain boring way. come on phanatical, make it sound fun!

I'm currently doing composition.... theyre looking for some daring pieces mostly, try not to submit anything far too traditional. your score should look amazing, and make sure you can name some composers you like... keep an open mind with avante garde composers, or name drop them when they ask you to...

stereotype classical composer theyre not usually cool with... they want someone crazy and daring and modern.
(or postmodern )


classical guitar, yes there are places for classical guitar but im not sure how many places. as performer places goes... we accept performers as a majority..

hope it gives you an idea

 

[ur_inner_child]

Re: BMusCompo

Hi all!!! any one know whos doing BMusCompo or BMusEd - Compo for 2006 undergraduates? if yes could u please ask what uai they got? cause unfortunantly 61.10 didn't cut the sydney con 2006 undergraduate. I need to wait til 1st of Feb. Thanks all...

i know some who got under 50 for their uai. it all depends on your work.

 

[ur_inner_child]

ok. thanx. by the way, is it ok to submit an electronic piece for the audition?

yes, but you need a score.

ujuph, how about i just take over? kidding

 

[187]

Re: BMusCompo

Thanks, for the quick and helpful reply, ur_inner_child.

After reading your post, I'm curious about what style of music you yourself compose in. It's probably a good thing they prefer "crazy and daring and modern", but do you have to have very complex scores? I was just browsing through some of the HSC tutorials with sample scores, and a lot of them seem to have a painful amount of leger lines and demi-semi-something-something-quavers. It's pretty scary. Will simple stuff do, as long as it shows development of themes, dynamics, counterpoint, harmony or whatever's required?

Argh, another question. Even though there's no performance required for composition, does it help to be a highly qualified performer? e.g., does it reflect well when they're deciding between candidates, or is it kind of irrelevant in the same way UAIs are like a last resort?

Is there harsh competition for composition (it seems as though no-one in my grade is considering it apart from myself)? Do I need outside composition lessons to stand a chance?

I didn't do Music in years 9 and 10, so I have almost no idea what to expect with standards and marking criteria. As you can probably tell, I'm worried that markers won't like what I write, even if it "sounds nice". I'm not tone-deaf or anything, but even though I supposedly have talent for music, I'm not exactly a child prodigy, either. Is hard work enough, or do you seriously need to be naturally good to have a career in Music?

 

[ur_inner_child]

Re: BMusCompo

Thanks, for the quick and helpful reply, ur_inner_child.

After reading your post, I'm curious about what style of music you yourself compose in. It's probably a good thing they prefer "crazy and daring and modern", but do you have to have very complex scores? I was just browsing through some of the HSC tutorials with sample scores, and a lot of them seem to have a painful amount of leger lines and demi-semi-something-something-quavers. It's pretty scary. Will simple stuff do, as long as it shows development of themes, dynamics, counterpoint, harmony or whatever's required?

I compose avante garde music, or try to... the pieces i had submitted to the initial interview; one was traditional and the other was avante garde. They were this close to not letting me show them my avante garde piece, probably what saved me.

I dont feel demi-semi-semi quavers show depth at all, neither do ledger lines. As long as you show an understanding of all the 'simple' stuff, it is fine. I feel the stuff you said that were 'simple' arent actually simple at all. Development. Hmm. But subjective I would say.

As for my avante garde piece, looking back on it now I'm not quite sure why they liked it. I had no real understanding of what I was doing, just appreciating tritone harmonies and playing around with time signatures. I suppose the just want to know if you are capable of this kind of music.

Argh, another question. Even though there's no performance required for composition, does it help to be a highly qualified performer? e.g., does it reflect well when they're deciding between candidates, or is it kind of irrelevant in the same way UAIs are like a last resort?

I self taught piano/sight reading. Although dont let this throw you, considering teachers at the con were also surprised. I would have to say it certainly gives you a leg up on the elements of music....

Is there harsh competition for composition (it seems as though no-one in my grade is considering it apart from myself)? Do I need outside composition lessons to stand a chance?

There are 14 places open most of the time. I feel that most who will try to get in for it are only doing so to transfer to another degree. Let me tell you; they can tell, most of the time. Just have a real passion for what youve composed... and no most people that are in my year did not do composition classes

I didn't do Music in years 9 and 10, so I have almost no idea what to expect with standards and marking criteria. As you can probably tell, I'm worried that markers won't like what I write, even if it "sounds nice". I'm not tone-deaf or anything, but even though I supposedly have talent for music, I'm not exactly a child prodigy, either. Is hard work enough, or do you seriously need to be naturally good to have a career in Music?

