Eastman Audition - What to expect? - Page 3

stringfollies · 02-16-2008, 01:39 PM

cjm--

i think i read or heard that they ask pianists to be available until 9 PM for possible callbacks! For violin, you are free after you've auditioned and interviewed - if there are callbacks, my S didn't get one. Also the practise room situation may be better for pianists than for instrumentalists as there are quite a few of them that are reserved for pianists. Tell your S when looking for a practise room to get help from one of the students assigned to help out (they have identifiable t-shirts) because my S ran up and down stairs and halls looking for one (unsuccessfully) and got overheated and stressed. Later, we asked for help and found one with quite a bit less trouble. This may have been partly timing, but it doesn't help to calm nerves when running around frantic that you won't be able to practise comfortably (my S finds common practise areas completely incompatible).

The schedule starts with a "convocation" for parents and kids where they outline the plan of the day and tell you some things about the school. Prepare your son for discussion of selection process, etc so he isn't intimidated. They herd the undergrads off at about 9:45 to take the theory test all at the same time. It's about an hour. After the kids leave, they take questions from parents for about a half an hour. Then parents wait until kids are done with the theory and return to get their "schedules" for the day which will include an audition time and and interview time. They had three scheduled tours throughout the day one of which probably fits into the schedule of each family. The dormitory is really beautiful and well-designed for comfortable living and socializing - a plus for the school especially since most of the students live there for 4 years. We were out after the audition which was at 2:10, but I remember reading or hearing that it is different for pianists.

I was really sorry not to have been able to plan to leave that early because our flight home (based on being told to be available until 5 PM) got us home at almost 2 in the morning!

cjm · 02-16-2008, 02:33 PM

Stringfollies-

Thanks for all the info! Their flight leaves the next morning at 6 am so I guess they can stay as long as needed. He is auditioning for jazz piano so may not be quite as involved as classical (although he does have to audition with classical pieces as well.) I am just glad I am not going--too cold for me!!
(We live in Florida so it will be a system shock!) He has already done 2 other auditions so isn't too nervous--yet.

stringfollies · 02-16-2008, 02:38 PM

It is freeeeeeezing there. We've been to Madison, WI and Ann Arbor, MI. Rochester was by far the coldest. Good luck to him.

ksstringdad · 02-18-2008, 01:55 PM

This is my first post as I just discovered this great site. Stringfollies - we must be following much of the same violin audition path. My daughter just auditioned at Eastman about the same time. Rice was earlier and a different experience from some of the others. The audition was for one teacher's studio - we learned later each teacher accepts 2 perhaps 3 students. There was registration and a parent/student information meeting. Schedules were available if you wanted to attend classes and observe the orchestra practice. The audition itself was with only the requested teacher and lasted about five minutes (we were told by students that it would likely be that brief). Rice also has about 60% graduate students. It seemed to be a great deal of effort and expense for such a brief time and with only one teacher. The facilities were beautiful. Only two auditions left (one in Ann Arbor - any info or advice?).... I couldn't imagine going through this process when I was a high school senior.

stringfollies · 02-18-2008, 02:23 PM

Kss --

Yes, we go to Rice on Weds. from the East Coast and have wondered if it's worth it! At least the weather should be nice there. Did your D audition for violin? If so, which teacher? You can private message me if you want.

U. Michigan was a lot easier than Eastman. They have no theory test and no interview and everything took place in one building. You go there and there's a registration desk when you walk in - no "convocation", but an information session for parents with or without kids which was informative and relaxed. It was easy to find and get a practise room (although we started very early because audition was at 9:12). One little surprise for us: for political reasons, we were very happy that the school normally doesn't ask for teacher requests until after you audition. However, when he got to the audition site, they had the teacher request forms out and asked that you bring them in with you. Because of his situation, he said he didn't have a preference (not really true) rather than indicate it for the teachers to see while grading him.

The audition was in a teacher's studio and my S said it was very small and tight. All four of the violin faculty were there. They heard him for about 8 minutes and gave no comments. He felt he didn't play his best at all there - too bad since he really likes the University. But, who knows? I hope your daughter has a good experience there.

Rice is a long shot, but if it works, the teacher is considered to be one of the best and the school is incredible. We decided it was worth the gamble although it would be nicer to be able to audition for more than one studio. We asked about doing two and were discouraged from doing so by the admissions people. One thing we like about Rice is that the undergrads (I've heard) play with first-class graduates all the time in orchestra, chamber groups, etc. I think this must be a very good experience for the few who make it into the school. I've heard that the orchestra is tremendous.

