Just a Dad in Oh

Greetings - The next vocal audition for my D next week is at Miami in Oxford Oh.
She's going to major in Music Ed and I've set up some time for her to attend classes in the afternoon and meet with Dr. Bausano and a student or two.

If anyone has any insight on Miami, or a Son or Daughter attending, we'd certainly be grateful for any additional knowledge before the trip.

We toured the campus last winter and have a very nice first impression of the University.

As always - input from the CC music team is greatly appreciated!
Jadio

-Allmusic-

Look for Binx, whose D goes there, and seems to be very happy.

binx

Yep, my D is a freshman, double majoring in violin performance and German. I'm afraid I don't know much about the voice dept. My D played in the opera orchestra this past semester, and enjoyed it. (Her only frustration was that she couldn't watch it!)

For instrumental auditions, they were held in the PAC (Performing Arts Center.) After we signed in, we were directed to the basement to find a practice room. There were plenty. I never actually saw the audition room - I think it was a small recital hall. Parents waited in an adjoining reception room, set up with tables and chairs. They had a nice little spread of sweet rolls, coffee, etc. for those waiting. A short time after my D returned from auditioning, a couple of the adjudicators came out to talk with her and me. I think this was pretty common with the instrumentalists. In our case, they told us they enjoyed her audition, said she was well-prepared, and introduced us to the dean.

After the audition, my D had to go take a theory placement test. She's never had theory, so was expecting it to be hard, and it was. Obviously it didn't affect her admission.

Some of the things I like about the music program - music majors start right in on their major freshmen year, whereas many of the students have to wait till sophomore year or later to declare. So that means, music students get very personalized advising right from the beginning.

Music majors do a lot together. In my D's case, it's string ensembles, regular and opera orchestras, as well as various music theory, sight-singing, and other related classes. She's only had room each semester for one or two non-music classes. (In her case, she took a German class both semesters, and is also taking biology now.) She has had to get permission each time to overload her schedule, since orchestra and ensembles add credits.

She only went in with 3 AP classes - English Lit, Calc BC, and German. They did help open up a couple classes. (She got two classes worth of credit for the math.) For a music ed major, I think AP classes can really help, because I think their schedules are even fuller. I remember hearing at orientation that music ed majors often end up going a semester beyond their senior year, in order to finish up the student teaching.

If there are any other specific questions about the school or the program, I'd be happy to try to answer them.

violadad

binx is right about music ed majors having fewer open slots for non major/required courses.

Most music ed programs include a required number of credits in various performing organizations, and studio lesson time as well. The music ed curriculum also is normally sequenced, with prerequsite course in semester A, level 2 semester B. Some courses are only offered 1 semester a year. Therefore if you miss the first level course, you can't take either till the following year.

General electives can normally be taken during the summer if there's a scheduling conflict; most schools offer a limited number (or none at all) of music ed courses during summer sessions.

Pay attention to the degree outline and try and maintain the course sequence with entering peers. It can be costly and frustrating if you don't.

binx

Another idea: Since you're in Ohio, you would have the option of taking summer courses at your local community college. They have an agreement with all the in-state schools, plus several other states, to accept credits. (Sadly for us, GA isn't one of them.) You could knock off a few "core" requirements this way.

Also, you can submit a language arts portfolio to attempt to exempt LA. I wish my D had done this. We were counting on her AP, but she only got a 4, so still had to take one semester. A qualifying portfolio would have gotten her out of the entire year.

And if she can exempt out of the piano requirement, that would also help. If I remember correctly, it seems that 6 years' lessons get you out. My D had the equivalent of 3 years (she only had 1 year of lessons, but I taught her some at home before that) and placed out of first semester. However, she is now taking the 2nd semester class and said it is ridiculously easy.

Just a Dad in Oh

Thank you so much Binx and Violadad for the valuable information. The first audition was today and went well. My D was informed after the piano skills assessment that she would probably start with a much higher level piano class than she had anticipated, if everything works out at this school in NE Ohio.

Thankfully she has 4 years of French, 2 of Italian and some Spanish under her belt. This should help with the LA requirements.

Off to Miami on Wed afternoon with a full day planned for Thursday.

Regards,
JD