@raincat we had a super bumpy flight but the weather is so refreshing! We landed here around 3:30. Had dinner on the beach which was great! Good luck to your son tomorrow! Hope everyone has a great audition day!
@NECJ97 yikes I hate those bumpy flights, I’ve had too many lol. H and my S are really enjoying the sunshine, although my S also got a huge kick out of the light snow we had when we were at Berklee in Dec. We don’t get snow often in the PNW.
S seems in a good mood but I wish I was the audition parent so I could get the in-person debriefing after tomorrow.
I don’t know if you’ve already been to Frost, but if not, be aware that the Pavia parking lot requires payment and a good walk to Frost. It added a bit of stress to our experience in Dec when he had an appt with a Prof and things took longer than we thought (finding the parking lot, paying then navigating Google walking maps thru campus to find our building). They hadn’t told us where the park for that visit so we started at the wrong end of campus
Anyway best of luck to your D tomorrow (is it tomorrow or Sat?) This is exciting, I can’t wait to hear how everyone’s auditions go!
Well, Nashville is getting a little snow tonight - fortunately it’s not supposed to be much. I only know this because it’s my son’s next stop. 
Safe travels to all and best to this weekend’s auditioners.
Good luck and safe travels to everyone auditioning this weekend! A year ago this weekend, my D had her last auditions at Frost and USC. It was an exciting time despite sleep deprivation and colds. We celebrated finishing her audition at USC by going to hear the LA Phil which she now goes to frequently as a Thornton student.
For the Frost audition day, it’s not necessary to be there exactly at the start of the breakfast/check in time (which was the equivalent of 5am by our internal West Coast clocks), but once you get there, its good to get your game face on. The percussion prof was there waiting to meet my D, her parents, and his other applicants. I had to hastily wipe cream cheese off my teeth when I saw him speeding toward us.
@raincat thanks for the tip. Yes the first time we visited we were rushed and I accidentally left the rental car running the garage the entire day and ran it out of gas! University was great and they hooked me up with some gas and got the car started! Rainy morning today. Audition isn’t until 2:40 so we have time to kill.
On our way to Chicago for Bienen audition tomorrow. Hoping to see a performance tonight.
Good luck to everyone else auditioning this weekend! Happy travels!!!
@NECJ97 my son’s auditon time is 2:40 as well. He wants to find a spot to nap haha. The time difference is a killer. I wish they could have only shown up closer to the audition time. He has a drummer friend at Frost and they planned to jam together at some point today but when I spoke to A after the theory test, he sounded tired and predicted that they would only get together after his auditon but before the official jam later this afternoon. Makes sense I suppose, he doesn’t want to expend energy before the audition but maybe wants to be energized before the group playing at 5 pm. It’s a looooong day. Very different from the Berklee and USC auditions but more similar to Eastman from what I’ve read here.
Can you tell I wish it was me at the audition rather than H? I think all this college stuff is lost on H, he will just be interested in where S gets in and what the final COA is lol.
I was thinking about all the Vocal Performance Majors on here last night and sending “stay healthy” vibes. My clarinetist’s cork came off his clarinet last night when he was putting his instrument together. Audition tomorrow of course. I was surprisingly calm as I made dozens of phone calls, left messages at several instrument repair shops between here and West Virginia, reserved a clarinet at Menchey Music in Hanover ( the closest place with a intermediate/professional clarinet for rent - all other places had student clarinets) 2 hrs drive away in the opposite direction? … etc etc etc .
And all I could think of, as I had to sing one of the solos last night at rehearsal cause the soloist was out sick, was OMG ? How DO the parents on CC with kids with vocal performance audition deal with this when their kids instrument, their voice, is broken with a cold or allergies or the flu ?? That’s gotta be super stressful cause you can’t just make dozens of phone calls trying to “fix” it . Being a vocalist myself, I know there are remedies that I swear by that work, but not always. Anyhoo - sending all kinds of “stay healthy and in good voice “ vibes to you all during this audition season.
My phone is ringing off the hook this morning with return calls and Ronnie at Accent Music just called to say “We have that clarinet all ready for you” . For the life of me I can’t remember how that conversation went last night or what clarinet he’s speaking off . Did I set up a plan C just in case ? I honestly don’t remember.
