Financial matter is very real, especially in this year for both students / families and music schools. Many schools may have tighten their merit scholarship budget in mid March when they suddenly closed campus (lost revenue). Many schools seem in “emergency mode”.
How happy is she with her in-state choice now? In general, I heard that there are not much talent / merit scholarship money for transfer students but maybe financial aids. I also heard that transfer musicians may end up losing some credits at music school, like a sophomore may need to start as a freshman. Is her in-state most likely going to online classes this fall? Online classes really don’t work well for music performance major. I wonder if she would consider an option to defer at her in-state school (secure her spot), take a gap year and apply more other music schools again for fall 2021. There will be a lot of freshmen who are choosing not to start in fall 2020 due to Coronavirus. This means more traveling for live auditions again but she will improve more by that time. It maybe more competitive next year auditions because I imagine many international musicians may end up taking a gap year this time…You may want to see how this country will move in next 2 weeks and then 2 months (with paying a deposit to her in-state)…Usually, April is the month for students to make a college decision but many students / families need more time at least until July to see what their school’s plan is.
For my daughter’s undergrad, she made the decisions to attend one of our state school’s satellites campuses(Indiana University SB) because money was an issue and she felt she would improve in that studio. She is a vocalist, but got started in classical lessons much later in her teen years that most singers. She felt that she could use the time in a less competitive environment to catch up with her peers before applying to a more prestigious conservatory. Given she was given a nearly full ride between her academic and music scholarships, our thought was there was nothing to lose and we could review that decision after her freshman and/or sophomore year.
But she has done well there, had many performance opportunities in and outside of the university including parts in a professional opera company playing alongside seasoned performers. Because she didn’t have to pay much out of pocket to attend, there was money available for summer programs too.
She is graduating from IUSB in a few weeks and was accepted to several good graduate programs. She will begin pursuing her MM at IU Jacobs in the fall. What we learned in these four years is that the excellence of the studio along with her hard work was what really mattered in getting to the next level.
Agree with the above. That is why I asked about the state school teacher. With a good teacher, summer programs and opportunities to learn from/sing with good upper classmen, grad students or in community programs, a talented singer can make good progress in less selective schools. Voice is particularly slow to develop (compared to most instrumentalists) so doing a less selective UG school followed by a selective grad school is not a bad idea. As long as you have a good teacher and can find opportunities (like explained above), you can save the money for grad school.
Hi all! Anyone else’s child doing the Songbook Academy this summer? Hoping hoping hoping it does not get cancelled! Or - anyone have a student who has done it in the past?
A girl from our HS did it a few years ago and my sophomore just got notice that she was selected. I hate to be pessimistic but do you really think it can go forward? I’m thinking they may try something virtual…
Can any NEC parents recommend where to get flags, banners and the like from the school? I found a t-shirt for my D, but I wanted to decorate more for her upcoming birthday since she is missing graduation and all of the end of year festivities. Tufts has an online store, but my search for NEC merch is coming up empty. Thanks for any ideas!
@coloraturagirl … Just got a Flag AND a banner today from… Not sure where, BUT, I know one of the places had NEC merchandise which also came today. I was looking for one of my son’s friends… trying to get hoodies for his group of friends invited to his home-made graduation ceremonies. He lives in hoodies so even though it’ll likely be hot as heck, he was going to gift them with hoodies at the band banquet, so… Anyhoo… if you haven’t already looked at these places, here’s my list of places I’ve shopped with boxes and stuff that have appeared at my house. I’d go look to see where the flags and banners came from but then my kid would find my hiding place and it would ruin the surprise So… the places I got merchandise from include Amazon (worst selection), Rallyhouse.com , prepsportswear.com (which I’m thinking is where I got the NEC hoodie) fanatics.com and lids.com . One of these places has flags and banners and other cool stuff. Might not have NEC flags but, I DID find an NEC hoodie so worth a shot if you haven’t already looked there.