I didnt do music in years 9 and 10 either. As to theory wise, they'll give you a test not long after your audition/interview. This is only to stream you, rather than figure out whether you belong.

Its not about sounding nice, as much as some of my classmates debate on. Its about the effort in the score: any systems within harmony/pitch etc or the motivic development etc or how experimental you are. Most pieces that are tonal and 'sound nice' are usually detremental... unless you can explain yourself, which to my memory Phanatical has done successfully... (another member of bos)

I'm not a child prodigy either. And naturally good? I laugh. I feel I'm just a music lover who wishes she could understand, rather than someone talented. If you can understand vaguely about chord progressions, sight sing a little (trust me, I'm crap and it still doesnt matter) you should be fine.

 

[187]

Re: BMusCompo

Great advice once again, so thanks. I think you answered everything I wanted to ask perfectly. 14 places sounds quite daunting, though. Would that mean the composition employment rate's good, since only a small number of candidates are allowed in? I really need to do some research...

 

[Phanatical]

Re: BMusCompo

Most composers go into academia or teaching. Even professional composers hold second jobs - some in teaching, others in fields completely remote from music. Carl Vine, for example, runs an IT firm.

 

[Nicci_15]

Wow that's cool. So I won't be the odd one out if I do Music and Law as a career.

 

[Phanatical]

Dr. Jennie Shaw, who's currently Chair of Musicology at the Con not only has degrees in both Music and Law, but has also lectured and published in both fields.

 

[Rach_10]

Hi, this is totally off the topic, but does anyone know if the con does mid-year entry into performance degrees?

 

[Bunny04]

Transferring courses yes (from another Con course) , sometimes they do performance mid-term entrance, although i read something in the hand book about it the other day.. I can't remember what though. . Speak to the head of the unit if you wish to apply.

 

[187]

Hey, does anyone know anything about AIM? I have a friend who wants to enter it for Performance, but I've heard terrible things about it from you guys. What's it like for Composition, as well, and how about the qualifications for both courses? Apprently they're almost worthless, but the AIM's self-summary sounds pretty good; a future in TV, film and videogame composition sounds awesome, but how many successful students are actually able to enter these industries? I mean, does a career in music almost certainly mean taking up a second job, or can one simply slide into music production, reviewing, arrangement, etc. instead?

My friend really wants to become a performer, but to be honest, I don't think he would be able to make it into the Con (his teacher is recommending him to do the AMEB 3rd grade exam, which is nowhere near good enough). Is AIM a good choice for him, then?

 

[Bunny04]

Ok: As an ex student i can say a few things about AIM.
As well as completing my HSC and CErtificate II and IV in music at AIM Senior Secondary College, i know the tertairy dept. Too. ^^
Composition is non existant at AIM. Literally non -existant. Most students at aim cant' read music let alone create it.
Performance is shit house, unless you're learning under Alice Watten (head of strings EX head of strings now, but she occasionally still teaches there) The Qualifications are total crap. They're really not worth anything- seeing as they're not accredited with that thing (forget name)
Fees are rediculous...
It is a shit place.. HONESTLY -swears-

 

[187]

Wow, thanks bunny. That's actually pretty creepy news. I wonder what I should tell my friend. After all, this could truthfully be the only chance he (and probably me) will ever get at becoming professional musicians. The Con = way too hard. However, there's no point if an AIM degree isn't worth anything.

I'm just wondering, though (these questions just keep coming o_0), if there are only 18 or so Composition students accepted into the Con per year, shouldn't employment for them not be such a big issue? I mean, come on, 20 composers from one of the finest music school in the state or even country - shouldn't people be almost lining up to employ them, or is there some other way less qualified people can break into the industry and usurp their jobs?

Damn, now it's even scarier - you'd have to be pretty elite to make it in. I'm not a musical retard, but if music is based on criteria and sound is almost irrelevant then, well, I could be a goner. Must one be exceedingly talented to make it in for Composition, or is hard work enough? And what's the deal with the interview "assessing one's potential as a composer"? *prays* does it evaluate how much passion you have for music and how open-minded/perseverant you are?