My son just called from school to let me know that it’s all fixed!! . He called his band director last night ( we’re cool like that mom ?) who just happened to have an instrument repair kit and has done more than a few replacements, and his best friend, a saxophonist, had cork soaking overnight for him. Crisis averted and back to our normal schedule - no trip to Hanover needed and I’m turning my phone off 
That phone, by the way, just blasted out a tornado warning . All part of the journey, right ?
Happy Auditions to all today and this weekend . May your kid’s instruments be in good form . Break a leg !!
Maybe this didn’t stress either of us out cause he already got a “Congrats You’re In” email from his #2 choice yesterday ( Audition was Tuesday) and the audition tomorrow is NOT his #1 ? So how DO your kids keep the energy and excitement going for the rest of the auditions when they’ve already heard from one of their top choices ? In the absence of financial packages, I feel he has to nail the rest of the auditions just as well, but I can understand that mentally, he’s already in celebration mode .
@BenniesMom1 - How do they keep the energy and excitement going after a big acceptance? I think you are asking this rhetorically but I’ll answer seriously bc we faced this.
1.) Some don’t continue. Some are done. It is financially expensive and time consuming. There is no shame in cancelling auditions and focusing on current work and the new school. Some don’t need or want the extra validation…or extra scholarship dollars!
2.) Some do continue. I suggested my D stop as I can be a bit of a “scrooge”. My D looked at me like I was crazy and had no intention of stopping what she had put into motion until the bloody end. She had done apps, pre-screens and been accepted to audition…so we were going (despite my dwindling bank account). Now the pressure was off her…and it was FUN for her to audition. She was full of herself by then…it was me who was getting tired and poor…
And here’s a professional consideration if your S wants to continue: I’m sure the clarinet world is as small as the VP world…so going to the auditions (if affordable) is a good networking opportunity. My D ran into a teacher from an LAC, she auditioned at, in grad school at a summer festival. This teacher gave my D her first professional opportunity after grad school. She had a small opera concert program and they flew my D down for a concert and to speak at their LAC to young vocalists…this was a very fun/good opportunity for her. So you never know what can happen from these auditions in 2 or 4 or 6 years.
So, good luck no matter what course he takes.
@BenniesMom1 Congrats! Not sure how other kids are handling it, but mine promptly cancelled all February auditions after receiving acceptances from second, third and sixth choice (and realizing as he visited that he pretty much liked all his choices equally well). Mistake? Probably. But our collective stress levels have gone down dramatically and I’m not sure school formerly known as Choice #1 was all that qualitatively different than any of the others.
Good luck to your kid on his remaining auditions, however many that ends up being;)
Interesting! Mine canceled schools #6&7 after getting a good offer from #5. That said, #3 became #1 AT the audition because he was so impressed by the people he met there. So there’s something to be said for going through the experience.
This isn’t even my rodeo, and I am really struggling to stay focused at work. My kid is about half-way through his auditions. About four to go, but two of his early ones are favorites… and although I know they won’t let us know until late March, I am checking portals, spam filters, etc. daily. Kind of pathetic on my part! (Of course, I am saying nothing to my kid. Want to keep everything calm so he can focus on schoolwork, and doesn’t feel pressure to feel/think something about one of the schools that he doesn’t naturally feel/think.)
My child auditioned for 1 and 2. Got into both with a great offer from #1. She then committed to #1 and canceled all the other auditions. I wasn’t necessarily sure that was the right way to go. But she was so sure that #1 is the right place and it is her life.
That being said- not having 4-6 weekends of traveling to auditions mostly in the northeast is not a bad thing in my opinion. She has two musical theater friends who have been on the road for about two weeks. It’s grueling.
Best of luck to those of you still in the thick of it.
