Well, it happens. I didn't get into all of the colleges that I applied to, but there are still others out there.

Yeah, I guess. I really wanted to go to this one, though. I'm re-auditioning and hopefully it goes over better the second time. I think if I don't get accepted again or to UW-Madison I will probably go to UW-Eau Claire as an undeclared major and reapply/re-audition there as well as UW-Madison and maybe a few others.

Good luck, in that case!

Thanks, Dabs. (:

Awh, don't worry bud, keep trying. *hugs*

*hugs* Thanks, Andyy. (: I get to try again February 12th. I don't know if I should prepare a different solo or what.

Aww. Oh well. You can take an extra year with private lessons if you badly want to get into that specific university. Other people have probably been going over their repertoire with a private teacher for awhile.

I didn't get into one of the programs I auditioned for, in-case I never mentioned that.

I don't know where to begin finding private lessons for the saxophone [that are inexpensive and nearby]. I would really like to take lessons, though.

I think you did mention that. How many did you apply for again? Three?

I am re-auditioning there February 12th. I'm not sure if I should use the same solo or not.

The same solo might work, especially if you can demonstrate improvement between auditions I guess. I would try to find a teacher, since they'll tell you what to practice over the next week or-so.

What I would do is go through the piece, and try to identify the different contrasting sections. When you play the piece, try to phrase each section dynamically, and then try to contrast the over-all sound quality between sections -- for example making the lively parts more punchy and flashy, and the legato sections more pretty, quiet, and graceful. Lastly I would check that everything sits well with a metronome.

The first few things are things you can think about that will make anything sound nicer, and the last comment with the metronome is something you can practice over the week. I would specifically practice/drill sections that are difficult rather than the whole thing with the metronome.

Anyways, you still have a chance to show-off now I think, and you can also still take a fifth year with private lessons and probably improve massively.

I thought that I play the piece pretty contrasty (Firefox is not spell-checking that word; awesome.) but I guess when I get nervous and under pressure it considerably declines. I should maybe practice broadening the extremes so even on a bad day it ends up rangy.

It's a relatively simple piece, really. I did the piece in eighth grade for Solo & Ensemble. I'm surprised that it is recommended repertoire. Here's a decent video to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8crYOKrXUM8 I won't have an accompanist, though.

I guess since it's recommended a lot of people do it, so they have a general idea of what it sounds like. I need to find a way to make it more impressive, I guess.

Do what you can anyways. Are you allowed also preparing a study to demonstrate that you are way-beyond the technical demands of the piece? The piece might just show you-off badly because it's more simple.

When I auditioned, all of the websites asked me to prepare two contrasting movements of something in the repertoire, but my teacher made me learn a sonata, a concerto, a contemporary Canadian piece, and a French Contest Piece, which was 1 hour+ of music, that they chose samples from. This isn't a normal amount of music to learn, but the point is that the school's don't normally mind what you play to show yourself off -- the recommended repertoire list is more of a guideline.

Your audition will also go massively better if you spend a year preparing with a private teacher, should you still not get-in. You can knock-out a few of the music degree side-requirements in your first year -- such as music theory or history classes, and you won't really lose any time in the long run in that case.

That is a good idea. I have several solos semi-prepared: I could maybe do pieces from a few of them. Do you think it would matter if I played some of a tenor solo on the alto? I don't have an accompanist.

Private teachers are much harder to find if you don't live in a bigger city. I think that maybe looking in Eau Claire/Madison would prove some results, though. Either way, I would have to wait until August/September.

It's actually better for you to borrow a tenor sax -- I guess from your school -- and switch saxophones during the audition. My teacher told me to bring an A clarinet to my audition for no reason. I just conspicuously placed the case beside me as I played, I guess to show that I'm familiar with them or to imply that I've played in orchestras. If you switch saxophones during the audition, it shows them that you can play both. You should make sure they don't say no tenor saxes please on their website though, just in case.

Were you supposed to use an accompanyist? If you hire an accompanyist in Eau-Claire, it will make your audition sound better, except you'll have to schedule a rehearsal to coordinate your parts.

Hm, I guess I could do that. How would they know that the tenor isn't mine? I mean, I wouldn't want them to expect me to play it in college since obviously it's not mine. Also, I think my solo-time is supposed to be around three minutes, so having two saxophones could be more of a hassle, actually. I guess I won't, then.

I know that tenor saxes are allowed to audition because there is a separate recommendation list for tenors, and last time I was there a bari was auditioning right before me.

It said that accompanists were recommended, but not necessary. I was originally going to have my band director's wife accompany me the first time, but then after repeatedly forgetting to call her about it I just decided not to.

They have accompanists at Eau Claire, but I don't remember if they are only for choir auditions or not (I know for Madison they are). Either way, its too late for me to hire one unless I audition in March instead.

Are you allowed auditioning in March? That sure would give you more time. So far as accompanyists and the extra instrument though, I think you should audition with all the frills -- they sort-of imply that you're trying to be very prepared. I would also dress very nicely, and possibly groom your hair into something archaic and 'handsome' . . . maybe with a side part. I would shine your shoes notice-ably. Various things like that.