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Links and Resources
Games and Fun Learning Sites
| HD Piano Lessons | Free YouTube video lessons, showing you how to play popular songs. |
| Pattern Player | Build and play your own rhythms online! From PBS. |
| NYP KidZone | The New York Philharmonic's kids page. |
| Mozart's Magical Life | Interactive Mozart biography for children. |
| Practice Spot | Games, articles, charts, and tips to improve your practicing. |
| YouTube Videos | Professional pianists, amateurs, and students all post videos of their playing on YouTube. Search for the piece you're working on, to hear other pianists' interpretations! |
Free Sheet Music, Recordings, and Software
| The Piano Society | Free recordings of classical piano pieces. |
| IMSLP | The best site for free PDF files of classical music. |
| Mutopia Project | Free downloadable sheet music. |
| Melody Assistant | Free music notation software. |
| Manuscript Paper | Use this blank staff manuscript to write your compositions! (PDF) |
Music Research & Learning Sites
| Classical Music Pages | Composer bios with portraits and audio. Music history, forms, glossary. |
| Piano Learning Center | How a piano works, piano care, etc. Moving diagram of piano action. |
| BBC Radio 3 | New and traditional classical recordings. Articles, blog, and podcasts. |
| Bach Invention | Visualization of the structure of Bach's Invention 13 in A Minor. |
| Performing Arts Encyclopedia | Explore music, theater, and dance at the Library of Congress |
| Classical Composers | Bios, MP3s, and free sheet music for all the famous composers. |
More About Piano Lessons
| Piano Adventures | The main curriculum used in our studio. |
| Piano Buyer's Guide | How to select a piano, pricing information, etc. |
| Piano Home Page | Practical Q&As about lessons, practicing, recitals, duets, etc. |
| Musical Fossils | A website for adult piano students. Tips, articles, and a discussion group. |
College Admission/Music Scholarships
It's worth noting that music scholarships are often available even if you don't plan to major in music. For example, you may be able to earn a scholarship in exchange for agreeing to accompany the college choir.
Exact admission and scholarship requirements will depend on the college you hope to attend, but here is some sample information to give you an idea:
Boise State Music Admissions:
BSU's music audition process is fairly accessible. Students seeking to major or minor in music must perform an audition for the music faculty and take the Music Literacy Predictive Exam. In the audition, the student must play two memorized pieces from contrasting historical periods. Examples include:
- Bach Prelude & Fugue
- Movement from a Mozart or Beethoven sonata
- A work by Chopin, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, or Gershwin
The audition includes playing some major and minor scales, and may include a sight-reading test as well.
Julliard Admissions:
On the other end of the spectrum, if you are dreaming of attending a prestigious music school, the expectations are much higher. Here is a summary of Julliard's admission process.
- Submit pre-recorded audition on CD (a sonata plus a major Romantic-era work).
- If invited to come for live audition, the application must perform an audition from memory. The minimum length is 45 minutes and must include the following:
- Bach Prelude & Fugue
- Entire sonata by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, or Schubert
- Substantial composition from the Romantic era
- Two etudes (one by Chopin and one by another composer)
- Another substantial work of the applicant's choice.
Visit the Julliard website for further information.