Put on the spot at interviews - instruments

[MrToothfairy]

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That would be my dream if one of the Adcoms could tell me to play guitar for them! Lol I have always wondered about that.

 

[wendo]

I think if they did ask you it would be very easy to mess up since we're all already so nervous about the interview itself. I don't think they would put you on the spot like that unless you brag about how amazing you are at the piano/guitar/etc.

 

[rewJW]

I listed that I played trumpet, flute, piccolo, and bass guitar... because I do. Anyway, at my Stony Brook interview, the interviewer asked me which of the list was my favorite instrument and why. I said trumpet because I enjoy ska music... then had to explain what ska is to him because he hadn't heard of it. lol

 

[ddstobe]

If a person want to lie about knowing how to play certain instrument, he/she better bush up on those terminology. LOL

 

[Flipper405]

I play the violin. If they bust out a violin during the interview, why the hell not show them my awesome skills.

If anything, you should be proud of the instrument you play (if you play one). It shouldn't be something to feel hesitant to show off to if they bring it up during the interview.

Show em what you've got 🙂 I'm sure a majority of the adcoms love to listen to classical/jazz type of music, so It would be the best time to rock their socks off. You can't go wrong with music.

Agreed - if you say you are able to play it, you should relish the opportunity to show them what ya got. I highly doubt they would happen to have a horn available though 🙂

 

[xiphoidprocess]

all the guitarists out there, you should check out Monte Montgomery. He's amazing!

 

[MowgliR]

Anyone put something other than a guitar or piano down on their app out of curiosity?

 

[DCalypso]

Anyone put something other than a guitar or piano down on their app out of curiosity?

I did piano for 8 years, but forgot a LOT.
I'll put it down, and relearn before applying in 2 years I guess...

 

[CrazyTeeth]

Anyone put something other than a guitar or piano down on their app out of curiosity?

I wonder if playing Guitar Heroes counts as playing an instrument.. and listed as manual dexterity? hmm.. 😀

 

[Emmie]

I did piano for 8 years, but forgot a LOT.
I'll put it down, and relearn before applying in 2 years I guess...

umm, how can you forget how to play piano, it's like learning how to ride a bike, it's something that once you learned (esp for 8 yrs), you can't forget. Just my opinion.

 

[Flipper405]

Anyone put something other than a guitar or piano down on their app out of curiosity?

Yes, see my picture!

...although I also put piano 😛

 

[loveoforganic]

FWIW, it's definitely happened multiple times in med school interviews.

 

[Emmie]

It would be funny if the interviews are held at the music hall or an art gallery. I mean WT😱, should we also learn martial arts, learn how to fly or learn how to swim like Michael Phelp. I've just realized that I'm only human and haven't figured out how to change my genetic composition to grow wings yet.

 

[wwdaffodils]

umm, how can you forget how to play piano, it's like learning how to ride a bike, it's something that once you learned (esp for 8 yrs), you can't forget. Just my opinion.

I think when someone says they "forgot" to play an instrument, it's usually that they can't play as well as they used to, esp. if they were taught as kids.

But I think instruments you're taught as an adult, you don't really ever forget. I learned guitar when I was in high school, and my memory of learning is definitely more vivid than my memories of learning piano at 5.

 

[GiTsticker]

LOL at those peeps claiming you don't play an instrument unless you can read the music. It's like those people who study their *** off to get an A and someone comes along without studying and gets an A as well. Less work, same result. And then Jealousy.

I can play this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSnWhsmlGec after a week or so of watching the video, but I don't even know where C is on a sheet of music.

 

[Emmie]

LOL at those peeps claiming you don't play an instrument unless you can read the music. It's like those people who study their *** off to get an A and someone comes along without studying and gets an A as well. Less work, same result. And then Jealousy.

I can play this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSnWhsmlGec after a week or so of watching the video, but I don't even know where C is on a sheet of music.

nice song

Guitar is one of the exception, I know tons of people who learns how to play guitar without learning how to read music, but very few great guitar players can't read music. I guess your ability can only limit to certain level if you can only learn by ear.

With guitar, I'm not too familiar with, but I'm 200% certain that you cannot claim that you know how to play classical instruments like piano or violin unless you can at least read music. And of course there are a few exceptions (only a few in the world, I hope some of you don't claim that you're one of the "exceptions") like that blind Japanese pianist (I forgot his name) or maybe some other ones. As for the jealousy, hahaha, not even close.

