Claire Harris from the SE22 Piano School offers group Music Aptitude Test & Scholarship Workshops in East Dulwich. The next session is on 1st of August 2018. Here are some of the topics we cover in the workshops along with some helpful tips for music scholars:
We discussed the interview questions and many students had been involved with groups and performances outside of school – these are great things to note down and have ready to mention during the interview.
It’s also a good idea to think about favourite composers and performers prior to the audition. We all know how the mind can go blank under pressure!
The performances were all well prepared. The students discovered when listening to each other that dynamic contrast really makes an impact – so this is a good thing to focus on.
If memorising one of the pieces is an option, I would strongly encourage this. This especially applies if the piece is in a jazz or popular style.
As well as the actual playing, students should practise saying the name of the piece and composer, making sure pronunciation is correct.
If the piece is to be played with piano, try and organise a rehearsal with the pianist beforehand as this can make all the difference to a polished performance.