Just booked Cleveland and Boston travel. Flying both. Had to leave Monday morning to accommodate audition schedule 
but got a very early flight so won’t miss work 
Booked the flight for Eastman, and reserved Hyatt Regency in Rochester. From the description it is in walking distance. If you have any advice on where to eat etc. please let me know.
I still need to book the flight for Missouri , but tickes are about $500 per person, waiting to see if it goes down a bit. I really do not want to drive to Missouri.
It’s tough with the earlier dates as they are less than a month away and that isn’t the best time to book flights.
Does anyone (from past years) know how long the USC audition lasts? Looking at flights…don’t want to cut it too close but the prices for up later in the evening. Audition begins at 11 a.m. Thanks!
I can’t answer about the audition, but be aware that there are several LA-area airports and it is good to check several for timing and prices. Burbank and Long Beach might offer you travel options that work better than LAX.
@raincat : USC strings audition (and most others) was approximately 10 minutes of playing and a couple of minutes of chatting with the profs at the audition. There is also a theory test that you have to take, before or after the audition. In my Ss case, while we were having lunch, waiting for the next theory test (after the audition), we got a call from the audition panel to meet and have a private 15 min session for a professor that was on the panel but had stepped out during my Ss audition. So, allow yourself the better part of a day.
Checkin is around 8 AM, you can get to practice rooms soon after, finish your audition, finish the theory test, and expect to be done by 2 PM (including lunch). I wouldn’t book a flight earlier than 5 PM if I were you, since you have to then get to the airport from USC.
Also, if you need an accompanist for your audition, USC sends out a list (of pianists in my S’s case), who know the repertoire and are well worth the time. Also, they will rehearse with you the previous day if you request it. We liked our accompanist so much that we asked her to play with my S at UCLA. Make sure you contact them early so that they don’t fill up.
@MMRose had good suggestions about flights in and out of LA - don’t overlook Burbank for cheap tix, esp., Southwest.
Good luck !
@MMRose and @gram22 thanks for the tips! I’m looking at 6:30 pm flights home so I think we should be fine even with the unexpected.
We are pretty familiar with USC having toured the school a few times and we are on the West Coast but it’s weird how flight prices vary. It’s funny that when we have wanted to leave LA earlier the early flights were more and when we want to leave late the same thing lol. Anyway I’m really not going to complain because he got the audition, yay!!!
What are your audition “must-haves”? There’s not much I can do to help my daughter with the auditions, but I’m really good at making lists and planning ahead. Anything that you’ve found is especially helpful to have handy on audition day? Honey straws? Cough drops? A big scarf?
@runninglate All those things, plus a HUGE bottle of water and an extra pair of panty hose. Funny story about the pantyhose- We were going into the Eastman audition waiting area, when a huge runner started just under her hemline (barely visible). As she waited on the sofas trying not to move, I ran to that little store in the Eastman student center and wouldn’t you know: They had nail polish (and just about everything else you could imagine)! Ran back in time to dab it on and the progressing run ceased long enough for her to get through the day. From the on I carried a spare pair just in case…
Want to suggest to those of you traveling to auditions far away that you could consider observing classes if you have time. D did that at Rice, Northwestern, and SMU (maybe others) as they were far enough from home that it was unlikely that we would revisit before a decision was required (if accepted). She looked for intro level courses, went to the opera rehearsal at one place, etc… All we needed to do was ask at the Music office and they provided a schedule of available classes. It also helped her see the student body and gauge if she would fit in.
Just thinking back on all the variations of the audition experience for VP. If they ask you to choose your first piece, go with your BEST piece because you may not get to sing a second one. Often, D was stopped in the middle of her second piece. It was rare for her to sing all three she had prepared as part of the required package. This is not necessarily a reflection on your skill - it just means they heard enough to know what’s what. Some schools have piano skills assessment and theory tests in addition to auditions. I will summarize what I remember for particular schools in the 2016 season.
EASTMAN had a one on one interview with the admissions representative as well a group presentation, theory, aural skills, and piano tests.
