| Son is a music performace major at the Univ of Redlands. He is close enough for us to attend his performances. He told us last month that he cannot imagine being any place else. He is working hard, doing well and loving every second. The faculty are all wonderful. His Jazz improvisation teacher (who actually recommended that he apply to Redlands) had a class with 6-too big so he divided it into 2 classes of 3 and also gives private help on Fridays. Redlands is close enough to LA for the students to visit-the school allows use of the Van for school trips-museums, Jazz Bakery, TV shows, etc.
I found this site about this time last year. Son loved to perform and had auditioned for local bands but college auditions were a completely different thing. Son's trumpet teacher had a BM, but that was years ago and she was not capable of helping him with auditions. We had no idea until I found this site. I was asking just about anyone/anywhere involved with music for a referral for a teacher for auditions. I found someone who was a brother-in-law of someone at a music store 1 1/2 hrs away. It helped but not the same if we had known more or started before Jan 5 with auditions just weeks away. Son was a big fish in a small pond and most thought I was just crazy since he was so good. None of his band directors knew trumpets.I would have gladly given birth in the UCSB hallway than see son go through the stress of the first audition-the guy was very nice but son felt his whole life was on the line and forgot how to breathe. He was accepted as BA but would have to re audition for a BM major. The following week was UCLA-the staff and students were outrageously nice and complimented him-we had our son back. Then it was up. The last school took him to meet the head of the Jazz dept.
He loves the small liberal arts campus and has fit very well into the community. We see him perform but his home is Redlands. We have discovered that he wasn't just a big fish in a little pond, he has talent and was ready for a larger body of water. Playing 4 hours a day is nothing--It used to be lots less at home. He actually had to put away the 1935 Bach because it could not take the long playing-it got a hole. Fortunately there is a brass repair expert 2 hrs away.
I wonder how all the other students are doing-if the parents are still out there.
LA |