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February 10, 2005 at 3:48 PM

I've recently been considering applying for the Great Wall Acadamy music school thing, which is being run in July/August. I'd really like to go, and think I'd just about be at the right level, it's just that I don't have any pieces.

The audition requirements are this:
2 movements of Bach
a Romantic Concerto
a "transcendental study"

Bach I should be able to do, and I think I have a study of the right level. It's just the romantic concerto. I e-mailed the organisers saying if they'd accept Mozart 4, to which they responded that they would. Now I must make a decision:
There's 4 weeks until applications close. In that time I must learn Mozart 4 and brush up my Bach if I want to apply. If I apply and get accepted, I then have to find $7500 or so to be able to attend. Not easy for someone who only earns $30/week.

There is a possibility of getting a grant which would help with the payment. However, that then leaves the issue of whether I can be prepared to record a piece on 4 weeks.

I worked on the exposition today, spent an hour on it. I think that I am an outside opportunity to get there. Therefore, should I work hard and then be disappointed that I didn't get there? No, I don't think that's for me.

However, What I think I'll do is work to have the piece ready in a month. If it's not ready, that's ok, I've broken the back of it, and can work on my other pieces for my A.Mus exam. I've already performed one piece, the Suk Appassionato, which would leave me with the final two movements of the Bach C Major Sonata, Mozart 4 first two movements, and Brahms 78 or Schumann 105 (still haven't decided).

If I then get the Mozart ready by the application date, I can apply and see how I go. If not, there's always next year.