Thank you @BenniesMom1 - I ordered from redbubble and saw some of those other sites when I was looking for shirts, but will check out the ones I haven’t seen before. Finding apparel was the easy part, but I want to make a birthday/graduation/sorry you missed your final lead show & prom party for her, and I need the merch! Lol- it is now my mission to lift her spirits by focusing on the future. I really appreciate your suggestions!
@coloraturagirl My pleasure. And that’s JUST what I’m doing over here… focusing on the future and immersing ourselves in all things Duquesne. It’s working!! He was slipping into depression over all the things he was missing but now… it’s all about college. He’s found a roommate, even, and they’ve been up playing video games all night and planning out their jam sessions with other music majors, room shopping etc . It’s definitely keeping his mind of things he’s missed and will be missing. I don’t even complain about the staying up all night playing video games since they’re both interested in video game orchestration. Hope you find what you’re looking for and have a GREAT party.
@BenniesMom1 - thanks. The other sites were a no-go. It was really easy to order from Tufts’ bookstore, but NEC is a conservatory and not part of a larger university, so there is not really any “spirit wear” since there are no teams…lol. Oh well, my tenth grader is a wiz on her sewing machine so I will order another t-shirt and have her parlay that into a banner in the next few weeks.
Glad your kiddo found a roommate already! D has to live on the Tufts campus and we can’t wait to fill out those forms and get that ball rolling. I agree with you that anything we can do to get these kids revved up for next year is worth doing
Ohhhhhh @coloraturagirl … you just give me a BRILLIANT idea for what to do with the extra T-shirt I ordered!! THANKS.
My kid actually connected with his roommate on Duq’s Class of 2024 Facebook page. Nothing official yet but lots of matching up going on so when it IS time to be official, they just list each other’s names as who they want to room with. Can’t WAIT to fill out those forms either and be officially official. It’s all been delayed, of course, but looking hopeful (right now) for a Fall Freshman Orientation !! Hotels booked and all… so definitely moved on !! I better get back to crafting party stuff… well, first, “Official Decision Day” stuff. It was scheduled for April 30th at his school so see no reason not to have our own front yard decision day… party of 1, on the same day
@NECJ97 --we have not done Songbook Academy (it’s in MA, right?), but my son studies with its director. She is one of the vocal instructors at my kid’s performing arts school in NYC and she really has helped him in so many ways.
Hey everybody, longtime no see…I have been lurking just not posting. The last third of the journey was very hard on us. The March rejections/waitlists really hurt and the acceptances with smallish scholarship awards were a hard pill to swallow. Fortunately it all worked out…just like everyone said it would. We spent the month of April taking trial lessons, talking to faculty, negotiating and praying. I am happy to say that D committed today to Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. I never expected her to choose to stay so close to home (90 minute drive) and I am thrilled. I am looking forward to seeing her frequently and going to lots of her concerts. This was truly a ‘journey’ for us. I can’t imagine doing this again in 3 years with my younger musician. I am so thankful for this board and all of the help every step of the way. Maybe next year I can be of help to some other parents.
@SweetStrings - A big congrats! All’s well that ends well, right?
Sometimes the parents that can help the most in the future are ones that have faced frustration, disappointment and fear…and still have come out happy. All kids accepted are TALENTED! That’s the good news and the bad news…since there are only so many spots and dollars for talent. I think that’s the hardest pill to swallow. And it doesn’t go away in the real world…so much talent and only so many opportunites that you need to fight for. In the end, it’s up to your kid how they will tackle the future…but along the way they DO get a great education that very few regret. You’ll LOVE being so close. Lucky you!
Congratulations, @SweetStrings! Now you can breath easy for a change. My older D went to college locally, and it was really, really nice to be able to see her more often and attend most of her performances.
@coloraturagirl . Our son attends NEC and their spirit wear is very limited. They do have a store selling music primarily, but we’ve also purchased hoodies from them. Musicespresso.com. Good luck. We love NEC. Hope you will as well.
@SweetStrings May I ask you some questions about Frost? I don’t think I can private message here yet. My daughter is still undecided about college, she also likes Frost the best but Frost hasn’t got back to us about the scholarship.
So… the places I got merchandise from include Amazon (worst selection), 