 

[GiTsticker]

Come on, you can play any instrument without reading the music. Music is an art, yet people who play "classical" "respectable" music (lol) try to contain it and discount others who do it their own way. You say guitar is an exception because of the stigma associated with it (rock out, do drugs, make up your own music etc.) but when it comes to piano or something classical, it's off limits because the image in your head is some dude on stage in a suit playing music written 100 years ago.

I play the piano the same way I play the guitar. I study a video and learn to play a tasty tune and when I know how to play lots of tunes, then I can play the piano yes? Of course, reading music is a part of playing the piano, and a valuable one, but not necessary to qualify you as a piano player.

And what about people who can just improvise on the spot. You don't even need to be able to read at all, let alone read sheet music to do it, but it's still playing the instrument!

I say if you can make beautiful sound come out of an instrument, then you can play that **** regardless of what the pompous dude with the 10 years and who knows how many dollars invested in music class says.

 

[flying rider]

I'd say you could play the instrument, but it's only limited to those songs that you've studied videos of. You're dependent on the guy who's playing the songs in the video. So really... the guy who's playing the songs can play whatever instrument it is, and you're just copying him. Doesn't mean you can't "play" it, you're just extremely limited to what you can actually play...

 

[GiTsticker]

When you play music off of paper, you are copying other people's music also. You're making it sound like you have to read music in order to make your own.

It's not an extreme limitation either. There are thousands of guitar/piano videos on youtube and thousands more elsewhere. I could spend my whole life learning songs through videos on the internet. Then when I'm done, I can use all that experience and write my own songs. I'm not saying sheet music is obsolete, but nowadays, it's definitely not necessary with all the videos floating around.

 

[flying rider]

So when you write your own songs... how do your write it such that it be played by other people?

 

[CrazyTeeth]

I think we're kinda straying off topic. Being able to read sheet music or not... is not exactly their question. They're judging your manual dexterity by asking if you can play an instrument. So ultimately, if you can bust out an instrument and play a song on the spot at the interview.. then you should put YES on your application.

 

[Emmie]

Come on, you can play any instrument without reading the music. Music is an art, yet people who play "classical" "respectable" music (lol) try to contain it and discount others who do it their own way. You say guitar is an exception because of the stigma associated with it (rock out, do drugs, make up your own music etc.) but when it comes to piano or something classical, it's off limits because the image in your head is some dude on stage in a suit playing music written 100 years ago.

I play the piano the same way I play the guitar. I study a video and learn to play a tasty tune and when I know how to play lots of tunes, then I can play the piano yes? Of course, reading music is a part of playing the piano, and a valuable one, but not necessary to qualify you as a piano player.

And what about people who can just improvise on the spot. You don't even need to be able to read at all, let alone read sheet music to do it, but it's still playing the instrument!

I say if you can make beautiful sound come out of an instrument, then you can play that **** regardless of what the pompous dude with the 10 years and who knows how many dollars invested in music class says.

Music is an art and that's including those drug addicted rockstars' music. I listen to all sorts of stuff, classical, Jass, tango, rocks, alternatives, folks, music from foreign lands and rap (a few from M&M) even fado you name it. (the only thing I don't listen to is country music, how can anyone listen to country, Jesus!) I don't discriminate against guitar/ guitar players or any of its kind. The only reason I say it's exception is because I've seen many of my friends learned how to play guitar by ear at first.

Maksim is a classically trained pianist and he doesn't wear suit, it's the 21st century omg. I dedicate this song to you Sticker and all the piano lovers. The image of a dude wearing black suit, bow tie, and possibly a bird-nest haircut like Evgeny Kissin is out-dated. Trust me, no young pianist will ask him for fashion tips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6A-JYbu1Os

As for your claim, I still think it's horse****!(sorry!)

I believe that I can handle stressful dental school workloads and my stats are competitive, have enormous charm bla bla bla, but without taking the DAT/science classes or having an impressive interview, who's gonna believe me? The only way to back up your claim is through exams. No matter it's an exam from ADA or from the Royal conservatory of music, the purpose is to segregate those who are qualified to be a piano teacher, a concert pianist, a self-proclaimed piano player or someone smart (book and people) enough to enter a dental school. The piano exam isn't easy, and they won't just pass you by simply trying. It usually takes a year to 2 years to prepare. If you can't read music then you will without a doubt fail the exam.

 

[GiTsticker]

So when you write your own songs... how do your write it such that it be played by other people?

Record it, put it on youtube. It's the new sheet music haha.

The only way to back up your claim is through exams.

