Number of auditions, applications, etc... - Page 2

lorelei2702 · 08-10-2007, 03:32 PM

If you plan carefully, get all applications in early so that you get first choice of dates, are lucky about how your schools co-ordinate their schedules, you can minimize the school absences. S did 9 auditions, missed about 5 days of school, but LOTS of sleep! Sometimes you have to combine transportation methods...he had one weekend which included one set of connecting flights, a 5 hour drive, a 6 hour train ride, and a direct flight.....he did three auditions. I felt like a transportation guru, never has a schedule been so carefully planned and managed.... The biggest problem is that almost all the major music schools are places which get blizzards, and all the auditions take place during blizzard season. Between the weather and the health issues (especially for singers), contingencies plans and back up recordings are BIG musts. Do not assume the best case scenario, but rather make plans for the worst.....have no regrets for what might have been.

Orchestumble · 08-10-2007, 03:53 PM

Could those of you that have been through the process give examples of what the day consisted for an audition?

Especially what time the day started and ended.

Trying to get some early cheap air fares and wondering what time I can get to the airport. Also how far apart a Sat and Sunday school can be and still make it in time.

And how far away I can stay from the school, so how early in the morning do auditions typically begin.

Do they work with you if you request morning so you can catch an afternoon flight?

Mainly interested in any of these schools but others would be welcome:

Eastman, CIM, Oberlin, Peabody, NCSA, CCM, Indiana.

Hope these questions are not too silly, and if already answered kindly point me in the right direction.

thumper1 · 08-10-2007, 04:21 PM

DS is going to NCSA this September as a grad student. I'll let you all know about it in the fall!!

shennie · 08-10-2007, 04:32 PM

Orchestumble - everything is really going to vary from school to school. I would NOT purchase any airline tickets until you have a confirmed audition date. Eastman will require you to be there the entire day of auditions. If I remember correctly, son was at CIM for half a day or so. In addition to the audition, both of these schools required a theory test, information sessions, etc.

Given the flight situation these days, I would plan on flying in the night before if at all possible. You don't want to be rushed and your child needs plenty of time to warm-up. You will be fortunate to get the day you want, but may not be given any opportunity to pick your time. Auditions will last all day. I don't know how early schools usually start. I think they try and schedule the traveling folks for later in the day, but that is just a hunch. When you request the day you want, you can also ask for a time but nothing will be guaranteed. It really is a rather daunting process.

Get out your calendar and mark on it all things that you child HAS to be at school for or for which s/he had prior committments. Then you can start penciling in the days that the schools have auditions When it gets all laid out, you start to figure out which days to request. Make sure you get your applications in on time, early if possible, to get the best chance at requested dates.

If the school only holds auditions on one day, then you can probably go ahead and make reservations (assuming your child is granted an audition) but it is likely you won't know the time of the audition until just a few weeks before.

Orchestumble · 08-10-2007, 04:48 PM

Thanks but does "all day" generally mean? 9AM to 4PM or 7 AM to 8 PM? I have to find a way to squeeze auditions into other schedule problems.

I am sure I am naive but if the auditions lasts 15 min and is scheduled in the AM should it not mean you could make an evening flight.

Do kids that already have tested AP Theory(5) still have to do a theory test? It should at least mean they know enough theory to be admitted.

Guess I will just stumble my way through this.

thumper1 · 08-10-2007, 05:09 PM

If your child is a music major, the AP theory course will give them good preparation for the theory tests, but yes, they will have to take the tests. AND they will also have to take theory courses....no credit given for AP music theory for music majors.

Re: the times...DS had some audition days that were the full day 9-5. Others were 1/2 days either a.m. or p.m. And others were 15-20 minutes long...play the music and leave.

RE: flights...Most likely you will be able to make an evening flight if it is a late one. You may know your audition day, but the time will be given to you very close to the audition day. E.g. DS knew when his NEC audition was taking place. BUT he didn't get the exact time until about three weeks prior. His was at 5 p.m. (it was actually the last audition they heard). It would have been a challenge to get to Logan Airport for an early evening flight (we didn't have that issue because we live close enough to drive). As Shennie said...get there the night before so your kid can sleep well, take a hot shower, relax and not feel rushed or worried that he's not going to make it. Most auditions will take place in the winter and if you're flying you need to consider that weather may bog down the flights. Even if you are going to a warm weather place, the flights may not be flying to get you there. This past year, DS's grad school auditions were all in Jan and Feb. We made the airline reservations at the end of December and flew him in the night before in all cases. Good thing because there was a big storm on one day...but he was rerouted and got where he was going (in the south, btw) with no difficulty.

Singersmom07 · 08-10-2007, 05:15 PM

The best bet is to talk to the admission offices. They are usually very cooperative in explaining their process. There did not seem to be any waiver for the theory tests. Peabody assigned the audition time and expected you to be there. They were only on weekdays during one week in February. DD was at 6:30 PM that day but had to get there in the AM to sign up for the theory test did not run that late I believe. Even though it was at 6:30 PM, we went the day before and stayed in the hotel since the only thing you can be sure of in February is that the weather is unpredictable and they tell you auditions go on regardless.

