Hi,

My son is thinking of playing Kreisler's Tempo de Minuetto as an audition piece, he is 11. Does anyone have an opinion on whether this is a suitable piece and what other piece might be good to go with it for contrast. If anyone has any knowledge to share re scholarship auditions that would be great too.

Thanks

Hi,

As it's not my instrument I'm not familiar with the piece, but I can help with idea of Scholarship requirements. Naturally it varies from school to school, but I was talking to the Head of Music at one of our local schools recently and whilst they would expect a candidate to be at age 11, usually around grade 3 standard (exam achievement not necessary) he said would far rather a candidate presented a piece that he could perform comfortably with musicality that they really enjoy than a piece at the top end of their level that they are working towards.

They are often asked to play a few grade particular scales, and maybe some aural, but it is definately worth preparing a song to sing, just in case as every music scholarship I have looked at have asked for that.

They are looking for musical potential and enthusiasm and commitment to school music activities, orchestras etc as much as level attained.

Good luck

D

I played that piece when i was on grade 6 and i'd say it's a very good piece to show off his abilities

Thanks for your replies. I was hoping he would not need to sing as he also plays piano, but it's a good tip to have something prepared just in case.

Louise

My daughter bhas just done a music assessment as part of a scholarship at 11+. It wasn't a pure music scholarship- the school does things a little differently than others- but she is preparing for Gr 5 violin and Gr 2 piano. She played pieces and had some violin sight reading (but not piano). She had to do lots of aural tests that aren't part of the ABRSM syllabus- lots of sing the lowest note of this tried, sing the middle note and the upper note etc. She didn't have to do any scales! She was pleased about that! She got the scholarship.