@Musicmom2two sounds like the teacher is a little disappointed to lose your daughter for all state. You really just have to take all the comments about application choices, appreciate them for what they’re worth, and then set them aside. Your daughter has to make a good choice for her, not to please a teacher or anyone else’s preferences.
Our state’s regional and all state auditions and ensembles are all in the spring. S didn’t miss any of it, but he did have a regional ensemble audition and a local college audition the same weekend, two instruments for each. Busy weekend. Stressed kid. @goforth is right. You just have to begin to move toward college and let some of the high school things be finished.
@Doransa, I think putting the scores on Finale is a good idea (he will do this for musicians, most likely, and they are all starting to use IPads for their scores) but the fact that he writes on paper initially is a big plus in terms of showing his process, so bringing them with him is a good idea
There are some scores (graphic for instance) that are difficult to put on Finale (I think you have to use Adobe something or other!).That would be a reason to have a paper score and scan it.
Maybe his handwritten scores are perfectly neat and handwriting is perfect and maybe they could be scanned and sent but I would ask the schools.
I think admissions may like things to be standardized.
In the dark ages, 10+ years ago they did require at least one handwritten and I always viewed that as a good measure of process and skill, until everyone started using software for everythig. (Also handwritten scores were a way to make sure the kids were actually writing their music!)
@Musicmom2two Brought back memories, and I don’t think the reaction is that uncommon (unfortunately). D opted out of all state/district auditions her senior year because of the probable date conflicts (she was first chair soprano the previous year). Her coral director was LIVID that she chose not to audition. He humiliated her in front of the class, saying HE applied to music school and knew what it was like. Why was she such a prima donna? It was because it reflected on HIM not to be able to say to administration that he had a student in all states etc. He was not concerned about her process, health, or placements or all the long travel in mid winter. Just how he looked to admin. She graduated and lived happily ever after. Not to make light of it but it will be way behind in the rear view window very soon. Don’t look back. Look forward.
Musicmom2two—— WE HEAR YOU! I knew that my son would be in the huge pressure in winter if he had applied to the All-State in his college application year. He made it in 11th grade so I discouraged him applying again in 12th grade and sent a note to his school music teacher with the reason up front. His music teacher never responded to my email…I knew his school music teacher wasn’t happy about it. Sending music students to All-State seems like a big deal for their career.
We also stopped asking his school music teacher about college related questions in end of 10th grade when my son decided on jazz, not pursuing classical which was his school music teacher’s path. Those are quite different paths. My son was in some pressure that he must choose to study classical at the college level to become a professional musician. But he just found himself in jazz early.
But most importantly, after my son decided on a college in April, his school music teacher was very happy for him. Those music teachers all went through their own “college auditions”. So they know exactly how hard it can be. They all understand.
@raincat - It is very stressful! It is very hard on the kids and maybe even more so on the parents (bc you have no control). And here’s my big BUT:
It is a necessary process…and if your kid really wants it (don’t read “is good enough”) he’ll find a way to handle it. This is a VERY important part of the process. Most students have worked with enough teachers/professionals to “way down deep inside” know if it’s a good fit or not. It’s hard if it’s the first sample lesson that fizzles out…but there should be enough passion, commitment, experience for him to overcome the bumps in the road…and that is all it is. Don’t make it bigger than that. It’s simply one bump on a long bumpy road. Every parent that has gone through this process has these experiences…and everyone survived and found a great place!
So put your seat belt on and assure your son (with whatever happens) that it is simply part of the processing of finding the right fit.
And yes…some high school stuff just will NOT get done as neatly as in the past…in fact there may be a time when it is so out of control you can’t believe it…then you’ll know it’s audition season!
You guys are fine. You are exactly where you should be. Stressed and concerned.
@musicmom2two - I missed (and enjoyed) your rant earlier! You go mom!
My D’s theater director (who I really liked and helped her a lot) hassled her endlessly about doing a black box show ON THE WEEKEND of an audition. I remember looking at him…like really? Are you mad (bc I am!!)? She did NOT do the show…bc I stood in the way of that. It is a really stressful time.
@raincat about the sample lessons — I know it’s really hard not to see them as mini auditions but they are really about finding a fit. If the fit is right, your kid will connect with this teacher and come out feeling great whether or not he hits every note correctly. If not, it truly doesn’t matter how well it goes, why would you commit to four years of working with someone who doesn’t inspire and encourage you?
