Anyone considering Lamont School of Music? We were there yesterday and the facilities were amazing and my daughter really liked the jazz instructors. Smaller program - intended to be a back up school - but she liked it more than she was expecting! Downside is small vocal ensemble is not on par with Frost, Western MI, or UNT.
@NECJ97 a very talented jazz pianist from our HS went there, he loved the personal attention from the instructor and said he got many opportunities he might not have gotten from a bigger program. But he also wanted to double major, so there’s that.
He also was just a finalist for a major competition so I think in the end it’s talent and hard work plus good instruction.
Here is a little recap to his CIM interview: His interview was scheduled for Sunday morning. They asked him to be there at 8:30 in the morning. We decided to arrive on Saturday and stay in a hotel for a night. It was a clean hotel with ok breakfast. Close by to CIM/ downtown area. By car probably max 10 mins away.
When we arrived to Cleveland, it was snowing, but we are used to snow so it did not bother us. We had a dinner in Little Italy area. Many restaurants to choose from. Went to bed early but none of us got a decent sleep. I blame microfiber bed sheets for that. It was hot, it was cold beds were too soft etc…
Anyhow, we woke up by 7 am and we were at school 8:45 . He registered. There was a talk at 9 pm for parents and students. Later he had his interview, toured the school checked out the library. We always check out the school library in every school we go. 
Warm lunch served for parents and students. I thought it was a nice touch. Parents could mingle with the teachers and staff and ask questions. A bus tour around the university circle was available for interested parents and students. He had another interview with the admission/ financial aid office, and it was done. When we were driving back it was sunny and almost 54f. This is crazy Ohio weather for you.
Overall it was a very well organized process. Everything was clearly marked. There were staff and students for questions. Lots of tea coffee for parents. Whole experience was nice and they made you truly welcomed. Nothing was rushed. School was very clean.
One thing about parking: There is some parking around the school but it gets taken fast. I advise to drop your student and go around the side roads to find a parking. Our audition was on Sunday and parking was free. If you are arriving weekday make sure you have some coins with you.
For us next Friday Blair school of music…
thanks @raincat. Anyone else’s kids starting to really feel the stress? All the missed school plus the self induced stress of auditions. What are some things you are doing to support your kids and help ease the stress? I talk about putting it all in perspective but in the moment it’s a lot on these kids!
My D will be in these shoes next yr at this time and I’m trying to soak up all this info.
I feel stressed just reading all these posts!
Every trip has been an adventure. I’ve always tried to make an adventure out of every trip we’ve every been on, so I remind him that these auditions are just another one of our adventures. I think the way we scheduled the auditions helped … a LOT. The initial grouping of schools he auditioned at were literally intended for “practice”. They weren’t high on his list, though one of them catapulted upwards after the audition. Tomorrow he starts the ones that ARE high on his list. I think the “experience” he garnered from his 3 auditions so far, which were all different, and the feedback he’s received, has relieved his stress about the upcoming ones. With regard to the stress associated with missing school, he attends a school for the arts so they know it goes with the territory. Plus, his aiding period is in the School’s office so folks there are always waiting to hear how it went. Talking about what worked and what didn’t helps. He also debriefs with his favorite teacher… the band director.
I think it also helps that he has something to look forward to when we’re done. Well, two things, actually. He’s hoping he can cancel the auditions at the end because he will have heard already from one of his top choices. ?? That was the plan. AND there’s a trip to NYC and Broadway and Nintendo scheduled for when he’s done !! He’s looking forward to that and this is just part of the road to get there.
You’re right, though. It IS a lot on these kids. One rule we follow also on the car rides to an audition, ( we drive EVERYWHERE) we don’t talk about ANYTHING audition related. We have fun, belt out show tunes, hunt down Wawas etc. ? ( If you know Wawa, you KNOW this is critical… I? )… or complain that Sheetz is NOT Wawa and hunt down somewhere else for road eats. I think the key is to “Make it Fun!!” AND remind the kiddos that they will land exactly where they need to be. You have to believe that so that they do as well.
