2/19/2000: Why is it that conducting auditions always require playing Bach chorales (four staves) at the keyboard? When I look at a score, I can tell what is supposed to be happening and what is important (expression, phrasing, etc.). Can you tell me why keyboard skill is so emphasized at auditions? I do not think that keyboard skills are over-emphasized or, anyway, I do not think that they should be. Asking you to play a piece like that, though, is the quickest and simplest test of whether you can read four staves. I think that is what the test is all about. ©2000 by Joseph Rescigno. The text here may be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes as long as credit is given.

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