Also, and I know many have said said this, these teachers have heard literally hundreds of applicants. Your kid won’t wow them with a once in a lifetime performance or turn them off with a missed note. If the tone, the ear, the teachability, and the connection — and the space in the studio — is there, it’s a fit. Otherwise everyone moves on.
So deep breaths! Hopefully your S will get a decent night’s sleep, show up on time and appropriately dressed, and do his best. That’s all he can do. The real work — years and years of it — has already been done.
We’ve all been there. So I will repeat what experienced parents said to me last year: Your kid is going to find the right fit and have great opportunities, no matter what happens in any single lesson or audition. He’s here for a reason. It’s going to be fine…more than fine…it’s going to be extraordinary.
Please let us know how it goes. I’m so excited for you!
Wise words! Fingers crossed that whatever happens my kid can see the truth in what your saying. And especially with the price tag of music schools given the uncertainty of what happens after, fit is the most important thing.
@compmom with all this process, he got to be very savvy on how to use Finale. He has one score which is very graphical. Somehow he figured it out how to type it in. It took him a long time but he did it. He will be showing the final versions of the scores to his private teacher to make sure that he did not miss typed anything. He is trying get a recording of a piece for that he has to get all the string players to rehearse (16 string players in total). It is already hard to get 3 people into a room I am not sure how he will manage to record that. We will see.
If he’s entered the piece into Finale he can get a very good mp3 midi file through the computer program’s Garritan instruments - which is perfectly acceptable for submissions. They don’t expect high school students to have live recordings of large ensemble works.
Finally got the pre-screen recording session scheduled for this Thursday! I’ll have to miss school for it but that’s just what worked. It is so tough trying to find a time that works for me, accompanist, and videographer.
Regarding pre-screens/auditions, how do we navigate the rep choices? Does it make a difference whether I sing the same rep for live auditions as I did in the pre-screen? That’s what I’m planning on doing unless someone tells me it’s a terrible idea.
@Racingfan53 No problem singing the same rep. Usually they let you choose the first one. They MAY ask for another, they may not. Just be prepared to sing all that you have on the live audition list, and that you have all the representative selections the school requires (eg: one English art song, one Italian, etc…)
@songbirdmama thanks for the tip! Yeah, I just had my first (early) audition today, and thanks to a lot of reading of last year’s journey thread I was ready to be cut off. Sure enough, I got to sing through my first two pieces, but was not asked to sing the third I’d prepared.
Thanks for your supportive comments. It helped my daughter to know that she is not alone. We actually really like this teacher. She is new this year and a vast improvement previous teacher.
My daughter does however have one foot out the door. We will try to keep everything in perspective after we are over being annoyed.
I have a question regarding sample lessons. D has 6 auditions scheduled over the next few months with the possibility of 1-2 more. I’ve read a little about sample lessons and was wondering if it’s appropriate to build in time while she is their for auditions to schedule a sample lesson.
Also, would it be appropriate for me to schedule the sample lessons or would it be better if my daughter scheduled them?
I’ve read that some professors are open to the idea of lessons while kids are on campus to audition, others are not. I think you would need to inquire. If they aren’t available/open to the idea at this point, you could always wait until your student is accepted, then schedule a lesson during an Accepted Students Day—if the school is a contender.
When D was a sophomore (and up through middle of Junior year) —when she was younger, and before we knew what we were doing ? I would initiate emailing with professors to set up lessons. We’ve since transitioned to her doing all communications. Teachers are usually very receptive and helpful!
@Musicmom2two - my son did most of his sample lessons the day before or after his auditions as he was applying to schools in many different cities and making two separate trips to each school didn’t make sense. In one case, my son had to drive 2 hours south of campus to meet the teacher the day after his audition and in another, the scheduling didn’t work out while he was on campus, so he did a Skype lesson. For the most part, teachers were very accomodating.
And definitely better if your daughter schedules the lessons herself. My son did all of his scheduling himself via email directly to the teacher.
Definitely try to have your daughter schedule them herself. We did not do samples during auditions. Wouldn’t the faculty be tied up listening to singers? Most of D’s sample lessons were done after acceptance, as part of the decision making process.
@Musicmom2two Sorry to hear about your lack of support regarding the audition conflict. Did you try calling the college to see if you could reschedule? With a few exceptions, I found most colleges to be flexible and offer some alternative dates. Since you have several months to work with (you are not asking for this accommodation last minute)I find it hard to believe they couldn’t reschedule the audition. Might be worth a shot. Good luck!
It is already hard to get 3 people into a room I am not sure how he will manage to record that. We will see.