VANDERBILT had a huge dinner at Maggianos for all the kids and parents who auditioned and an admissions person was at each table. They administered a theory test and had a sample lesson with the voice chair as part of the audition.
U MARYLAND had a group presentation with piano skills and theory tests.
NORTHWESTERN/BIENEN had a group presentation by all voice faculty with several undergrads singing. There was a small wine and cheese reception at the end of the audition day. Honestly, I can’t recall if they did theory and aural skills or not.
RICE had a theory/aural skills test and they provided class schedules up front in order to attend sample classes, but otherwise it was very perfunctory, in and out. Same for DE PAUL (this was prior to the new music building’s completion). Can’t remember SMU - we spent considerable time there taking sample lessons but I don’t recall what was organized as part or the interview itself.
Good luck to all!!
@songbirdmama thank you so much for all that audition info- it’s so good to know ahead of time!
Some of our flights really restrict our baggage, so we’ll have to pick lightly and smartly. Booking flights is definitely my least favorite part of this process.
coloraturagirl—- I hear you. We really didn’t have a budget for checking baggage fees. One carry-on was my son’s instrument so I packed both of ours in a small carry-on to survive in much colder weather. Luckily or unluckily, my son refused to wear suits (and dress shoes which didn’t make any differences on his acceptances, by the way) for live auditions so we could save some space for extra socks and clothes just in case of miserable weather. I packed for our first 3-night trip to Boston successfully, so I packed the exact same set for 2 more trips. No extra checking baggage fees on all 3 trips. It doesn’t mean my son cannot pack by himself, I am just a little O.C.D. about packing…
We flew with either JetBlue or Alaska, non-stop flights, except one flight which I chose to stopover “absolutely-no-snow” airport. One flight got canceled due to severe snow storm. But JetBlue gave us 8-hour notice via text before our departure and gave us the flight 12 hour later than our original flight without stress.
About hotels, I booked a room in advance with Hotel.com for free cancellation fee rooms until we confirm his audition days with schools. I could find / guess his audition day(s) from school website. After we heard back from schools with his audition day, I cancelled and re-booked with cheaper deals and we stayed one place for 3 or 4 nights (with no-cancellation policy).
Boston: Sheraton, Very roomy. I heard someone was practicing keyboard on the same floor around 11PM. My son did, too. So, practice is allowed.
Baltimore: Embassy Suits Inner Harbor, We arrived around 5AM, our first room was a mistake and run down. But they gave us a “promised room” within 8 hours, super roomy, great free breakfast but so many people during breakfast hours. Lots of musicians stayed for auditions and I heard instrumental practices evening and daytime. My son did during daytime. So, practice is allowed.
New York: The Belvedere Hotel on 48th street, easy to take metro from/to JFK, uptown and downtown, small (off course), the most expensive hotel in 3 (off course), old but clean, no bedbugs(!), internet charge (resort fee?) was expensive, I didn’t hear any “musical sounds” because noise from outside police / ambulance activities and constructions were so loud. My son didn’t practice in a room at all. But I am pretty sure it would be OK to practice during daytime.
For Jazz studies musicians, try to find a time for a local place(s) to jam or see some performances before / after auditions. Getting a feel of the outside-of-school performance opportunities would be pretty important especially for jazz performers who learn music and business not only at the school. My son and I arrived at least 2 days before his scheduled audition day. He met / played with local music students and musicians (as well as school faculty).
@JeJeJe - also good info, thanks! We are west coast and it’s been tough to find flights into places like Cincinnati and Rochester. I do like Southwest for their change policy, but from where I am it’s a lot of redeye flights with them, and also every flight seems to have a stop. The best flight so far has been Boston because it’s JetBlue direct- thanks to the prescreen waiver we were able to book early once they confirmed my D’s audition date.
We will absolutely have to bring dress and heels, though. It’s non-negotiable for my D to sing in the right ensemble.
I am quite worried about weather; we were going to try and do Eastman, Vandy (if they invite her) and NEC all in three days, but I think that would be cutting it close. I’d like her to have the weekend Vanderbilt experience, even if it means another cross country flight. I work full time also- and coordinating my job with all this travel is no easy feat. But I know time will fly by and this time with my D is precious, so I’m going to find a way to make it work.