Break a leg, all.
We have a CRAZY day today in Pennsylvania. Been meaning to look at a map to see what kinda crazy circle we’re doing. Audition at Wells in the morning (West Chester), then we head to LVC in Annville, 1 hr 15 mins away, for a lesson (clarinet teacher was absent at the audition and the only one he didn’t have a lesson with prior to auditioning), then we head to King of Prussia, also 1 hr 15 mins away, for an admitted students event for WVU. So… three college related events … one day off from school. I’ll be the ragged looking Mom with the sweatshirt on that says "Behind Every Musician is an Exhausted Mom " We got this !!!
I second that 
My D is getting over a terrible cold, and I think more than the missed school (we purposely scheduled her second semester senior year to be a bit lighter) she is worried that she will be able to sing for CMU Friday and Vanderbilt Saturday. We BOTH feel the stress of wearing masks in the airports and on planes - since we are west coast, 10 of her 15 auditions require planes. I didn’t say anything to my D, but wearing the mask for hours on end gives me horrible claustrophobia! It almost puts me in a panic mode- but we have no choice with this pandemic happening 
We definitely don’t talk too much about the audition itself either- we watch movies and order food in the hotel. Only in the minutes leading up to the audition do we acknowledge the moment. She has a lot of performance experience, so the nerves aren’t too terrible, but the gravitas of the situation is always hanging overhead. UCLA was last weekend and that’s at the top of her list; all the other big ones are to come though. I just want her voice back to peak form. Such planning for months and months only to be at the mercy of a lingering cough!
D is quite stoic (like her mom) and I believe the stress of the next 3 weekends of travel is going to hit us both hard. My other kids also feel the stress of this process. I think we’ll all need a vacation when this is done.
Thanks all. I can’t imagine doing 13
Live auditions. My D has 6. 4 down 2 to go. We did plan a fun trip at the end! So yes - something to look forward to is key! We did the low stakes ones first also which was good. Off to Miami this weekend!
@NECJ97 my S will also be auditoning at Miami this weekend (well actually it’s on Friday). Since I visited Frost with S during Dec, my husband is taking him.
We are lucky in that this is his last addition.
Good luck to everyone this weekend and @coloraturagirl I hope your D’s recovery is complete by audition time. My younger D is a vocalist and I know how hard it is to be at the mercy of colds and congestion.
Thanks @raincat- same to you. We are stocked up on humidifiers and masks, cough drops and voice drops and it’s all we can do. I will post an update when we return from TN late Sunday eve.
We had/have three big auditions where he had/has to travel, three regionals (here in our hometown), and three more auditions for conservatories that arelocated in and around our home city. And we’re exhausted! I am in awe of you who are doing eight or 10 or 13 or more. (We have decided to drive to everything, even though some of those drives have been/will be 6 to 8 hours long. This may be contributing to the exhaustion!)
The two things my kid seems to be emotionally struggling with most is school homework and the unknown. He always gets everything made up and does the makeup tests, but he spends way too much time (in my opinion) worrying about whether or not he will successfully finish his school work. The school-related freakouts are beginning to make us all weary.
The other struggle is watching many of his friends who are taking a more academic route and have done ED or EA and who now know where they will be going to school. So many of his friends (and even his girlfriend) have a tidy collection of acceptances under their collective belt. He is beginning to get scared that he won’t have an acceptance and will have nowhere to go. Especially because our list is on the lean side. Waiting until late March or April 1 for news is made more emotionally difficult because of the above.
Those of you with other children (I have three–my auditioning kid has two younger siblings) can relate to how this entire process can affect your little ones. I am trying to spend extra alone time with each of my other children, as I can. In addition to catching up on work, etc.
Something I am really enjoying, however, about the process, is the opportunity to spend alone time with my kid. I am assuming he will get in to at least one of the schools on his list, which means he will move away. Part of me is not ready for that! So many things I wish I had done with him when he was younger! But it’s time now for him to launch, and these audition weekends allow us precious alone-time to bond.
