Should I pursue a music career? Can I get into Curtis or Julliard?

Question

Hi, I am a soon-to-be Year 11 student who lives in Australia and plays the piano.

I have played piano ever since the age of 4. I came to find a passion in classical music in recent years after completing my AmusA and LmusA diploma.
AmusA- means that I can teach in Australia
LmusA- means that I can be a performer.

My piano teacher always tells that I'm very musical-emotions come naturally to me. At a young age, I was said to have potential. However, my technical abilities still need a lot of improvement.

I also have many worries about whether or not music is the right path for me. My music theory and aural abilities, to the least, is not outstanding. I also have a fear of performing memorised music, as a past event of me forgetting my piece deeply scarred me.

I also don't know if I have the talent to get into good music institutes like Curtis and Julliard. My current piano teacher, though, is an ex Curtis student.

My current music repertoire:
Just finished:
Bach Prelude and fugue in E flat minor, book 1
Beethoven sonata in c major op2 no3
Chopin Nocturne in D flat major, Op27 no2
And Debussy's reflet dans l'eau

I will soon start pieces such as
Beethoven's sonata- Op28
Chopin Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor
Etc
I will be also starting to learn a concerto, for example Grieg.

I have a passion to learn all the piano music I can!

What do you guys think? Can I get into Curtis or Julliard in about two years time? Should I pursue a music career?

Answer 1

Well, the first step would be to learn to spell the name of the school correctly; it's "Juilliard".



Seriously, though, to be accepted as a piano major at Juilliard, you must go through two rounds of auditions; first, you must submit a video audition online, to be even considered for a live audition. If you make it through that stage, you must fly to New York (at your own expense) to go through the live audition, which has the following requirements (and must be performed from memory):



Bach: A prelude and fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier or another work containing a fugue. (No transcriptions permitted.)

One of the following:

An entire sonata by Beethoven (excluding Opp. 14, 49, and 79), or

One of the following Haydn sonatas: Hob. 20, 23, 32, 46, 49, 50, 52, or

One of the following Mozart sonatas: K. 281, 284, 310, 332, 333, 457, 533, or 576, or

One of the following Schubert sonatas: D. 568, 664, 784, 845, 850, 894, 958, 959, 960, or the Wanderer Fantasie, D. 760.

A substantial composition by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, or Mendelssohn. (Etudes, nocturnes, short dances, waltzes, or comparable pieces are not acceptable.)

Two virtuosic etudes:

one by Chopin, and

one by Bartók, Debussy, Ligeti, Liszt, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, or Stravinsky.

A substantial work, or a collection of shorter works, of the applicant’s choice which is:

in a different style and by a composer other than those represented in the previous requirements, and

not less than six minutes.



Check with your teacher, and see if he agrees if you're up to this. It will require a major investment of time and money, and there's no guarantee you'll be admitted.

Answer 2

Nobody here has heard you play. You say your technical area needs work - well, those accepted to Curtis or Juilliard need NOTHING - expect that final patina of incredible technique and musicianship. Download the audition requirements for Juilliard - and go over them with your teacher. Bear in mind that these are really MINIMUMS - that everything you do needs to be stunning - not really good - STUNNING. Only the very top students in the world are accepted here - but that doesn't mean that there is not a fine school that WILL take you. Fast forward - the actually possibility of you getting a JOB in music in slimmer than slim. You will not be allowed to stay in the US to seek work, after you graduate - you would need an entirely different kind of visa for that. So - back to OZ you go. Any hope THERE of gainful employment in music? REALLY? And just now, you are *starting to learn "A" concerto* - well. there are piano applicants who have already played dozens of them, all over the world, as young artists. Just sayin' - I do not think you have any real idea what you are looking at here. Good luck - but THINK THIS THROUGH.

Answer 3

hey i mean if you like to do it why not pursue it and have a job you like