Thanks @Jazzydrums , @akapiratequeen , and @MomOfSingers and @Musicmom2two for the feedback. @bridgenail , I wasn’t asking rhetorically at all. Really wanted to know. Thank so much for sharing the details. My kid definitely wants to continue, as planned, but has cancelled the ones after 02/16, which was also planned. Had scheduled the “practice” ones first, (which one of them was bumped up to the next grouping after the audition) then the ones he really wanted to get into in the next grouping, and the last group were the “t’would be nice, but only IF I don’t get into one from group two”. So, everything after Temple on the 16th AND his recorded audition for Ithaca was cancelled today. The Director of Music Admissions from Ithaca sent a really nice response congratulating him on wherever he got in to AND said they’d be happy to have him for their Masters program. (like I can think beyond the next audition 
HA. ) I thought that was nice.
So just got an email from his Tuesday audition looking to reschedule for Saturday, the 15th. Or later …but the kid wants to be DONE after Boyer on the 16th. “Because I’ve mentally prepared for all of them Mom so I HAVe to do them”. OK. Which leaves the 15th. Now, he has an audition at Mary Pappert at Duquense in Pittsburgh on the 14th, Boyer on the 16th, and a concert with a 6p.m. call time in MD on the 15th. IF he agrees to switch that audition to the 15th, this Momma will be running seriously ragged come Sunday evening. It’s doable to do Tell on Saturday morning, between 9:30 - 2:30, and be back home for the concert that evening. But we’ll be returning from Pittsburgh late on Friday night, so… Decisions, decisions. BUT, we’ll be DONE !!! AND, he wouldn’t have to be off school two days next week. That’s something else to ponder. Just thinking out loud here, while my kid drives us to West Virginia. I soooo love that he LIKES to drive and is a good driver. I get to chill out unless he has an audition on the same day, in which case I get to drive. BUT, we’ll have plenty of time to rest tonight before showing up tomorrow at 11:00.
Now about that clarinet… the “FIX” apparently didn’t work. He called me three times while I was at the gym and I thought something was wrong, so I texted him to see if everything was ok. He responded that everything was PERFECT. Do tell, kiddo. His band director, favorite teacher, after last night’s call, just happened to dig up a lightly used Buffet Crampon Professional Clarinet (a step above from his Yamaha that’s de-corked) and have it waiting for one of his favorite students ( it’s a mutual feeling, I guess). He was going to GIVE it to him as a graduation gift. ?? So now he has it early. No words !! That worked out a little too well. I should just say thanks and move on instead of having this feeling that… hmm… worked a little TOO well which means something bad is about to happen. Smack smack… there. I’ve snapped out of it. ?
This is soooooo me. Portals Checker #1. I forget to check the Spam filters. Maybe that’s where the Penn State and UD emails went cause he hasn’t gotten ANY emails from them. Acceptances just showed up on his portals and the portal checker found out that way. They’re not on his list cause they accepted without auditions and he wanted no part of schools which did that for some reason, since they’re not taking into account his musicianship as part of the admissions process. Plus Penn State accepted him to another campus which doesn’t even HAVE music. OY! He feels those schools are too “academic” I guess. Can’t say I blame him there. Anyhoo… It really IS pathetic on our parts… ?BUT, I make no apologies !! It’s OUR rodeo too !!
Oh look… just got an email about the Saturday switcheroo. The grammatical errors are theirs,… I’m just copying and pasting.
I have talked to Dr. Banks and she will be here on Tuesday and Saturday. Many students have changed their date from Tuesday, so if you would like to be surrounded by fellow students auditioning, Saturday the 15th will have that. However, if you would like to see classes in action, Tuesday will also be a great option for you. Everyone who would you will need to see on Tuesday, will be present. Whatever you feel most comfortable with will work for us, just let me know at your earliest convenience. I apologize for any and all confusion.
Best,
Sarah Troutman
Tell School of Music Recruitment Officer
Tuesday it is for my kid who doesn’t really care that other students auditioning won’t be there. HA. He gets to sit in with the Wind Ensemble. That’s more important to him. And Dr Banks IS his favorite clarinet instructor !! AND in charge of the scholarships !!
@raincat how did it go? My daughter came out all smiles. Said it went well. So big sigh of relief here. Now we wait some
more for the jam session…
@BenniesMom1 ----ahh, the craziness! What will we do with ourselves once the auditions are over and the acceptances (and financial aid) are complete? Phew!
