@IronCitEE : About trial lessons : Typically, your child emails the teacher asking for a trial lesson. Ideally, this can be arranged around the same time as the auditions, but as you have surmised, that can get pretty busy. But there is no harm in checking anyway, it might just work out.
In my S’s case (2018), he had a couple of trial lessons before auditions, and a couple, after. No one would meet him during audition weekend which would have been convenient for us. So, as you can tell, that’s added time off and cost to and from the place. But, in the long run, it may be worth that extra time and effort.
@3gigglinggirls – I am not second guessing sending my kid away for college in the fall, but what I am second guessing is the flying to the campus days. My dad is an infectious disease specialist and has urged us (in the wake of the coronavirus) to drive as much as possible, which we did when auditioning (NYC to Ohio, Michigan, Rochester… wow. So much driving). We had to take extra travel days before and after the auditions in order to get there on time. So my kid missed a lot of school and precollege. We can’t do that again, so we’d need to fly to the two campus days (UMich and Lawrence) we want to attend. I am really hesitant about that. I don’t know. My kids take the subway to-and-from school and precollege and classes and rehearsals and shows every day. But flying to those campus visits with the coronavirus going around (and my dad’s warning in my ears) is making me a bit uncomfortable.
@3gigglinggirls and @MomOfSingers, interesting points! We are in the city and I always assumed there were a lot more germs in the subways – or at least, we come into more contact with more people on public transit in NYC – than at airports or on planes. I know that people are talking about working from home rather than taking public transit if this becomes a pandemic. I think I’d drive, no matter the distance rather than take planes or trains. That said, my kid is flying home from Rochester in March and I am less worried about that than I would be if he was flying into O’Hare or some other giant airport. Food for thought…
Air travel is a concern for any kind of viral transmission whether is corona, the common cold, or flu. Masks, hand sanitizer, good hygiene should always be employed. With regard to a global pandemic, I’d be more concerned about an old fashion dorm environment where 10 kids are sharing the same bathroom!
@IronCitEE - it can also put a teacher on notice of your kid’s interest in working with them. My D always left requests for lessons very open ended…like “I understand that you may not have time during the busy audition season to meet with me or even respond to this request. Regardless I wanted you to know of my interest in you as a teacher.” If your kid is only available for a particular time frame be sure to mention that…acknowledging it is tight. My D also attached a music resume with a short comment…my resume is attached if that would be helpful to you. The communication was short and too the point.
You won’t lose anything that way…and may gain an advocate at the audition if the teacher responds or not.
@IronCitEE - one school (McGill) I had S specifically ask for a lesson the day before the audition as it was going to be very hard to get back to Montreal between audition/decision time. The professor was very accommodating (especially as we are on the west coast).
Also, a couple of my kid’s auditions went very long and ended up essentially being a mini-lesson. So, it doesn’t hurt to try and schedule a lesson before the audition (just use different repertoire) especially if you are coming from far away.
True! But it feels like there may be a vaccine for coronavirus (or at least a more clear set of precautions) by the time September 2020 rolls around and they have to move into the dorm. Right now, there is just so much unknown and misunderstood. That said, my kids travel on the NYC subway every single day. So my flying fears seem pretty weird given my kids’ reality!
@gram22, @bridgenail, and @Lendlees, thank you for all of the additional tips regarding trial lessons. Based on your experiences, I see that it can very helpful and wouldn’t hurt to ask. I have already “nudged” my D about it.
has anybody’s kids found themselves in a Whiplash type environment on audition day? kids being yelled at, instructions that were sent out to applicants not being followed, etc? my S told me of a situation like this which i found shocking and upsetting. i guess on the bright side is it’s a really easy way to eliminate a school from the list. i’ll post more details and what school it was after the process is over - hopefully may help someone looking there in the future.
My goodness @arkham – no, never. He definitely liked some approaches more than others, but nothing extreme. That would be a hard no from this tuition-paying mama!
@arkham Most schools go to tremendous lengths to be accommodating and supportive at auditions. If a rogue administrator or faculty member is torpedo-ing the process by bad behavior, it might be worthwhile to give feedback to the department directly, especially if your S is admitted and he declines because of this.
@3gigglinggirls I think that no matter how far or how close we send our kids there is always stuff that could happen. My older D has had a number of things she has had to work through and I have helped her from here. If necessary either one of us could be on a plane in a heartbeat. But- she has risen to the occasion beautiful and watching her grow up and handle her life is a good thing.
I’m not going to lie- I’ve spent a few nights worried and anxious about how things were going to turn out. But in the end she has been fine. I don’t know if this helps you feel any better. But I hope so.
Agree with @songbirdmama re the Whiplash scenario. We had a similar situation in which a college representative was dismissive to my daughter’s friend, who was a minority applicant, at a college fair. One quick call and the horrified admissions people suspended the person.
