interview fail?? beethoven and mozart

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johndoe3344

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So I interviewed at one of my favorite/high-ranked schools yesterday, and the topic of what I do as my hobbies came up. Note that everything I say is the complete truth. Note that piano playing isn't really written on my AMCAS (where would you even put it??), so he might have gotten suspicious as a result of that.

Me: Well, I do *insert short laundry list of things*... and I also play the piano.
Him: Oh? Piano? What do you play?
Me: I play mostly classical.
Him: How long?
Me: I played for about 10 years. I was trying to learn La Campanella when I went to college and stopped.
Him: What's your favorite song?
Me: Um... I don't really remember... I think it was a Rondo by Mozart.
Him: ....
Me: *continues talking and he interrupts me*
Him: You know, Rondos are composed by Beethoven.
Me: ??!??!?? *panic mode* Um.. uh... ah. I wasn't really that good with remembering authors and names of songs... with classical music, the names of the songs are just something something sonata in some major or another. *nervous chuckle*

And then he changed topics.

So I went home, and I googled it. BOTH MOZART AND BEETHOVEN COMPOSED RONDOS. THE SONG I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS INDEED A RONDO WRITTEN BY MOZART. So I'm thinking that the interviewer knew that, and said that, testing me to see if I was lying. And I completely failed his test. And now he thinks I'm lying and now I'll definitely get rejected.

Comments? Am I thinking too much into it?
 
this doesn't answer your question, but out of curiosity, were you thinking of the Turkish Rondo?
 
If that guy was "testing" you, that's pretty freaking dirty. I mean, who can expect an interviewee to fight with an interviewer over some detail like that? What if he wasn't testing you and you fought him over the issue? That would be worse, probably.

In any sense, it's best not to think about it. You can't change anything now.
 
Breathe! You said you didn't put piano on your application, (although maybe you should have, it would have been interesting,) so your interviewer didn't go in trying to think of ways to disprove your piano skills. He had a conversation with you, you freaked out, so he changed the topic to avoid you spontaneously combusting out of nervousness.
 
Thinking too much into it. I was a music major and I don't remember a lot of that stuff. (Granted, my primary instrument wasn't piano and I could care less about music history, although I still had to take way too many classes in it.) Knowing who composed rondos isn't that big of a deal and neither is mistaking one composer for another as long as you didn't sound like you had no idea what you were talking about. I doubt the interviewer would consider you a "liar" simply b/c you made a mistake about who wrote what for an instrument you haven't played in 3-4 years.
 
It was Rondo Alla Turca, the Turkish Rondo.

And googling it, I realize it's the last movement of a sonata... but still... I'm not applying to music school!!

I freaked out only because he basically said I was lying.
 
Relax. It's not like not you were trying to be deceptive. I'm guessing he wasn't aware that what he was saying was wrong, but it's possible he was trying to trip you up. You have nothing to worry about.
 
you're analyzing too much. just relax and be thankful that it's over. you did what you could.
 
johndoe3344 said:
So I interviewed at one of my favorite/high-ranked schools yesterday, and the topic of what I do as my hobbies came up. Note that everything I say is the complete truth. Note that piano playing isn't really written on my AMCAS (where would you even put it??), so he might have gotten suspicious as a result of that.

Me: Well, I do *insert short laundry list of things*... and I also play the piano.
Him: Oh? Piano? What do you play?
Me: I play mostly classical.
Him: How long?
Me: I played for about 10 years. I was trying to learn La Campanella when I went to college and stopped.
Him: What's your favorite song?
Me: Um... I don't really remember... I think it was a Rondo by Mozart.
Him: ....
Me: *continues talking and he interrupts me*
Him: You know, Rondos are composed by Beethoven.
Me: ??!??!?? *panic mode* Um.. uh... ah. I wasn't really that good with remembering authors and names of songs... with classical music, the names of the songs are just something something sonata in some major or another. *nervous chuckle*

And then he changed topics.

So I went home, and I googled it. BOTH MOZART AND BEETHOVEN COMPOSED RONDOS. THE SONG I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS INDEED A RONDO WRITTEN BY MOZART. So I'm thinking that the interviewer knew that, and said that, testing me to see if I was lying. And I completely failed his test. And now he thinks I'm lying and now I'll definitely get rejected.