After Rice, we go to IU Jacobs and then Oberlin. Then the die is cast.....

ksstringdad · 02-18-2008, 05:32 PM

Thanks for your help. I private messaged you with some additional info. The Houston weather was wonderful (70 in Feb - we ate lunch outside). The Rice orchestra has an incredible reputation. Enjoy the trip!

MomOf3Stars · 02-19-2008, 05:42 AM

All this talk of nice weather makes me wish we had trekked down to Rice for an audition!!! We are up here in the frigid NY weather.

musmom2 · 02-19-2008, 05:57 AM

Hey Momof 3stars-

At least all the snow has melted off the sidewalks and driveways! However, just heard that we're in for another lake effect blast tonight- a mere 8-16"! Good thing our planned travel day to SUNY Purchase is THursday!

MomOf3Stars · 02-19-2008, 07:45 AM

MusMom2: You think you are so funny!!! :P How about a quick audition trip to the University of Hawaii?!! I will pass you on your way back, we are heading to NYU on Friday (tour Friday, audition Saturday). Good luck to your D at Purchase!

cjm · 02-22-2008, 03:45 PM

Stringfollies et al
S is auditioning today at Eastman. First, there was a jazz piano audition, then after lunch a classical piano audition, then later, a combo audition. Whew! They got in yesterday and it was sunny and cold, today it is cloudy and cold. Guess those are about the only two options!
My husband went to the parent q and a and he said a lot of the questions were about security. And he noticed there are a lot of security guards in various places. Is there a crime problem in Rochester???

euphgal · 02-22-2008, 03:51 PM

cjm: I know last year when I visited the school, there was an article in the school newspaper about how a student was held at gun point outside of Eastman. I don't recall all of the specifics, but the student wasn't injured.

musicianmom · 02-22-2008, 04:41 PM

I believe all schools are required to make security information publicly available. Here's Eastmans/Rochester's report from their website:

University of Rochester Security Services

I've found similar reports on other schools/conservatory websites.

There are probably many others out there who know more about security reporting than I do, please chime in! I believe that crimes not technically on campus, but adjacent to campus or in areas frequented by students aren't required to be reported even if campus security is made aware of the incident. So, I suspect that these school self-reports would need to be supplemented by police reports from the community to get a true picture.

cjm · 02-22-2008, 04:55 PM

Thanks! Doesn't look too bad. I am sure U of Miami stats are higher as well as USC. Will look those up as well. No matter where you are, you just have to be aware of surroundings. Husband just thought the questions were excessive.

ptmom · 02-23-2008, 04:09 PM

To provide some insights into Eastman security and responses: I am the mother of the Eastman student who was held up at gunpoint last year. My son was held up in the middle of the day by 4 teenagers; he was just down the block from the main entrance to the school at the time. He was fortunate in that he was not hurt -- he gave them his wallet and sprinted for the main entrance where security called the police. The response of University security and the Rochester police was immediate. The teenagers were caught within less than one hour, although DS's wallet was not recovered. The caring of the entire Eastman community was very evident. We were very lucky. Since the incident, multiple closed circuit cameras have been installed throughout the area and both the Eastman security presence and that of the Rochester police have increased significantly.

DS is currently a senior voice major (German minor) and has only wonderful things to say about his experience at Eastman. He loves his voice teacher and feels that he has received an outstanding education.

shennie · 02-23-2008, 04:31 PM

My son graduated from Eastman in 2006.

ptmom - Sorry to hear about your son's experience and glad to know that things turned out ok. My son did not run into any problems while he was there. He lived in the dorm for 3 years and in an apartment a couple blocks from the dorm during his senior year. The dorm is security locked and as long as the students follow the rules, there will not be problems there. The dorm is right across the street from the classroom building which also has security.

Downtown Rochester is not the safest place in the world. Students are instructed to never walk around alone after dark, to stick together, to always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back, etc. My son says the students do a good job of looking after each other. Also, campus security is very responsive even to the students who live off campus. During sophmore year son was at an off campus party where there was an incident. They called security who responded right away.

When I was in college back in the dark ages we used to privately make fun of the security guards who were often full of themselves and not too bright. My son said that this was not his experience at Eastman. The guards were friendly to the students and helpful when needed. There seemed to be good relations between the two groups.