My kid’s “Acceptance to Duquesne” notification was a huge hit at his school. I’m so glad I went ahead with it. Well, I really didn’t do anything. The office administrators at his school made such a big deal about it and were so excited… they executed it all. I just got to watch a part of it. School wide announcement for him to come to the office (cause he had senior privilege and they couldn’t find him in his usual spots - he was napping in one of the classrooms…) which scared the heck out of him. He thought something happened at home that required me to get him out of school OR that he was in trouble. He passed by the snack shack where I was and I said “What did you do?? Why are they calling you?” “Mom… I promise I didn’t do anything bad… at least I don’t think so.” ??
Anyhoo, he went to the office where they were playing the Duquense fight song, (I didn’t have a clue what it was) and the letter was on the front desk. Despite balloons which I had spent part of the morning cutting out vinyl with various messages… You did it ! You’re In! Duquense Accepted!! Congrats Mack! ( I see a new side business in my future cause those dollar store balloons with personalized Cricut messages were a BIG hit … I digress… HA HA )… the fight song playing… it didn’t really sink in for him until he read the letter…saw the $$ and exclaimed Holy S*&^ ! … He very rarely says a bad word and is uber polite so hearing that coming from his mouth had everybody cracking up… It was the moment. It truly was funny, but you know Momma still admonished and he apologized. HA. It was a really nice acceptance delivery… he loved it, give me a big hug and thanks all around, and was quite emotional. While transporting his balloons to the kitchen, his band director/favorite teacher/recommendation writer was passing by in the lobby with his best friend (who just got into UMTSD) and got to share in the joy. THAT was the best part - Musicians being celebrated!! They might make it a thing. ?
One of the administrators asked me what I was planning to do when he got his Tell School of Music acceptance (they’re tied for the #1 spot at the moment) cause he’s been talking about it in the office. Millersville is an hour 10 mins drive from my house. I’ll just drive over there… pick up some swag and some of those pretty black and gold balloons they have over there and be back before he gets out of school. Easy Peasy ? Our musicians work sooooo hard and deserve all the KUDOS they rarely get at school. This Momma is doing her small part in changing that. Why should the athletes get all the noise? Our kids work harder… going through all these auditions, the mental workouts AND having to keep up with their school work is tough. Off my soapbox. I know you folks understand.
Oh and the office administrator got it all recorded ! Yeaaa
Bennie got into all the Music Schools he auditioned for but we’re still waiting on acceptances into some of the universities. One of them he didn’t get a rejection but he got “Wait Listed” … still on the wait list. They offered a guaranteed spot for Spring 2021. A couple of the schools they said he wasn’t academically admissible (scores didn’t meet whatever criteria they had set), and we opted out of continuing with those auditions. Just got a letter yesterday from one such school that said… “I am pleased to inform you that, after a review of your application materials, we have determined that you are academically-admissible to XXX for the Fall 2020 semester!” His counselor might have sent mid-year grades. They were low on the list so didn’t pay it much attention and we had already cancelled the audition, which I’m sure he would have passed. So yea… it can happen.
Keeping fingers crossed it doesn’t happen to your son. Some schools DO make exceptions and set a lower criteria for Music students but not all of them.
@BenniesMom1 I love how they re celebrating your sons acceptances. Fine arts kids deserve ALL THE LOVE! They work so hard. That is over the top wonderful. I’ve been smiling to myself for you and your son ever since I red the post.
They didn’t do anything quite like that for my daughter but they are definitely celebrating her acceptance. Her chorus teacher announced it to the choir. The theater teacher - who is her advisor (even though she doesn’t take theater). Publicly recognized her s well. Even the Headmaster made a point of seeking both of us out to congratulate. It’s not quite the hoopla the athletes get on signing day but they definitely recognized that her acceptance and scholarship were a big deal.
Outside of school - her bass player announced it and congratulated her at one of their biggest gigs.
These kids work very hard and will continue to do so in the coming years. They deserve a bit of “applause”
Auditioned at UNT yesterday–it was a fabulous experience. Dean spoke about their large size as a positive thing, because it forced students to work hard and improve. He said something along the lines of “You are probably here because you are the best musician in your school. You may even be the best musician your school has ever had. But I can tell you, when you come to UNT, that will not be the case.” Wow. I thought it was the best pitch I’d heard for a school. Definitely gives you a taste of what the atmosphere is like. The students I met also seemed to share a lot of camaraderie, though, and they definitely felt as though the profs really cared about them.
My audition panel was the biggest yet–maybe 10 professors–and the first I’ve sung in an actual recital hall. It was a nice experience. I thought it went well. Afterwards one of the professors in the room saw me in the lobby and introduced himself. I got a lovely email from him a bit later.
I also received a handwritten note from a prof at USC that I auditioned for and interviewed with. It was very vague, something like “While we have no idea what USC will decide, we wish you the best of luck on your decision…” ??? No idea what to make of that. I’m flattered that I got a note but not sure if he sends one to everyone who auditions for the program? Maybe it’s a good sign? Maybe not? Trying not to overthink this…agh…just three more weeks until we hear!!