Comments? Am I thinking too much into it?
Click to expand...

interesting. you were definitely thinking of the Rondo Alla Turca my Mozart. I'm surprised if your interviewer seemed to be so knowledgeable about piano that he didn't know that. I've played piano for almost 15 years and can't say I've ever even come across of a Rondo by Beethoven.

I wouldn't sweat it. You'll be fine. Besides....he was calling them "songs"...songs have words. they're called "pieces" not songs lol

or perhaps the interviewer DID know that....and was trying to learn how you react when you are told something you said is wrong. some of my interviewers have asked me questions or said responses that i feel purposely threw me off guard to see how i would react. i'm sure you'll be fine.

and you should upgrade your favorite classical piece to something cooler lol. to perhaps one of Chopin's Etude (yes he is my favorite. Consider:

Winter Winds Etude (Etude Op 25 No 11)
Ocean Wave Etude (Etude Op 25 No 12)
Revolutionary Etude (Etude Op 10 No 12)
and Etude Op 10 No 4 (not sure there is a special name for that one lol)
 
I wouldn't sweat it. You'll be fine. Besides....he was calling them "songs"...songs have words. they're called "pieces" not songs lol

or perhaps the interviewer DID know that....and was trying to learn how you react when you are told something you said is wrong. some of my interviewers have asked me questions or said responses that i feel purposely threw me off guard to see how i would react. i'm sure you'll be fine.

and you should upgrade your favorite classical piece to something cooler lol. to perhaps one of Chopin's Etude (yes he is my favorite. Consider:

Winter Winds Etude (Etude Op 25 No 11)
Ocean Wave Etude (Etude Op 25 No 12)
Revolutionary Etude (Etude Op 10 No 12)
and Etude Op 10 No 4 (not sure there is a special name for that one lol)
Click to expand...

Wow. I've never even considered that they could be testing my reaction when they say something I've said is wrong. If i kept that in mind, I'd definitely have reacted MUCH more normally. Oh well. I still have a few more interviews to go to.

Regarding upgrading, I've definitely played some much cooler stuff, but I honestly don't remember their names after a few years. Like seriously. Sonata No 3948639 in Z flat major?

But yeah, thanks 🙂
 
Honestly he was probably just misinformed. I doubt he was trying to "test" you.
 
Think of this as an opportunity. When you email him about how much you enjoyed the interview and loved the school, tell him you went back to look up the Rondo you were thinking of and sure enough it was by Mozart. It was the Turkish Rondo.... You might also include a link to someplace on the net that discusses it in more detail. I think following up may well make an impression on him.
 
i bet he forgot about the whole thing as soon as you left the room. people got things to do, places to go, keep on - i'm sure you did more than fine.
 
I bet he let out a nice evil laugh once you walked out, and then proceeded to gently push your app off his desk and into the trash can
 
You should at least know what your hobbies are and what is your favourite song.

I do not think its a trick and I do not think he feels you are lying. But he might just think that a person who doesnt know waht hes interested in might not be what they want at the school.
 
i think he was just a dbag who thought he knew a h-e-double hockey sticks of a lot more than he did about music.

i had an interview for a ba/md prog back senior year and the convo went to music. we started talking about jazz and i launched into a bit about how awesome miles was and how he changed everything. the interviewer was like OMGGGG I HATE MILES DAVIS HE SUCKS SO MUCH (or something like that). i was legit offended and upset about it. i tried really hard to hide it...but whatever.
 
"You should at least know what your hobbies are and what is your favourite song.

I do not think its a trick and I do not think he feels you are lying. But he might just think that a person who doesnt know waht hes interested in might not be what they want at the school."

/facepalmed

*sigh....*
 
johndoe3344 said:
So I interviewed at one of my favorite/high-ranked schools yesterday, and the topic of what I do as my hobbies came up. Note that everything I say is the complete truth. Note that piano playing isn't really written on my AMCAS (where would you even put it??), so he might have gotten suspicious as a result of that.

Me: Well, I do *insert short laundry list of things*... and I also play the piano.
Him: Oh? Piano? What do you play?
Me: I play mostly classical.
Him: How long?
Me: I played for about 10 years. I was trying to learn La Campanella when I went to college and stopped.
Him: What's your favorite song?
Me: Um... I don't really remember... I think it was a Rondo by Mozart.
Him: ....
Me: *continues talking and he interrupts me*
Him: You know, Rondos are composed by Beethoven.
Me: ??!??!?? *panic mode* Um.. uh... ah. I wasn't really that good with remembering authors and names of songs... with classical music, the names of the songs are just something something sonata in some major or another. *nervous chuckle*

And then he changed topics.

