Auditioning for music college is a big deal. Depending on the college you choose, acceptance rates may be as low as 3%.
Low acceptance rates often reflect the immense popularity of the music industry. So, many people want to be professional musicians, and they understand that going to a music college is one of the best ways to optimize their success. Music colleges use auditions to find the most talented musicians who most closely fit the mission and outlook of the college.
In most cases, you’ll only have one opportunity to impress the college admissions board, so you’ll want to make the most of each piano or keyboard audition.
Here’s how you can prepare for your piano or keyboard audition to have the best chances possible of getting into the music college of your dreams.
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How to Prepare Long Before Your Keyboard Audition
The steps you take in the weeks/months/years before your audition can affect your success.
Familiarize yourself with several music colleges
Be sure they align with your vision for your future. Research before you apply; talk with other musicians to hear about their experiences during auditions.
Assess the colleges’ requirements and level of difficulty
Admission requirements can vary widely between music colleges. Music programs that are part of large universities may have general admission requirements, such as math, while a smaller, music-focused college is interested only in music. Study the audition requirements thoroughly.
Understand what they are looking for during the audition
During the audition, the music college auditors will evaluate:
- Technical skill – pitch, tone, and rhythm
- Musicality – interpretation and style
- Preparedness – repertoire choice and practice
- Professional presentation – your stage presence and demeanor
- Other factors, such as academics, recommendations, personality, and essays
Assess your skills and presence
Ask your music teacher for a candid assessment of your skills at the keyboard or piano. Record yourself playing, and listen closely to the quality of your playing and your musicality. While you’re at it, check your posture and stage presence: make sure you seem confident at the keyboard.
Choose your repertoire
The music you choose should reflect the audition’s requirements, difficulty level, and style. If the college focuses on contemporary music, for example, you may wish to include fewer pieces from the 17th Century.
Your repertoire should also highlight your talents and personality. Avoid music that you find difficult to perform, when possible, and instead opt for a repertoire that you are comfortable playing and that reflects your outlook on life.
Create a timeline
Depending on your skill and the college requirements, it may take you a couple of weeks to get ready, or it may take several months (or even years). Ideally, a timeline should start during your junior year of high school and finish with your acceptance into the music college of your choice. Sometimes life doesn’t fit neatly into timelines, though, so leave some room for detours.
Practice your repertoire
Allocate 25% of your preparation time to practicing the pieces you’ll be performing during your keyboard or piano audition. Remember: practice makes permanent, so make sure you are perfecting only your best keyboarding skills.
Pro tip: Add an extra musical number into your repertoire practice, just in case you need to swap out one piece of music for another.
Embrace the 80/20 rule
The 80/20 rule holds that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In other words, focusing on a few vital activities (practicing, etc.) will generate most of your success.
Master the basics
Many musicians benefit from “woodshedding,” which involves intense, secluded practice. Create a “woodshed” that reduces interruptions and distractions in your practice area.
Immerse yourself in the pieces you’ll be playing
While it’s important to practice the basics, it is essential to understand every aspect of your repertoire.
Memorize the songs
Commit the pieces to memory using:
- Muscle memory: Developed through repetition
- Aural memory: Knowing how the music should sound
- Visual memory: imagining your hand movements or visualizing the sheet music
Practice playing straight through or starting at different places
The interviewers may have you skip portions or start again, so get comfortable being interrupted.
Get used to performing in front of an audience
Start small by performing for friends and family; gradually increase audience size. Ask your attendees to invite others to help you grow accustomed to performing for strangers.
Develop and bring lists
Lists might include:
- Questions the interviewers will likely ask (be sure to practice your answers)
- Questions to ask the interviewers about the music college
- The music you’ll be playing
- Your repertoire over the past three years
Do dress rehearsals
Choose clothing that is appropriate for your piano or keyboard audition. Practice in your selected attire, right down to your shoes. Dress rehearsals help you look your best and feel comfortable during your audition.
Develop and use a warm-up routine
Using the same warm-up routine before each practice helps your brain and body know when it’s time to play. Be sure to start by playing scales slowly and deliberately.
The Day of Your Keyboard or Piano Audition for Music College
Months or years of preparation all come down to the day of your audition. To improve your odds of acceptance, make special preparations for the day of your piano or keyboard audition to music college.
Arrive well-rested, on time, and ready to go
Eat a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of fluids so you are at peak alertness and performance. Be on time and ready to perform as soon as you arrive.
Perform your standard warm-up pieces
Get your brain and body ready to go by performing your warm-up routine after you practice scales.
Practice specific passages
Practice any specific passages that you feel uncomfortable with. Play them slowly and focus on accuracy.
Enter the audition room with confidence
- Introduce yourself to the faculty
- Smile
- Shake the hands of the faculty members, if possible, and look the individuals in the eyes as you address them
- When in doubt, choose elegance over wittiness in your demeanor
Have fun!
Your audience will respond more positively to your performance if you look like you are having fun. Be animated during lively musical selections, for example.
Frequently Asked Questions about Preparing for Your Keyboard Audition for Music College
What are some of the common repertoire requirements?
Many music colleges require a:
- Composition by J.S. Bach
- Classical sonata
- Romantic work
- Virtuosic étude, such as Chopin, to demonstrate your technical skills ability to perform music featuring complex fingerwork
- Contemporary music from the 20th or 21st Century
- Applicant’s choice
Where do I find a music college’s audition requirements?
Most music colleges list their audition requirements on their website.
Is it okay to correct the examiners?
It depends. You can correct them if they get your name wrong, for example, but it is unwise to argue with them over matters of music composition or performance.
Can I record my audition?
Some music colleges will let you send them a recording for your audition. This can help reduce travel time and expenses for applicants.
Where do I turn for more information?
For more ways to prepare for your keyboard/piano audition, consult with Musicians Institute (MI). Located in the heart of Hollywood, MI is a College of Contemporary Music built on the idea that musicians should teach—and learn from—other musicians in a creative, supportive environment.