Let me get this straight, you're not a piano player unless you pass the piano exam? That tickles me! A self-proclaimed piano player is the only piano player that exists. Why do you need someone else to tell you that you can play the piano? And why do you feel the need to tell people that they can't play the piano? You're taking something that at it's core is pure expression and strapping it down to what's been force fed to you in all of your lessons since childhood. What you're describing is a form of piano playing that takes years to develop and yes in the end those are the dudes playing on the stage and well-respected blah blah blah, but they aren't the only piano players in the world because they passed some test.

I still don't see the difference between the piano and a guitar. So you've seen a lot of people pick up the guitar and learn it, what's different with the piano? It's the same notes lol. Am I missing something or what lol because I'm giggling at the thought that you've got the authority to deny someone the title of 'piano player' because you don't agree.

 

[MowgliR]

FWIW, it's definitely happened multiple times in med school interviews.

were in Pre-Dental discussions jk jk

 

[Emmie]

Record it, put it on youtube. It's the new sheet music haha.



Let me get this straight, you're not a piano player unless you pass the piano exam? That tickles me! A self-proclaimed piano player is the only piano player that exists. Why do you need someone else to tell you that you can play the piano? And why do you feel the need to tell people that they can't play the piano? You're taking something that at it's core is pure expression and strapping it down to what's been force fed to you in all of your lessons since childhood. What you're describing is a form of piano playing that takes years to develop and yes in the end those are the dudes playing on the stage and well-respected blah blah blah, but they aren't the only piano players in the world because they passed some test.

I still don't see the difference between the piano and a guitar. So you've seen a lot of people pick up the guitar and learn it, what's different with the piano? It's the same notes lol. Am I missing something or what lol because I'm giggling at the thought that you've got the authority to deny someone the title of 'piano player' because you don't agree.

We both have completely different point of views because we have different musical backgrounds...it's understandable. I do not believe all piano players are self-proclaimed. I say I speak French but if the French doesn't understand a word I say, can I still claim that I speak the language?

I'm in no position to tell you that you are not a piano player. You might even be a great piano player but I have no way to find out. However base on your comments and your descriptions about music, I might have a vague idea, or you can simply call it an "opinion"…which is true, all comments are merely opinions, not facts! All I'm gonna say is that…if I can barely play London bridge is fall down or Mary had a little lamb on a guitar, I'd be too embarrassed to claim that I play the guitar.

There are huge difference between learning how to play a guitar and a piano. It's harder for an adult to learn how to play the piano, guitar is much more adult-learner friendly. There are many piano techniques are difficult for adult learners like "tremolo" is a good example. I taught piano to people who were much older than me when I was a teenager so I know this for a fact. As for reading music, guitar sheet music is A LOT easier to read, notes are presented differently depends on whether you wanna play chords or single notes, they can be in number forms or in tabs. For guitar, you pay more attention to your left hand; right hand is wayyyyy easy esp. if you're a beginner. However for piano, you focus on both of your hands at the same time you need to keep track of your tempo and your pedals (both feet). Overall guitar is a much easier instrument to learn as an adult.

I can play several songs on a guitar but I'm not good enough to be called a guitar player. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[MowgliR]

bump

 

[K Niner]

I play both guitar and piano and think piano Is waaaaaaay easier to play.
Guitar fingers must be extremely accurate to avoid buzz. Piano is only easier if your playing nothing but country chord songs on guitar

 

[FutureDent020]

They are not going to ask you to prove one of your hobbies. Just because you play a instrument does not mean you will be an excellent dentist. My brother is an excellent guitarist and hands shake like crazy. Once you're in for an interview they want to experience your character and see what kind of person you are. If you put you played an instrument, whether you do or don't, that's not why they invited you for an interview. So relax. And the fact an interviewer asked someone to sing, if that is true, is ridiculous.

 

[peerless218]

ya I played piano for 8 years then I stopped when I started middle school. If they ask me to play ANYTHING right now, I dont think I even know how to place my fingers

 

[erichen]

The interviewer at UPenn said that he tried to get a Rubik's cube for the interview, but couldn't find one in time. Don't know how serious he was...

 

[toothytay]

I listed that I played trumpet, flute, piccolo, and bass guitar... because I do. Anyway, at my Stony Brook interview, the interviewer asked me which of the list was my favorite instrument and why. I said trumpet because I enjoy ska music... then had to explain what ska is to him because he hadn't heard of it. lol

I listed that I played piccolo too, and at one of my interviews, the interviewer didn't know what a piccolo was!!! He said, "I'm assuming that it comes from the Italian word meaning 'small'." 😱