So I went home, and I googled it. BOTH MOZART AND BEETHOVEN COMPOSED RONDOS. THE SONG I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS INDEED A RONDO WRITTEN BY MOZART. So I'm thinking that the interviewer knew that, and said that, testing me to see if I was lying. And I completely failed his test. And now he thinks I'm lying and now I'll definitely get rejected.

Comments? Am I thinking too much into it?
Click to expand...

owned
 
Email him that there really are rondos by Mozart. Don't let this kinda stuff slide, s/he is wrong.


I'm just kidding. It's not a big deal.
 
SirSpicious said:
"You should at least know what your hobbies are and what is your favourite song.

I do not think its a trick and I do not think he feels you are lying. But he might just think that a person who doesnt know waht hes interested in might not be what they want at the school."

/facepalmed

*sigh....*
Click to expand...
🙄
 
as a classical pianist (out of practice) my reoccurring nightmare was to arrive at my interview to see a steinway and some esteemed member of the music faculty.

"Your application claims that you have extensive performance experience. We would like you to provide a short example of this. Please perform from memory Balakirev's Islamey, two Chopin etudes, a Rachmaninoff prelude, one of the later Beethoven sonatas, and the entire Goldberg variations."

Thankfully this was only a nightmare.
 
r0ckaction said:
as a classical pianist (out of practice) my reoccurring nightmare was to arrive at my interview to see a steinway and some esteemed member of the music faculty.

"Your application claims that you have extensive performance experience. We would like you to provide a short example of this. Please perform from memory Balakirev's Islamey, two Chopin etudes, a Rachmaninoff prelude, one of the later Beethoven sonatas, and the entire Goldberg variations."

Thankfully this was only a nightmare.
Click to expand...

In Glenn Gould posture!:meanie:
 
jturkel said:
interesting. you were definitely thinking of the Rondo Alla Turca my Mozart. I'm surprised if your interviewer seemed to be so knowledgeable about piano that he didn't know that. I've played piano for almost 15 years and can't say I've ever even come across of a Rondo by Beethoven.
Click to expand...

They're movements in his concertos.
 
bannie22 said:
You should at least know what your hobbies are and what is your favourite song.

I do not think its a trick and I do not think he feels you are lying. But he might just think that a person who doesnt know waht hes interested in might not be what they want at the school.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like he certainly knows what he's interested in, and that he simply forgot the title.
 
glypha1104 said:
They're movements in his concertos.
Click to expand...

Not just his concertos, either; rondos are prominent in classical music in general.

OP, I'm more impressed with the fact that you mentioned trying to tackle (what I'm assuming to be Liszt's) "La Campanella"; how'd that work out?
 
Last edited:
bannie22 said:
You should at least know what your hobbies are and what is your favourite song.

I do not think its a trick and I do not think he feels you are lying. But he might just think that a person who doesnt know waht hes interested in might not be what they want at the school.
Click to expand...

👎

But, if you insist on going down that road, if you're going to put the interviewee on the spot by commenting on his/her knowledge of music, you should at least know enough about music yourself so as not to look like an ignorant a** after all is said and done.
 
r0ckaction said:
as a classical pianist (out of practice) my reoccurring nightmare was to arrive at my interview to see a steinway and some esteemed member of the music faculty.

"Your application claims that you have extensive performance experience. We would like you to provide a short example of this. Please perform from memory Balakirev's Islamey, two Chopin etudes, a Rachmaninoff prelude, one of the later Beethoven sonatas, and the entire Goldberg variations."

Thankfully this was only a nightmare.
Click to expand...