BassDad · 08-10-2007, 05:25 PM

It really does vary a lot from school to school. At BU, my daughter had a late morning audition that consisted of signing in, warming up for 30 minutes, playing for 10 more minutes and then she was free to go. It was similar at NEC, but took a little longer because the audition was more like 20 minutes and the warmup 45. At Peabody she had to show up at 9 AM on a weekday and was not finished until after 4 PM. At Curtis, there was a department recital and QA session at 7 PM the evening before the audition. The audition times were decided by lottery the next morning, each one was for a full 30 minutes and they continued until about 4 PM. We then had to wait until they were all over to find out whether there was going to be a callback round that could have gone well into the evening. (There wasn't.) At Oberlin, it was theory and ear-training tests in the morning with a leisurely lunch before a warmup period and a mid-afternoon audition.

The AP Music Theory test means nothing at all for admission or placement at a conservatory. Each school has its own theory tests. Some give them at audition time, some between acceptance and the beginning of school and some after the students arrive.

rudysmom · 08-10-2007, 05:39 PM

Is there anyone who can give me an idea of the difficulty of the theory test or what does it actually cover?

I ask because my son has only taken theory classes for the last 3 years given as an extra class with his youth symphony (CYSO). Until this summer I found out that he could've taken theory classes while in high school as well, taught by his orchestra instructor. (However, the instructor has been useless and has been waiting to retire for the last several years.) He has remarked that my S. is talented, etc., but never suggested or recommended that he take any theory classes.

I'm not sure what to think now.

Orchestumble · 08-10-2007, 05:45 PM

Great information

Was that the early audition at Oberlin BassDad or the regular? The weather should not be too bad in Cleveland November 30th and it would seem reasonable that you could make the 30 min drive and catch a flight that leaves after 7 PM. Testing in the AM and auditions in the PM does not help.

Plans are for arriving plenty early on 29th, however, if there is anyway I can schedule it we have to leave Oberlin by what 5? Drive is back towards Cleveland and traffic should not be a factor until right around Hopkins.

Sounds like the other schools will follow no general rule and Peabody seems the biggest problem. Good to hear CIM is only a half day. Eastman with the weather will force a big cushion. Curtis is a reach that we will likely skip. Those are after the new year.

Did many of you put in several applications "in case" and then only actually audition at a small number? Seems the applications have to be in early at many schools forcing you to apply just in case.

Also is there a travel discount tips thread here? Many of you mention frequent flyer discounts, unfortunately we do not travel (until now) enough to have those.

violadad · 08-10-2007, 05:54 PM

Honestly, don't sweat on the theory test. The test is for first (college) theory course placement only. With three years of theory, provided he wasn't sleeping, he'll most likely end up in the first, possibly second level course.

If he has the time, and wants to take theory classes beforehand, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's fine too. It's highly unlikely he'll place so poorly as to have to take the introductory remedial "theory for the clueless 100". And if that's the outcome, it's one extra course designed to build a solid foundation for future courses.

I'd leave the deciscion to him. If it will take time away from his practicing for auditions, don't bother.

FYI, a similar testing procedure is used in grad school admissions just to insure theory skills and knowledge is at the appropriate level.

violadad · 08-10-2007, 05:57 PM

Orchestumble- there's some good audition info and some travel tips here Audition tips & info.

rudysmom · 08-10-2007, 06:05 PM

Whew! What a relief. I've been on edge since his orchestra instructor has been so "out of the picture," so to speak. These kids have been pretty much on their own & unless one knows just what to ask, well then, it's your loss.

My son did decide to stop taking the extra theory class this year at his youth symphony (thankfully, saving us the $$). He said he thinks he already knows everything there is to know! I'm sure he doesn't really mean that literally, but maybe knows more than the kids in his HS orchestra! Ha!

thumper1 · 08-10-2007, 06:17 PM

>>The weather should not be too bad in Cleveland November 30th and it would seem reasonable that you could make the 30 min drive and catch a flight that leaves after 7 PM. >>

I grew up in Cleveland and my whole family still lives there. It's on Lake Erie, and there can be plenty of snow at the end of November. It's good you are planning to go the night before.

The theory tests given are placement tests. Everyone has to take theory as a music major. The only question is which level you will start at. My son had taken music theory as an elective course for three summers, and took the AP music theory course (didn't bother with the test...no credit anyway). And he also had piano lessons for many years. He is good at theory and only placed out of one semester which he decided to take anyway...thought it would be a good basis for him. Some schools also have piano placement tests (variation on when those are given as well...some during the audition day, some during class selection/orientation, some right before classes begin).

Orchestumble · 08-10-2007, 06:45 PM

Oberlin and Hopkins are on the SW of town as you know and there rarely is lake effect snow there. If we were talking Mentor or Painesville instead of Oberlin it would concern me. We have family there as well and are very familiar with the area.

Would be just the kind of luck we need to have a once every 10 year significant snow fall that early.

Sounds like the AP Theory was a waste of time. I guess even the AP Scholar with honors thing probably with $5 will get you a coffee at Starbucks. lol

Violadad I read that thread before asking here and you are correct there is a great deal of good information in it.