A resident lurker here for several years. Let’s go ahead and start this traditional annual thread to help each other through this process. It helped me so much to read through the information in the previous years and learn as much as I could about the music application process which is a whole different animal from the regular college applications.
My kid is a jazz pianist who will be applying as an undergraduate student during this application cycle. We are in the process of curating our list!
Thanks for starting the thread! I have two auditioning this year. One for undergrad in viola, and one for grad for violin, though he is also exploring some other potential opportunities mostly in Europe.
I think my head may explode by the end of the year.
Such an exciting audition cycle ahead for your family. If anyone has the expertise to manage and have success it is @TooManyViolinists and kids.
Wishing all the best for this year’s cohort!
As far as I know, mine is applying for grad school this cycle. The lovely part of his grad school application process is that there is really no need for parental guidance. It is much less stressful being a very distant cheerleader.
Hello fellow classmates My son will be applying for undergrad viola performance. I’ve also been lurking and occasionally posting for the last few years. Thankful for all the info posted here!!
As the parent of a HS junior, I’m happy to read along and gather advice. I’ll be in the same boat next year with my son who is a cellist. Best of luck to everyone!
My daughter will be applying to some schools for a BM in piano performance, and a handful of others for admission into music business/industry. Prepping for prescreening videos now!
Yeah, it was nice, with Grad school we were just a sounding board if he needed to bounce ideas off of us, but other than that, it was all him. About the only thing that sucked was that some of the grad schools required us to fill out FAFSA, which I dreaded about as much as anything…
What are everyone’s lists looking like so far? We have our state universities, a couple of conservatories and nyc adjacent schools and UNT for jazz so far.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions about IU Jacobs. I’ve had 3 kids attend–2 for voice, 1 for jazz guitar. 2 for the standard BM degree. 1 for the Bachelors of Science with an Outside Field. My youngest is still there–a junior completing her undergrad…
Thank you! He initially thought IU was too large and intimidating, but after spending 4 weeks there this summer, he realized that the music school is a small and relatively self-contained part of the campus. He really connected with one of the grad student instructors and the cello faculty that he worked with. And he’s excited about the idea of five orchestras and getting to play fully-produced operas and ballets. I think his biggest hang up about IU is getting enough merit $$$ to make it affordable and living in Indiana.
My senior will be pursuing a BM in vocal performance.
I am also a lurker who followed the last 2 years of applications. It really helped for better understanding the process and making realistic goals based on our finances.
He is focused on a debt-free undergraduate degree so is applying to our state universities that are generous with academic merit.
Yep. We are instate, and I sometimes have a hang up about living here too–hahahaha. I will say that Bloomington is its own little bubble with a fantastic college-town vibe. And Indy and the airport are less than an hour away. Jacobs is definitely self-contained. Other than a few gen ed classes, a kid rarely has to leave that corner of campus unless they want to. The opportunities are amazing!
We are local to NYC and my son (violist) would ideally prefer to stay in NY or another city in the northeast. So looking at MSM, Mannes, Juilliard, Peabody, maybe NEC or Boston Conservatory, Eastman, Hartt, and a couple of our state schools (Fredonia and Queens College). Money will be a major deciding factor for us. Unfortunately the classical program at SUNY Purchase seems to have diminished, so after touring there it’s off the list.
We are in TX so public options for music are fairly plentiful! We toured UNT’s music school last year, it’s not the fit he is looking for as an undergrad but definitely a place he has on his mind for grad school!
My son will be applying for undergrad viola performance. I’ve also been lurking and occasionally posting for the last few years. Thankful for all the info posted here!!