Too Many Students Walk Into Their College Audition...

Too many students walk into their college audition clinging to a single Grade VI solo—the hardest piece they've ever attempted—hoping it will carry them to a scholarship or acceptance letter. But here’s the truth: most auditions aren’t won with a single piece, and they’re rarely lost because you didn’t have enough Grade VI music. They’re won through musical maturity, polished performance, and a thoughtfully built repertoire list that proves your growth over time.

What Your Repertoire Says About You

Your audition isn’t just about playing your most difficult solo. It’s about showing your journey. That’s why your repertoire list should include:

If you skipped some of these years, don’t worry. Use the Accoladi Repertoire Directory to find age-appropriate pieces and include them on your list. Then, learn them. Add them to your practice rotation. Master them. These pieces can become your secret weapons.

Why Auditions Remember the Music, Not Just the Muscle

Let’s be honest—few students can walk into an audition and deliver four Grade VI works at a true performance level. What ends up happening? A strong first piece... followed by a stumble. And that stumble, even if brief, can weaken the memory you leave behind.

Now imagine this instead:

• A polished Grade IV that shows off your phrasing.
• A confident Grade V that nails articulation and style.
• A Grade VI that, even if not perfect, rides on the strength of your earlier work.

The panel walks away remembering musicality, poise, and growth. That’s what earns callbacks. That’s what earns scholarships.

Rewrite Your Musical Origin Story

Accoladi is more than a profile—it’s a tool to showcase your journey. Use it to:

• Research solos that match each grade level
• Add them to your profile, even if you didn’t originally perform them
• Record excerpts for your media gallery

You’re not faking anything. You’re filling in your story. A strong foundation matters more than an inflated difficulty level.

Grade VI Might Impress—But Grade III Might Win

Your Grade VI piece may be your showstopper, but your Grade III or IV solo could be the one that shows your soul. That’s the moment an adjudicator remembers. So don’t just reach for the top—retrace your steps and build a repertoire that proves you’re not just ready for music school... you’ve been preparing for years.

Final Thought

Imagine this: You’re sitting outside the audition room, nerves buzzing, and someone next to you is panicking because their hardest piece isn’t landing in practice. But you? You’ve built something smarter. You’ve mastered the story behind your music—not just the climax, but the journey. And when the panel asks to hear something lyrical, or something earlier in your development, you don’t panic. You deliver. With confidence. With color. With memory.

That’s the kind of performance that lingers in a judge’s mind.

Look at Your Current Repertoire List and Ask These Questions:

• Does it show growth across the years?
• Do you have at least one piece that shows your musical soul, not just your technical skill?
• Is your Grade VI more practiced than your Grade IV?

If not—rewind. Learn it. Master it. Then own the audition.

Start with what you could’ve played. Then make it something you can truly perform.