I'll start with Cork which was last Saturday. All candidates were told to prepare two pieces on one instrument or one piece on two different instruments. We were encouraged to show off how many instruments we could play which, stupidly, I didn't do!!
I haven't played piano in months and I only performed on the harp for my music practical exam in school so it was just easier for me to stick with the harp. In hindsight it would have been a good idea for me to pull out something relatively easy on piano. Learn from my mistakes!
The written paper started at 10.00 and lasted for an hour. We had to pick one essay from a choice of. . . 6 or 7 I think and one notation exercise from a choice of 3. Here is a sample exam that UCC have on their website:
http://www.music.ucc.ie/public/docs/Specimen_Entrance_Test.pdf
The essay title I chose was: "Today, is Irish Traditional Music still traditional?" and I also chose the Traditional Irish Music notation question. We were told to spend 20 minutes on the essay and 40 minutes on the notation question. I got both of them finished with time to spare and I think I did alright!
After the exam we were told to look at a noticeboard on the ground floor which would have the times and locations of our interviews on display. My interview was at 12.45 so I had almost 2 hours to wait but that was good because I had to tune up and warm up.
Tip: Don't hang around waiting to be told where you should go or what you should do. Ask someone!! We
weren't told where the practice rooms were or where we could go to warm up so I asked everyone I saw until I found someone who knew.
I had my interview with John Godfrey who was charged with all the guitar players and some traditional musicians. I'm so glad he was my interviewer because he was totally laid back. I played my two pieces and then he just asked me why I wanted to study music in college. An easy enough question but I hadn't really thought about it much so I went in circles for a while before getting my thoughts straight. He pretty much just let me talk! Then he asked what aspect of the course I am interested in.
Tip: You need to make yourself stand out from the crowd! There were no other harpists there that day so I had an advantage but I also made an effort to talk about aspects of music that were unique to me. For example I was recorded for a trad. music CD during the summer so I brought that up. Make sure you show versatility! If you play lots of different genres or have done lots of live performing you should milk this!
Then I was asked to do some sight-reading on piano which was alright, I wasn't particularly happy with how I did but there's nothing I can do now!
I know I said I would take pictures of Cork but I completely forgot! I was absolutely exhausted after the audition but I just had to go shopping :). So here is the only picture I took of a really cute vintage shop called "Miss Daisy Blue" where I bought a gorgeous patterned silk blouse. It is so nice and light for summer!
I will write about my audition in NUI Maynooth tomorrow because I have to go study.
Till then,
Maeve x
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