We weren’t able to cancel any auditions because, at the time, #1 for my kid was the very, very last one in early March. (and was the ONLY date they did auditions) So we soldiered on and did all 6. Good luck everyone this weekend. Crazy weather in the NE. Bundle up and stay warm. @BenniesMom1 - what an awesome gift!
Thanks @Jazzydrums , @akapiratequeen , and @MomOfSingers for the feedback. And @bridgenail , wasn’t asking rhetorically at all. Really wanted to know. Thanks for all the details. My kid definitely wants to continue, as planned, but has cancelled the ones after 02/16, which was also planned. Had scheduled the “practice” ones first, then the ones he really wanted to get into in the next grouping, and the last group were the t’would be nice, but only IF he didn’t get into one from group two. So, everything after Temple on the 16th AND his recorded audition for Ithaca was cancelled today. The Director of Music Admissions from Ithaca sent a really nice response congratulating him on wherever he got in to AND said they’d be happy to have him for their Masters program. (like I can think beyond the next audition HA. ) I thought that was nice.
So just got an email from his Tuesday audition looking to reschedule for Saturday, the 15th. Or later …but the kid wants to be DONE after Boyer on the 16th. Which leaves the 15th. Now, he has an audition at Mary Pappert at Duquense in Pittsburgh on the 14th, Boyer on the 16th, and a concert with a 6p.m. call time in MD on the 15th. IF he agrees to switch that audition to the 15th, this Momma will be running seriously ragged come Sunday evening. It’s doable to do Tell on Saturday morning, between 9:30 - 2:30, and be back home for the concert that evening. But we’ll be returning from Pittsburgh late on Friday night, so… Decisions, decisions. BUT, we’ll be DONE !!! AND, he wouldn’t have to be off school two days next week. That’s something else to ponder. Just thinking out loud here, while my kid drives us to West Virginia. I soooo love that he LIKES to drive and is a good driver. I get to chill out unless he has an audition on the same day, in which case I get to drive. BUT, we’ll have plenty of time to rest tonight before showing up tomorrow at 11:00.
Now about that clarinet… the “FIX” apparently didn’t work. He called me three times while I was at the gym and I thought something was wrong, so I texted him to see if everything was ok. He responded that everything was PERFECT. Do tell, kiddo. His band director, favorite teacher, after last night’s call, just happened to dig up a lightly used Buffet Crampon Professional Clarinet (a step above from his Yamaha that’s de-corked) and have it waiting for one of his favorite students ( it’s a mutual feeling, I guess). He was going to GIVE it to him as a graduation gift. ?? So now he has it early. No words !! That worked out a little too well. I should just say thanks and move on instead of having this feeling that… hmm… worked a little TOO well which means something bad is about to happen. Smack smack… there. I’ve snapped out of it. ?
This is soooooo me. Portals Checker #1. I forget to check the Spam filters. Maybe that’s where the Penn State and UD emails went cause he hasn’t gotten ANY emails from them. Acceptances just showed up on his portals and the portal checker found out that way. They’re not on his list cause they accepted without auditions and he wanted no part of schools which did that for some reason, since they’re not taking into account his musicianship as part of the admissions process. Plus Penn State accepted him to another campus which doesn’t even HAVE music. ■■■??? He feels those schools are too “academic” I guess. Can’t say I blame him there. Anyhoo… It really IS pathetic on our parts… ?BUT, I make no apologies !! It’s OUR rodeo too !!
@Lendlees --we are finishing all of ours, as well. I bet several of our kids are. My kid has asked to cancel a few, but seeing these are “financial safety” schools, my husband and I need him to complete them! (We have heard from no one yet. All his schools have a March to April 1 acceptance window.)
@NECJ97 he said it went well, tho he did say maybe USC was a tad better? But he was happy with it. And the Prof who heard him play in Dec greeted him and afterwards said he has improved since then lol!
He is already playing at the jam session as I write this, he wanted to go early in because they have a flight later tonight, although I don’t know if he asked or if he was lucky. Of it started at 5 pm he may have been in the first group! My H says he can’t even get in the room it’s so crowded.
Glad your D was all smiles!!!