Hahahaha.... yeah.... mine too! lol. Except as a vocalist, it would be an esteemed member of the vocal faculty being there and saying, "apumic, we are so excited to have you here. According to your application and references, you have extensive experience as a performer and musician. With that in mind, we have brought our Dean of Music to play accompaniment for you and would ask that you perform 3 songs from your senior recital -- your choice which 3." Sounds easy.... but.... lol. I'm totally out of practice and a voice out of practice is a lot like a muscle not exercised -- it quickly loses its flexibility and power (along with its technique and musicianship). (Much moreso, I would guess, than do a pianist's fingers.)
 
apumic said:
Sounds easy.... but.... lol. I'm totally out of practice and a voice out of practice is a lot like a muscle not exercised -- it quickly loses its flexibility and power (along with its technique and musicianship). (Much moreso, I would guess, than do a pianist's fingers.)
Click to expand...

as a pianist, vocalist, and woodwind player, i think you lose ability differently with voice, too, but i think piano and voice is more similar than different.

when i don't pick up a woodwind instrument for a few months, and then attempt to play a difficult piece that i had mastered in the past, i've got it, no problem, in the muscle memory. however, if i attempt then to sightread something just as hard...it's more of a challenge.

for piano and voice, i feel it's the other way around. i don't have the flexibility of range i used to in voice when i don't practice, and for piano if i don't practice i just can't perform at the level i used to.

what genre of vocal performance were you? i'm all about jazz, here, and it's hard for me NOT to sing most days...but then again i don't exactly do scales every day 🙂


PS BIG SCARY NIGHTMARE now about people asking me to sing/play for them. although i'd feel perfectly comfortable singing "go slow" to a group of doctors 😉
 
r0ckaction said:
as a classical pianist (out of practice) my reoccurring nightmare was to arrive at my interview to see a steinway and some esteemed member of the music faculty.

"Your application claims that you have extensive performance experience. We would like you to provide a short example of this. Please perform from memory Balakirev's Islamey, two Chopin etudes, a Rachmaninoff prelude, one of the later Beethoven sonatas, and the entire Goldberg variations."
Click to expand...

glad to see another fellow classical pianist on SDN!

i would have been totally down with this. oddly enough and along with your choice of mentioned msuic, i actually bring my recordings on CD of certain pieces to interviews. The CD generally contains a Chopin Etude (such as the Revolutiony Etude), a Rach prelude (generally Prelude Op 3 No 2), and a Beethoven sonata (always Pathetique).

At one of my interviews, my interviewer actually put it on his computer and listened to it....and then we happened to have a conversation about music, playing piano and other instruments, and about the different types of pianos for about 45 minutes.....solid convo

you should look into doing that. definitely brings another element to your (general "your") application 👍
 
curbye said:
as a pianist, vocalist, and woodwind player, i think you lose ability differently with voice, too, but i think piano and voice is more similar than different.

when i don't pick up a woodwind instrument for a few months, and then attempt to play a difficult piece that i had mastered in the past, i've got it, no problem, in the muscle memory. however, if i attempt then to sightread something just as hard...it's more of a challenge.

for piano and voice, i feel it's the other way around. i don't have the flexibility of range i used to in voice when i don't practice, and for piano if i don't practice i just can't perform at the level i used to.

what genre of vocal performance were you? i'm all about jazz, here, and it's hard for me NOT to sing most days...but then again i don't exactly do scales every day 🙂


PS BIG SCARY NIGHTMARE now about people asking me to sing/play for them. although i'd feel perfectly comfortable singing "go slow" to a group of doctors 😉
Click to expand...

Vocally, I'm classically trained but definitely prefer jazz, pop, and musical theater. As a result, I sing everything from opera to MT to pop-rock to jazz. I play guitar and piano as well, albeit to a lesser degree. I probably need to get back into practice on all of those. I've let my musicianship skills go largely unused for awhile w/ everything else going on, but it always sucks to put down a hobby like that. I played clarinet years ago as well but I think the last time I touched a woodwind was to fix a music ed major's technique after hearing her squeak for about the 60th time in a 5 minute period! lol....

I would actually love to perform at an interview if I were prepared but I think I will have to prep a bit. I've noticed we vocalists tend to dislike being asked to sing on the spot b/c it's always like "uhhh...what do you want me to sing?" and "this is going to sound WAY worse than my talent level b/c I'm not warmed up, but...."
 
I got a kick out of this...

Rondo is a form of composition that generally make up final movements of Sonatas from the Classical Era. The piece you were probably thinking of was the famous Rondo 'alla turca' by Mozart. Played by everyone and their mother at some point in their life...

Beethoven wrote Rondo movements as well...
 
jturkel said:
glad to see another fellow classical pianist on SDN!

i would have been totally down with this. oddly enough and along with your choice of mentioned msuic, i actually bring my recordings on CD of certain pieces to interviews. The CD generally contains a Chopin Etude (such as the Revolutiony Etude), a Rach prelude (generally Prelude Op 3 No 2), and a Beethoven sonata (always Pathetique).

