The difference between Violinists and Violists

Silke's audition at le Conservatoire Erik Satie was in front of a jury of five.  Every violinist auditioning was in a waiting room, until they were called and asked what they would be playing.  Then they played until interrupted, thanked tersely, and asked to leave.  Results are announced tomorrow.

Jerome, by contrast, only had to audition for one friendly woman.  This wasn't a matter of age.  Every violinist, even the most young, had to play for the jury.  But the violist was very friendly.  She had only 3 candidates auditioning in the hour that Jerome was booked, and so she spent 20 minutes with each of them.  She even invited me to come in with Jerome.  And then she chatted quite a bit before asking to hear him play.  Of course Jerome only managed a few words.  Not from lack of French, but from his usual timidity.  But she was very friendly and tried to draw him out a bit and make him feel comfortable, and reassured him that she understood perfectly - that it was a bit intimidating, especially in a second language.  Jerome played very well, and she told him so afterwards, repeatedly.  And she said immediately that she will be happy to have him as a student.  The only question is whether the administration will let her take another student.  A question to which she herself has no idea of the answer.  This seems so typically French.  That a highly regarded musician at the conservatory, in the process of giving auditions, has no power to decide how many students to accept, nor even any idea whether that number might be greater than zero.  Also she said, as she plays with l'orchestre national de France, she often has to reschedule lessons due to concerts, so we must prepared to be flexible.  In entering the audition results in her form, she told Jerome that she had to select an official level for him, but that the level has no meaning.  What they will do together depends only on him.

The audition was in two parts.  The second part of the audition, in front of two professors, involved sight reading, rhythm, sight singing and so on.  Unfortunately, Jerome was nearly last on that list, so had to wait well over an hour between the parts of his audition.  Of course he got very nervous during the wait.  Afterwards they asked me to come in.  They were very friendly.  They pointed out some obvious areas that Jerome needs some work, said not to worry about it at all, because he would be provided with instruction in these areas.  They said that in any case that part of the audition has practically no bearing on whether one is accepted or not.  It is simply a matter of finding out the appropriate group classes.  Finally they said that he has a lovely singing voice, and they were quite pleased with him.

Jerome didn't quite see it quite that way.  After the stressful experience, and the long wait, his nerves, and his French, were beginning to fail him.   "At the end I didn't even know what they were asking me!"  No doubt he didn't.  No doubt either that it didn't matter.  He did well what he could do well and needed to do well.  He attempted with good attitude - almost right to the end - what he couldn't do well.    Assuming the administration doesn't cause difficulties, and I am optimistic, Jerome will be taught viola by a member of l'orchestre national de France.  An opportunity of which he has no idea how rare it is.  It seems almost unfair to note that there is only a very nominal fee for the conservatoire.

In leaving, we noticed the posted official results for yesterday.  Auditioned, 20 singers.  Accepted, 3.

To celebrate, and to restore Jerome's spirits, which were pretty low - I doubt that he will ever feel good about an audition or a performance, no matter how good he becomes - especially if it is a long audition that goes well past his usual dinner time - we went to a restaurant and ordered moules marinières.  Strange to say, it is the first dinner we have eaten in a restaurant in Paris.  Jerome loves mussels, so that was a big hit.  They were perfectly cooked and delicious.  Also, it was beginning to dawn on him that despite not having done everything perfectly, he had in fact been accepted.  So by the time we left he was in pretty high spirits indeed.

Jerome and Silke were all for walking home, despite the distance, which measured in metro stations, metro stations being the unit of distance we use for everything, was 5 stops.  It was a lovely warm evening in Paris, and what could be more pleasant than an evening stroll in Paris?