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Are any of you instrumentalists who will be sending in a CD with your application? Are any of you actually going up to Princeton to audition for the music faculty because in the Supp. Arts Form, they say that live auditions are welcome? Do live auditions help your chances, even if you don't play your pieces perfectly (as you could on a CD because you have so much time to edit and correct)? Any experiences?

By Delacroix (Delacroix) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 06:09 pm: Edit

I'm planning to send in art and perhaps a piano CD...however, the piano requirements are interesting...we have to do a 1st movement of a Mozart, Beethoven, or Haydn sonata. I have a third movement, but have forgotten an older 1st movement...so I don't know if I will be able to send a CD in....ugh. ANyone else have this problem?

By G_Li (G_Li) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 09:13 pm: Edit

I never knew there was a "required" piece. I sent in a CD of my playing as a cellist (1st mvmt. of Bach's first solo suite, 1st movement of Haydn Concerto in C, Kol Nidrei by Bruch, and Dvorak "Dumky" Trio, for anyone who's familiar with cello pieces - with piano accompaniment when necessary) and I was accepted. I think that live auditions would help just to meet with Michael Pratt and the faculty, though if you live further away, CDs are fine. Though either way, choose something you know well and don't play something just to impress them because they won't be (they've heard too many good instrumentalists over the years).

By Freija (Freija) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 08:39 am: Edit

I know this is a grad school question on an undergrad forum, but I don't have any experience of Music applications! I'm applying to Princeton for the PhD in Musicology - my research interests centre on Russian opera. My background is interdisciplinary (Russian and History) and I was told that as well as this my vocal training is one of the reasons I am an attractive candidate. Do you think I should submit a CD, maybe with an emphasis on the Russian repertoire?

Freija

By G_Li (G_Li) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Whenever you get a chance to show them who you are and what your talents are, grab it. Definitely send in a CD if you think that it will help your application and show them your interest in Russian opera. Remember though, if you don't think your singing will help your application, you're probably better off not sending one.

By Freija (Freija) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Diplomatically put!

I dare hope my singing won't cause the adcom's eardrums to bleed!

By Mehere (Mehere) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 05:22 pm: Edit

How good do the art pieces have to be in order to help with admission? i am taking AP art next year and have taken private art lessons for about 5 years. Should i give it a try?

By C_J (C_J) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 06:19 pm: Edit

Mehere--I was wondering the same thing.

I started studying at an outside art studio nine years ago, but I don't have a large portfolio since my concentration is oil painting (and a few of my pieces took 10-14 months to complete in recent years). The art portfolio I'm sending to Princeton probably wouldn't get me into a super elite art school. Nevertheless, since I *have* devoted nine years to studio art and I think I'm relatively strong in the subject, I'm sending in ten pieces. A supplement can't hurt you unless it's atrocious (or so I've gathered). If it's mediocre, it probably won't do anything for you, either good or bad. But if it's top quality, it might help a lot. Since you've been in an outside studio for five years, I'd say send a portfolio in. It's worth a shot. Make sure to ask your art teachers for their opinions on this subject, too! They can give you insight on what pieces to include etc.

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 07:11 pm: Edit

Mehere, do a search on Art Portfolios in the Parents' board and you will find a pretty helpful thread. They are looking for work from life, showing some sort of style as well as technique. Make sure your slides are very professional. Do include an artist's statement. I wouldn't hesitate to contact the department to hear their advice to applicants. Getting a teacher to help you choose the pieces is a great idea, as C J says. Good luck.

By C_J (C_J) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 09:38 pm: Edit

Aparent4-- Since you seem know a lot about this subject, I have a question about the "work from life" issue. I understand that when applying to professional art schools such as RISD etc., one wouldn't include any pieces that haven't been done from life. Are the rules that stringent when sending a supplement portfolio to a school like Princeton, however? (Note that I'm applying as a prospective English major. I wanted to send in a portfolio as subpoint to hopefully enhance my application and show that I have a wide range of interests and talents.)

Right now half of my pieces are done directly from life. (e.g. My portfolio includes a self portrait and a few still lifes in oil painting and charcoal.) However, the other half of my pieces are from photos. Two of these are also loosely based on professional pieces (one from a famous painting, and the other, a drawing). They're properly labeled as such with credit to the original artist. I wanted to include the two pieces to illustrate a breath of technique, namely.

Do you think that the fact that half my pieces are from photos will be a major problem? I'd discussed this with my art teachers, and their opinion was that since I'm neither sending my portfolio to the elite art schools or even applying as a studio art major, it'd probably be acceptable.

I did a search on the parent forum, but the only thread I found seemed to deal with art applications to professional art schools. The thread didn't approach the subject on how good art supplements need to be in order to be worth submitting. If you have any knowledge about the latter subject, I'd love to hear it! I think I have strong technique in art. However, I want to go to Princeton badly. And if the art department will shoot me down for having only half my pieces from life and strongly recommend against me for that, maybe sending in a supplement isn't worth the risk!

I think I'll probably call Princeton for clarification next Tuesday....

By Chrisk (Chrisk) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 08:07 pm: Edit

i have a very important question. i made a cd, and someone offered to remaster it for me (splice together a few things, etc.). is this ethical? I don't know what princeton's policy is on editing CDs/tapes.

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 10:38 pm: Edit

Oops, sorry, C J, I didn't see your post until today. Hope you have called Princeton by now. It can be helpful to connect with the department; gives them a heads-up that your work will be coming their way.

In the meantime, I'm wondering how many pieces in total you are planning to send. You don't need more than 10-12. So...maybe you will have enough pieces from life? Otherwise, from all we were told when my s was applying, the liberal arts schools are less interested in seeing a wide range of technique and more eager to see a portfolio that conveys a strong style. And my s's art teacher immediately threw out anything that was not for life, because the difference between those and the work from life was so dramatic. Good luck!

By Legendofmax (Legendofmax) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 02:43 am: Edit

What format would you send such a video in, you think?