I'm currently preparing for my upcoming college auditions. The problem I'm having is choosing my repertoire. I need 2 contrasting orchestral excerpts, and 4 contrasting studies OR two contrasting movements of a concerto/solo piece.

For the excerpts, I thought maybe I'd go with the Mozart Tuba Mirum and the first solo from Mahler's 3rd.
I'm also thinking maybe the Hungarian March might be good. I first wanted to play the Ravel Bolero but I got my dental braces taken away 2 weeks ago and my high register has suffered from it.

My main problem is choosing studies. I think the Rochut book is a good choice, but of course I can only use one of those, because they're obiously not contrasting. I went through the Sigmund Hering book but I did not quite like it. I thought I'd also check the Arban book.

Now if I choose playing a concerto instead, my choice is Guilmant's Morceau Symphonique, which is I think a pretty nice audition piece, and I've been working on it for quite some time. This was what I wanted to play, but since I got my braces off, I'm having endurance issues and as I said earlier, my high register is weak (I can't play above high Bb for the moment, and both my Bb, A and Ab are not very solid).

I'm now working my high register and I could be able to get it back like it was before, but I need other safer choices in case I'm not able to play high and long enough for Morceau Symphonique.

What are your suggestions?

hey for a piece try the Sonata for Trombone and Piano by Paul Hindemithe the first movement is in a comfortable register and lets you develop a nice big orchestral sound. just think of your air and play 'easily' and you will be right. As for the excerpts the mozart and the Mahler are very good choices stick with them.

Good luck
Ash

Thanks a lot, I'll check that out. Otherwise, I checked a couple of pieces I used to pratice but stopped a few months ago because I did not have time for that...I realized I could play the 2nd and 3rd movement of the Rimsky-Korsakov concerto quite better than I remembered, maybe it could be a nice choice. For the excerpts, well I'm going with the Mozart, but for the second one I'm still hesitating between the Mahler and the Ride of the Valkyries.

hey
yeh the rimsky-korsakov is good also but I reckon you could push yourself a little more than the rimsky-korsakov. but its your desicion, as for the excerpts, the ride needs a very strong articulation with a very big orchestral sound. Thats one of the things i worked on in my first year of my Conservatorium studies in Australia and have only just got the rite sound, let alone articulation but im working on it. The Mahler also needs this similar sound but articulation isn't as cruicial but is needed to be very responsive and open. and is in a better range as well

Keep this in mind
universities are auditioning you for the potential they see in you and how much they can help you, not how good you play on the day of the audition.

Have fun
Ash

I know this thread was dead for a while, but anyway, just wanted to share the results of my two auditions. I finally played the Rimsky-Korsakov concerto (2nd and 3rd movements) and the Mozart Tuba Mirum (only for one of the two auditions).

I was accepted at the St-Laurent College. The second audition was for the Montreal Conservatory of Music. I am also accepted there, but I'll only know if I'm admitted in a few weeks, it depends on how many other people are accepted and how many places are available.

So thanks again for your advice guys!

congratulations!!! What are you planning on majoring in?

by the way, nice selection for contrasting movements, I don't know of any other song--even though i'm not too experienced just quite yet in the field of knowing so many solos--that is as contrasting at the 2ed and 3rd movements from concerto (I'm currently playing that for a number of things)

But congratulations!!!

Thanks. I'll try to answer your question the best I can. Studies in Quebec are unlike anywhere else. We end high school a year earlier (grade 11 instead of 12), then we attend what we call CEGEP (College of General and Vocational Education) for 2 years before going to university (which is 3 years instead of 4 for most programs for a bachelor's degree). After college I'd like to study in musical interpretation (trombone).

And then again it's completely different for the Conservatory, which is mostly like other conservatories around the world I believe.

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And now I'm finishing high school.