Experiences from Pre-College - Page 4

BroadwayWannabe · 07-26-2006, 04:30 PM

haha i'm out there!!!

ok mock auditions.....first of all, they are GREAT practice for the auditions....

there are 3 different auditions.

the singing audition was just in front of the 2 singing teachers (stephen and gary) and the piano player. at the end of the summer you get evaluations from all your teachers....and they try to include some information specifically relating to your audition in addition to your general capabilities as a performer observed all summer.

the acting audition was basically in front of all the acting teachers (so a lot of them).....again, you only would receive feedback from the acting teacher you had for Audition, Improv, and Acting, but still.....i mean it was interesting because teachers i didn't have took a lot of notes on me, but i have no idea what they were saying

and the dance is in front of the 2 ballet teachers and the 2 jazz teachers. again, the jazz and ballet teachers you have will try to mention your audition in the feedback if they can.

it is from these mock auditions that a couple rare students are automatically accepted, but that sadly does not happen to many people.

hope that helps!

lynnm · 07-26-2006, 04:50 PM

Feedback from CMU will come (If I remember correctly) in September. There's a letter hoping that they had an enjoyable experience in pre-college. It may also state that you're welcome to audition for their program this coming year. Enclosed were other sheets which the auditors made comments on the audition presented. Some of the classes also had sheets with a grade for projects during the session.

cmujohanna's mom · 07-26-2006, 07:09 PM

The odds of being offered admission to CMU at the end of the summer program are much lower than that of the regular process (which is around 5%) - almost non-existent. Most years no one is offered admission. In fact, it happens so rarely that you shouldn't be disappointed when it doesn't happen to you!

BroadwayWannabe · 07-26-2006, 08:20 PM

last year one MT boy, one acting girl, and one design girl were accepted, so yeah the chances are not good. so just do your best knowing nothing is riding on it!

NotMamaRose · 07-26-2006, 09:15 PM

Those of you who went thru CMU precollege: did you find that the notes you got were helpful in preparing for your "for real" college auditions? How much detail did you get in your assessments?

It sounds as if the precollege program there attracts a lot of really talented kids. BroadwayWannabe, when you attended, did you find that most of the kids who were in the MT program with you were at a generally high level as far as acting, singing and dancing, or at least one or two of those? Earlier today on the CAP21 precollege/summer program thread, someone said that the level of talent ranges from very low to very high and in between. Is it the same with the CMU program?

BroadwayWannabe and others, if you had to identify one thing you thought was the best thing about the CMU precollege program, what would it be? Helping you prepare for college auditions that fall? Helping you select monologues? Etc. etc.?

Sorry for so many questions!

My D is really interested in this program for the summer between her jr and sr year in high school.

BroadwayWannabe · 07-26-2006, 09:59 PM

i really think it varies from teacher to teacher how much assessments one got about their audition. i know for example Don Wadsworth (BRILLIANT MAN) was great in giving me really specific feedback about what I needed to fix for my auditions and what really worked. But the evaluations were great because they had a lot of important things to say, related to the auditions and to the summer as a whole.

There definitely is a wide range of abilities at CMU precollege....but honestly, it really doesn't matter. the program is so individually structured that it really got you worrying only about yourself. while it may be true that my dance classes were the only classes i was with people exactly on my level (we had placements for those), i found myself only concerned with myself. i used the better people to help push me further. but it really didn't matter what other people were doing.

oh god. i can't pick just ONE thing.....i mean it was great preparation for college auditions.....it was also great because it confirmed that BFA musical Theater is what i want to do with my life.....and it just gives me more confidence when i leave for UArts in a month that I can handle the intensity and i know where my strengths and weaknesses are.....it's really a great program...i can only say great things about it

evasmom · 07-27-2006, 09:20 AM

Apparently the instructors are meeting today to share whom from their classes should be watched closely during the auditions.

NotMamaRose · 07-27-2006, 10:58 AM

I love "This Just In" headlines. Evasmom, keep us posted. I wonder what that means .... does it mean that they are looking "closely" to see if they want to try to recruit some from this program for next fall? Best of luck to your D. It would be amazing if they offered her admission. (That is, if she would like to attend CMU.) Keep us posted! Tell your D to break a leg.

evasmom · 07-27-2006, 11:49 AM

Thanks NMR, but I don't think there is a great probability of an offer of admission although at this point even a chance to be "looked at closely" is exciting. There are many talented kids in the precollege program. I liked the way the director explained the audition process at orientation. He said that they like to see how the kids have taken what they learn at Precollege and apply it over the 6 months or so until they audition for real. I've heard that of the three girls in last year's freshman class, two went to Pre-college. I don't know if this is a fact but it would fit with what he said about looking for growth from the time of pre-college until auditions in the winter. I have not heard of any MT girl being offered admission directly after pre-college.

However; here's to hoping all our cc kids do great next week!

evasmom · 08-03-2006, 06:20 AM

I hope everything is going great for all your S and D's as they finish up auditions.
I will be driving down tommorrow to help pack up and leave on Saturday. I hope to meet up with some of you and if anyone is not coming to check out I would be happy to "be there" if any of the kids need something. Let me know.
Harriet

ElliottsMom · 08-03-2006, 01:32 PM

Wow, can't believe it's almost over. The first 3 weeks without our S at home seemed to drag on and on. Now the last 3 weeks have flown. Not sure I'm ready for the next phase yet!!

kaysmom · 08-03-2006, 03:19 PM

I can't believe it's over either! Two auditions down for my d and one left tomorrow! We plan to be in Pittsburgh by early afternoon (if all goes well) and then the trip home on Saturday. My d sent us the nicest thank you card in the mail today thanking us for sending her. She said to please know that our money was well spent and she got more out of this program than she can even describe! So for those of you who are considering it for next year, if you want to know if the money is worth it, I would have to say YES!!!!

soozievt · 08-03-2006, 03:56 PM

Kaysmom, that is very sweet of your D to write you a note of appreciation and shows her character, let alone how she was raised.

Sounds like all of your kids had a blast and a very fruitful experience. They likely will have to go through a "withdrawal" period the first week back home. I'm sure they'll be real psyched now to get going on the college process.

Best wishes.

Someonesmom2 · 08-03-2006, 05:17 PM

Does anyone know how long it takes for CMU pre-college to send the feedback from the auditions? And for those lucky few, if any, who are accepted based on that audition, how long will take for them to be notified?

S tells me that he really doubts that he'll be selected, but a mom can dream, can't she?

BroadwayWannabe · 08-03-2006, 05:25 PM

it was under 3 weeks.....probably about 2 1/2...but at max 3 (i know because exactly 3 weeks later i saw my two bffs from precollege and we talked about evaluations) haha.....but it was a different thing that came afterwards that said "not accepted" or whatnot