I did get the Hilton Amex for this purpose and have found wonderful rates on Embassy Suites, so that’s something! Cincinnati was by far the most reasonable hotel.
coloraturagirl wrote:
I know time will fly by and this time with my D is precious, so I’m going to find a way to make it work.
It was exactly what I thought last year. Even though we needed to spend chunk of money, traveling with a 17-year-old son was very memorable for me. I am better at travel planning and packing than my husband so my husband even didn’t try taking turns traveling with our son. All of the trips my son and I had, I was there just to check in / check out at hotel. My son did what he wanted to do in town addition to his audition. But it was great pleasure to participate in his audition journey and see his growth over just one winter.
Everyone, enjoy your audition season! Somehow, it magically all works out even some schedule conflicts and / or weather distractions.
For audition tips for parents, be prepared to:
Hurry up and wait. Then hurry some where else and wait. Repeat.
Be buried in coats and bags on a chair…bored.
Be standing with coats and bags…bored.
Wander around reading bulletin boards…bored.
Talk with other bored, nervous parents…now hungry.
Overhear other auditions…and worry…no longer hungry.
Be on call by your kid for any minor detail but be generally ignored (they are busy and you are not).
Maybe get beat up a bit by your kid if something goes wrong…now annoyed.
Stand around some more…hoping desperately your kid seems happy-ish when they exit the audition room.
Try to be cool when they are done and packing up not to ask too many questions…while dying inside to know every detail.
Go out and celebrate! Finally get to hear the details and thoroughly enjoy yourself.
Repeat at 5 or 6 other auditions.
So bring something to read! And try not to listen too closely to the auditions. They’re not your business.
@runninglate My D used to bring earphones to secluded herself from the nervous energy/talk and other auditions. She still tries to avoid watching/hearing other auditions. It may be worth discussing with your kid if they would prefer to avoid hearing the other auditions when possible. There’s nothing like overhearing your piece right before walking in the door! A parent can watch the spot to allow the kid some space from the audition door. Of course some students don’t care. They enjoy the energy and being social.
So be prepared for lots of down time for both parents and students. Think of positive ways to fill it. Most kids have a “routine” or are developing a routine for auditioning. If you don’t know your kids, you may want to ask…and stay out of their way as they prep themselves for the audition. My D is very unsocial before auditions…and appreciated me giving her a lot of space…and not commenting on other kids/auditions etc.
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@bridgenail - truer/more accurate/more helpful words have probably never been spoken! ? So many bored and anxious hours! Tempting to leave the area and wander, but what if you’re needed? Maybe audition season will give me a chance to finish the paperback I was forced to buy during our last campus visit (involving classroom observations, lesson, etc.) when I thought I would melt from boredom. Alas, auditions tend to make me a little too jumpy and distracted to read. Is it too late to take up knitting or meditation? ?
@bridgenail Thank you. Great description. I better get a good book with me. Mostly I will be the one travelling with him. I think I will actually enjoy all the travelling. He will be someplace next year and I am happy to be with him on his journey.
@doransa- did Eastman confirm with you? It’s really killing me to wait until the dates are confirmed to book the flights for the end of February. I hope we get our preferred dates, but I hate to risk booking the flight before confirmation. There are so many sales going on right now. We sent in our music priority and I was hoping to get confirmation by now. We have NEC the same weekend and it’s going to take some coordination.
@coloraturagirl Yes the date was in the portal where you go and check your status.
" Dear xxxx,
Greetings from the Eastman School of Music. Your audition/interview has been scheduled to take place at Eastman on:
Friday, February 28, 2020,
You are invited to audition/interview for the following program(s):
Composition
Piano"
He requested the 28th when he was applying. I remember looking at the dates and seeing they were all so close. He made an initial list and tried to follow it. So far it is working.
He is still waiting for Peabody and Blair. He recently submitted his applications so not sure if we will hear anything for a while.
I hope you hear from Eastman soon.