At one of my interviews, my interviewer actually put it on his computer and listened to it....and then we happened to have a conversation about music, playing piano and other instruments, and about the different types of pianos for about 45 minutes.....solid convo

you should look into doing that. definitely brings another element to your (general "your") application 👍
Click to expand...




WOW okay i would LOVE to do this. def going to bring this cd now. thanks!



side, almost unrelated question regarded creative talents...i also write, and have been published, but MOST of my works under a pen name. do i show samples, or is that lame because it can essentially give the pen name away (it's google-able).
 
apumic said:
Vocally, I'm classically trained but definitely prefer jazz, pop, and musical theater. As a result, I sing everything from opera to MT to pop-rock to jazz. I play guitar and piano as well, albeit to a lesser degree. I probably need to get back into practice on all of those. I've let my musicianship skills go largely unused for awhile w/ everything else going on, but it always sucks to put down a hobby like that. I played clarinet years ago as well but I think the last time I touched a woodwind was to fix a music ed major's technique after hearing her squeak for about the 60th time in a 5 minute period! lol....

I would actually love to perform at an interview if I were prepared but I think I will have to prep a bit. I've noticed we vocalists tend to dislike being asked to sing on the spot b/c it's always like "uhhh...what do you want me to sing?" and "this is going to sound WAY worse than my talent level b/c I'm not warmed up, but...."
Click to expand...



don't you hate that 🙁 i miss music. i go back and play as procrastination for mcat all the time, though. but i miss the orchestral component...idk if you got that a lot, but it was so amazing...SIGGHHHH

anyway yeah i mean i play flute/sax (flute is primary) but now i plan on keeping my flute close by...just in case. 😎


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBRyjMHO_Ew&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
 
r0ckaction said:
as a classical pianist (out of practice) my reoccurring nightmare was to arrive at my interview to see a steinway and some esteemed member of the music faculty.

"Your application claims that you have extensive performance experience. We would like you to provide a short example of this. Please perform from memory Balakirev's Islamey, two Chopin etudes, a Rachmaninoff prelude, one of the later Beethoven sonatas, and the entire Goldberg variations."

Thankfully this was only a nightmare.
Click to expand...

mine too! only i still play so it would have been waaaay embarrassing if i sucked in front of them.
 
jturkel said:
glad to see another fellow classical pianist on SDN!

i would have been totally down with this. oddly enough and along with your choice of mentioned msuic, i actually bring my recordings on CD of certain pieces to interviews. The CD generally contains a Chopin Etude (such as the Revolutiony Etude), a Rach prelude (generally Prelude Op 3 No 2), and a Beethoven sonata (always Pathetique).

At one of my interviews, my interviewer actually put it on his computer and listened to it....and then we happened to have a conversation about music, playing piano and other instruments, and about the different types of pianos for about 45 minutes.....solid convo

you should look into doing that. definitely brings another element to your (general "your") application 👍
Click to expand...

I actually have recordings of me playing the Pathetique and Rach's prelude op. 23 no 5. (the g Minor). But the Pathetique was recorded at age 14 and although i hit the right notes, i was no where near mature enough to give it a proper treatment and the interpretation is thus rather flat IMO. Plus i only recorded the first movement. I think nowadays I would pull off a much better rendition (at least i would hope so)... the downside is, my accuracy would be PITIFUL. I played the Revolutionary back in high school too, but never recorded it. Fun as heck to play. One of those glorious pieces that sounds devilishly hard, but is written to flow from your fingers so naturally.

Now the only recording that i'd be okay with letting come to light would be an old high school one of the saint-saens g minor concerto (no. 2) with a local orchestra. The kicker with that piece was that I played it on a Bosendorfer Imperial grand. That piano would make "mary had a little lamb" sound like "O fortuna". You can drown out the brass section with one of those suckers.

I never really thought about bringing a recording in, and now the interview season is done for me. I would have likely been too shy to mention the CD anyways. Good call there though. 👍

Awesome to hear that there are other classical musicians around!
 
dw2158 said:
mine too! only i still play so it would have been waaaay embarrassing if i sucked in front of them.
Click to expand...


I feel as though I would have been way more nervous in front of med school interviewers than in any jury or recital.
 
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