Music Solo Performance in 2013

[monis]

Hi
Anyone doing Music Performance in 2013?
What are your pieces? I will be doing it in 2014, but I am keen to know what programmes people choose.
Cheers

[QuidProQuo]

I'm doing clarinet for VCE and my program is:

Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata (mvt 1)
Weber: Theme and Variations
Stravinsky: Three Pieces
Schumann: Fantasy Piece No. 1

I tried to choose a varied and interesting program with different levels of difficulty and types of difficulty (i.e. technically difficult or musically or emotionally difficult). It's important to choose works that play to your strengths. And don't be deterred from choosing a piece because it's classified as easy according to AMEB or something; while the Stravinsky Three Pieces is AMusA, I just saw that the Schumann turns out to be on the fifth grade syllabus...it's how you deliver it that matters of course.

[MatthewMedia]

I do Electric Bass and my pieces are (in the order I will play them)

I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight and the Pips (with backing track accompaniment)
Dune Tune - Level 42
Donna Lee - Jaco Pastorious arrangement
Le Freak - Chic (with backing track accompaniment)
Suite 1 for Violincello - Bach
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder (with backing track accompaniment)

[l.berry]

I did Solo Contemporary Voice and my program was:
1. Vocalises x 2
2. Somethings Got a Hold on Me - Gospel
3. Scarborough Fair - Acapella
4. Now That I've Seen Her - Musical Theatre
5. He Won't Go - Pop/Rock
6. Blue Skies -Swing
7. Still Hurting.

The examiners were lovely and I actually really enjoyed the performance

[Lucho23]

I did Electric Bass. My repertoire was:

• Run For Cover - Marcus Miller (Live Drums Accompaniment)
• I Heard it Through the Grapevine (Backing Track Accompaniment)
• Bourees 1 and 2  - JS Bach (Unaccompanied)
• Amazing Grace - Victor Wooten (Unaccompanied)
• Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - John Golsby (Live Voice Accompaniment)
• Bass Folk Song - Stanley Clarke (Live Drums Accompaniment)

I recommend to utilise as much live accompaniment as you can, backing tracks detract from the atmosphere.

Good Luck for next year! Have fun with it, don't be frantic. It's a performance, enjoy it and so will the assessors!

[rhapsody_]

What is your instrument? Piano?

I did pianoforte this year and played
- Prelude in C Minor 847 by Bach
- Minstrels by Debussy
- Sonata in F Minor Op. 2 No. 1 Movement 1 by Beethoven
- Fascinating Rhythm by Gershwin
- Waltz in C# Minor Op. 64 No, 2
ie. mostly well-known pieces by well-known composers which made me worry that examiners would nit-pick me more LOL

Like people have said, a good variety in your program will make the pieces stand out more and allows you to show off your repertoire. Musicality and performance is valued more over technicality so don't worry about how hard/easy pieces are, remember that the most technically easy pieces can also be the most musically difficult pieces of course don't choose pieces that are out of your control, but examiners could care less about the occasional hiccup as long as the performance is engaging and enjoyable for both them and you.

Choose pieces you like too - it'll be hard to play a piece well if you don't enjoy it (though granted everyone gets sick of practising the same pieces eventually haha)