@songbirdmama try to connect with @SpartanDrew – her D is there and has a fab apartment inBrooklyn with some roommates as I recall. My D also went to NYU and lived off campus for two years so I can fill you in on that. There are tons of rooms and apartments but very few affordable ones right near campus. Figure 30-45 minutes on the subway to the neighborhoods where the grad students live.
In spite of the inconvenience, it’s incredibly energizing and fun to live in NYC! I was born and raised there, attended grad school there, and lived there for 15 years afterwards, and I still miss it!
Hi all! I just discovered these forums today, so I’m pretty late to the game, but I thought I’d join the discussion anyway as we head into decision time! My daughter is applying for tuba performance, and she just had her final audition yesterday at McGill. Phew! This has been an intense few weeks. She auditioned at 11 schools, has been accepted to 5 so far, denied at 1, and is still waiting to hear from 5.
Here are the schools she auditioned at (in order):
Blair/Vanderbilt
Lamont/U Denver (denied)
UC Boulder (accepted)
SMTD @ U Michigan (accepted)
Oberlin
Carnegie Mellon
ASU (accepted)
Eastman
SUNY Fredonia (accepted)
St. Olaf (accepted)
Schulich/McGill
As you can see, we were all over the map. She is worn out and looking forward to resting a bit and hanging out with her friends again! Her school choices were based almost entirely on information we had about tuba professors (combination of recommendations from her private teacher and sample lessons). She also visited Jacobs, U Maryland, and Frost but ended up eliminating them because she didn’t feel they were the right fit for her.
Now we wait for those last few decisions, as well as complete financial aid/scholarship info!
Welcome! Happy to have another music parent to wait with!!
11 auditions! And hauling a tuba! my hat is off to you. Looks like you’ve already got some great admits. Fingers crossed for the program and scholarship of her dreams. please keep us posted!
@essbeeny welcome!
My son, who is a voice/cello major attended a workshop at ASU for future music majors a couple of summers ago. We happened to meet the tuba professor there and thought she was fantastic! We were both ready to take up tuba and study with her. She was really fun. Not an educated opinion, but we were really impressed by her.
My son finally received his official acceptance to our state university last night. He was accepted to the school of music 1/17, but this was the last piece to make it official. He submitted his Temple videorecording with 14 minutes to spare before the deadline- just to see how much stress my heart can tolerate? Actually the videos were still “processing” when it took my money. Got an email saying it was received so hoping the videos did go through. So waiting on that and Northwestern. At least I know for sure that he won’t have to take a gap year.
@Busy_Momma Congrats to your son for getting that state school acceptance - finally !! Not sure where you are but PA State schools have been THE slowest through this process… from Music School acceptance to University acceptance . Our state school (DE) was on the ball and got those out early but he doesn’t want to go there so we’re using PA schools for in-state options . Still waiting one PASSHE university acceptance in particular ( it’s tied for his #1 spot ) got in the music school right after his audition on 2/11 and have been waiting and waiting . Good to know that “eventually” they DO get to it . WOW ?.. I had no idea it could take THAT long . So, thanks for sharing !!!
And yeaaaa for no gap year !!
Welcome @essbeeny !! And ? on 11 auditions lugging the tuba . I was “privileged” once NOT! to be that band booster mom polishing a tuba for our marching band and I gained a whole new respect 
for the tuba players, especially our tiny female ! Hats off to your daughter . I’d be tired too ? She’s got some great choices ! Plenty of us waiting right along with you !! By the way , for my S, it was ALL based on instructors as well. He visited all and ranked his choices by instructors first, and then by university .
D had her audition for Bard today in NYC. She had been wearing the same dress and thought she would mix it up this time but spilled makeup on the black bodice of the dress she planned to wear and it stained. Had a backup dress with her but it wasn’t her favorite so she put on interesting earrings. Well, first thing Stephanie Blythe says is can she take off the earrings so they can see her lovely face!! D laughed. She never wore big earrings to an audition before and never will again. At least she may be remembered by the panel!!
The ASU tuba professor is the main reason that school stayed on our list! It’s by far the farthest from our home (NY). My daughter thought she was amazing!
@songbirdmama - Nothing wrong with wearing earrings that get Stephanie Blythe’s attention!
So I’m freaking out. Last night D was walking alone back to her hotel in Greenwich Village right near NYU about 10pm after dinner. Someone came up behind her and pegged her on the head and ran. Didn’t try to rob her or anything. She was dazed and sat in the hotel lobby but didn’t report it. Went on with audition today (as mentioned above). Is this normal in that neighborhood? Certainly left her with a bad taste for Mannes (and a bump the size of a golf ball). She just told me now. Was not inclined to mention it this morning because she knew I would freak out. Aargh!!!