He is really enjoying running into people he knows. My kid is shy and serious, but he knows a lot of kids from summer programs, and it’s so fun to see him in a conservatory lobby surrounded by kids as they all catch up and compare auditions and experiences. I also enjoy sitting with the parents, hearing their stories, being introduced to their kids, and just socializing.
This is a magical time. For sure.
@NECJ97 Glad to hear good things about Lamont. My son has applied in composition and classical guitar and hasn’t been able to visit (composers don’t audition in person there), but it looks very good. His older sister did visit and apply to UDenver (not in music) and liked it a lot. I have found all the interactions with UDenver (email, website) have given us a good impression of the place and their attitude.
I’m now in my 10th year on this forum, having joined when my son was in high school. I still check in here periodically, particularly at this time of year when everyone is traveling around the country looking for the right place to begin the next stage of the journey. It’s a stressful time but it can also be a fun and exciting time. Try to allow yourselves as much fun as you can. Based on experience, both my own and observing others over the years, I’m confident that, at the end of the day, everyone will end up where they’re meant to be.
Good luck to everyone in this year’s pool! Btw, the travel doesn’t end after auditions and school. My son and his trio are currently on a tour spanning 16 cities and towns, 20 shows, in 25 days, so I’m following his travels as well as all of yours.
I agree with @jazzpianodad . My husband and son had to take a red-eye from the West Coast to the Miami audition because the choice was either arriving at 8:30 pm the night before the 8 a.m. call time, plus having a connecting flight (risking delay) or a direct flight red-eye. I was worried about them getting in at 3 a.m. our time and not being able to check in to the hotel, etc etc but it seemed the less risky option.
Just heard that they are at the beach right now, soaking up the sun (which we haven’t seen in our town for 2 months, no lie) and if I know them, they’ve found the best breakfast spot as well. My S will have a whole day to settle in to the different time zone and hopefully be tired tonight and get a good night’s sleep.
I’ve enjoyed the audition trips I’ve gone on with him and it looks like my husband is also making the most of it :). It really can be a special time of togetherness before our wonderful musicians leave home for their own adventures.
Totally agree — I loved the quality time with my kid. Although seeing the storm warnings for Rochester tonight brings me back to some of the awful winter weather we endured. I’ll never forget having my windshield wiper fluid freeze outside of Syracuse in a snowstorm. I had to pull over every couple of miles, get out in the biting wind, and throw wiper fluid on the windshield so I could see to drive. Definitely made me wish he’d applied to Frost or Vandy.
Good times. Wishing tomorrow’s Eastman audition candidates safe travels and lots of luck.
Yes–safe travels everyone!!!
D and I just settled into our hotel in Rochester. The plane ride was a little bumpy. We’re Floridians so to us the winter wonderland here is beautiful. I’m thinking hot chocolate tomorrow. We both want to see lots of snow. Eastman is currently D’s top choice and I’m praying things go well tomorrow.
@sweetstrings, best of luck to your D!
I have to laugh every time we head to the cold weather. It reminds me of why I left the east coast and I just love to see my D’s reaction to it all. At one point in Boston we changed direction to tour a building and the wind whipped our hoods off and pushed us backwards and we laughed and laughed. We hid in a doorway for several minutes as we figured out how to hold our luggage (we had a plane to catch that same afternoon) with one hand and grasp our hoods with the other, charging into the wind to see this bloody building, ?
My D has Chicago, Rochester, Houston, and Boston (again) ahead of her still. I wonder how much the weather will factor into her final list of preferred schools. I think it’s always a good lesson for teenagers to appreciate their home one way or another 
CMU tomorrow am and then a flight to Vandy; crossing fingers for the voice to return!
@SweetStrings the hot chocolate at Java, right next door to Eastman on Gibbs Street, is the bomb. Looks like your winter wonderland dreams will come true. Stay warm and good luck to your D tomorrow! Let us know how it goes!