Oh no @songbirdmama!!! I’m so sorry that this happened! I would be freaking out as well. Is your D ok??? Clearly for her, the show does go on. That shows such strength that she did this morning’s audition and was more concerned about her mama.
@songbirdmama I’m sorry for the worry. I went to NYU myself during the late 80s and early 90s, and you absolutely have to be on alert at night in the big city- especially if you are alone. I never went anywhere after 9pm by myself. During the day and early evening, not a problem. But after 9pm? I would dissuade her from walking alone. This could pose a problem if she has late rehearsals or lessons- something to consider. Women attract more attention too- just how it is.
I started going into the city by myself at 14 and learned street smarts and to be defensive right away. I think in any major metro area you have to take the good (museums, music, culture, 24-7 food, vibrancy, diversity) with the bad (crime and safety). My girls have been enrolled in self defense for the past couple of years since my oldest was getting ready for college.
If I had to be by myself, I always had keys in fist and walked quickly, assertively, and with direction. I’m not sure what your D could legally carry with her as far as pepper spray or any of that, but you could check NYC code.
Thank goodness she wasn’t mugged- who knows the motivation of people to do idiotic thing.
Im so sorry to hear this, @songbirdmama. I’ve lived in NYC for almost 30 years with my wife and raised two daughters here without any incidents like that. My wife had her wallet taken from her at a Times Square subway stop about 25 years ago- two men got in front of her and behind her on the steps coming out and politely “asked” her for her wallet, she complied. No incidents since then.
It’s hard to characterize entire neighborhoods in Manhattan as safe or unsafe, although on the whole NYC is far safer than it was in the 70’s through the 90’s, and safer than most other large cities in the USA. For example, I would say walking down a major thoroughfare like Broadway or 5th or 6th Avenue in that area is very low-risk, even alone at 10 PM on a Saturday night. Walking through Washington Square Park would be higher risk, obviously.
Especially in Manhattan, which is laid out on a grid, walking from one place to another offers a ton of different options for the route. My standard “street smarts” advice to my teenage daughters is to opt for the well traveled streets, even during the day, because, why not? Always maintain awareness of your surroundings. One earbud not two, if you must be listening to music. Since your daughter was assailed from behind not much she could have done about that, but I always tell my kids if you get a shady vibe from some dude on your side of the street, cross the street. I’ve never told them they need to keep their keys between their fingers.
Saturday night is the biggest drinking night of the week, and that area is full of younger folks enjoying themselves on Saturdays. I am always more on the lookout for drunks on Saturday nights, but that’s true almost anywhere. I hope this was just a drunk idiot. Again, I’m so sorry that happened to her. Statistically speaking, I wouldn’t discount Mannes entirely based on this incident, her experience is NOT normal, but I know how hard it is not to react viscerally to an experience like that. Please tell her we hope she feels better soon.
@coloraturagirl @NYCMusicDad Thank you for your kind words. Although this was a random act of violence, her radar is up regarding what this would mean for late night rehearsals and general lifestyle should she attend Mannes. It was odd to me as she was on 7th Ave near 14th St - not off the beaten path in any way. Happy it wasn’t worse than a bump but happier that she is now home for a few days for TLC prior to Curtis audition.
@songbirdmama - I am so shocked and sorry. Your daughter is a true pro, and that is just awful. So glad it wasn’t worse. Deep breaths (somehow).
@songbirdmama - I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter! My daughter and I have been to NYC many times recently, and we always stay in the village right near NYU. We have never had any trouble or seen any, aside from comments from homeless people as we walk by, but we’ve also always been together. When my daughter did a summer program at NYU, she felt confident and safe, but she didn’t go out after dark alone. Definitely something to consider, but I think it’s more of an anomaly than a routine occurrence. (And it’s something we have to consider in the big city where we currently live, as well.)
@songbirdmama that is awful! I’m sure it colored her opinion of the school as well. Poor baby, and yes, WHAT a professional. big hugs to you both.
@songbirdmama–We are New Yorkers. In fact, my oldest son (the one in school audition mode) and I just got back from a walk from that very area. I’ll say this: Seventh avenue is where things get a bit sketchy in the west village. 14th and 7th is not a neighborhood where I walk at night or before 9 am in the morning. There are a few unsavory areas over there. Even going a bit east, toward fifth (or a bit south, toward NYU) is a bit safer. That said, one of the most difficult elements of the village at night is packs of drunk young people (sorry–that sounds so judgy!) who do things they may not normally do when they are sober. I know the terrible thing that happened to her definitely could color her idea of Mannes, but I went to school at New School and used to teach there and it is a fun, friendly, safe place (tell her to stick closer to Fifth Avenue and University Place) should she decide on Mannes. (Though it sounds as if she has a lot of fantastic options!) I hope she is feeling better!!
@songbirdmama I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s frightening experience! Sounds like she handled it beautifully, but I hate that she went through it at all. Hugs to you both!