S was at a special 1-day jazz gathering at a local college this week. It was very enjoyable. There were skills spanning a large range that were placed into about 7 combos, and they all played in kind of a random order, which I thought was more interesting that them playing in an increasingly good order. Don’t know why I felt that way.
So, S said that seeing another particular and good bass player there made him realize that being around other good players motivates him, so he noted that a school with lots of good players and a competitive, if friendly, environment might suit him.
S also ran into a fellow jazzer that spends a lot of time around the jazz clubs in Chicago, a S just got a whole dose of updates about the buzz in the area jazz scene. He did learn that he is one of the well-spoken of bassists along with another. He also learned that there is indeed that theorized and until-now-elusive group of off-the-radar jazzers who ignore district, all-state and other school-type events but play at a high level and do quite well in the college admission phase. S will have to explore this more and try to step into the venues and explore new turf.
On the college admission front, still waiting on the Michigan scholarship info. Everything else is stable.
@GoForth I’ve followed this thread because I have a sophomore son who will be going through music admissions in a couple of years. Very helpful!
With regard to appealing financial offers, we’ve been through that with D16, but not in music. I’d agree that if you’re going to appeal, do it with a clear first choice school that you would attend if your needed price is met. My D had a clear first choice, we knew she was a top applicant (finalist for very competitive scholarship), and she had a better financial offer from a different, peer school, a clear second choice. We appealed because it was her first choice, with some financial considerations and the better offer. We were very honest about it. We needed about $7000 more. She was offered a couple thousand more in grants. It was not enough and she went with the second choice. That was that. It is worth it to ask, but it sure is nice to have a good second choice!
Well, high school jazz recognition events (i.e. All-State, Honors, district, etc.) is usually limited to the big band format and I think most serious young jazz musicians don’t put much priority on big band. My son’s high school had a pretty special jazz program, all combo-focused, and none of the kids bothered with All-State and such. They did compete in jazz festivals (as a combo) and my son’s combo won one of the Downbeat awards his senior year. Those mattered a lot more.
I think that depends on the state, and the instrument. Although I agree that rhythm section can be overlooked in the big band format. That’s cool your school put a priority on combos.
I’d be tempted to hold this back until it resolves and can be explained, but that is not the way of the Journal. So, a snail mail packet arrives from Frost with warm welcomes, but has a letter in it saying that a review of the audition by faculty indicates that admission will be for a BFA, not a BM due to the level of the performance not being high enough. Well, OK, maybe any parent could feel their child is always more deserving, but something seems not quite right. We wonder if there was a mix-up in the office. We’ve had enough experience with high school to know things can get confused. So, S wrote back to either (1) re-adjust our perceptions or (2) see if the overall offer/scholarship may have been based on incorrect data.
That does seem odd! Has anything changed in the Admissions portal? Does the portal specify BM vs BFA? Erin package still there for the same amount? Weird. I hope it is resolved in a good way.
Weird. Frost offers a BFA? My D was accepted for a BFA MT to Miami but that’s NOT in Frost. I remember her considering the BFA and BM just like at IU - they are completely different schools within the university. I took a quick look and there’s no Frost BFA listed. The BFA is in arts and sciences and that’s acting, mt etc. Super strange.
Definitely double check - D3 auditioned at one school for a BM and got an acceptance letter for “her audition for a BA” with an invitation to apply for the BM degree due to her audition…so it could be a bureaucratic foulup…
No there’s no BAM. It’s a BA in music. If that is true and he’s serious about Miami you will want to look at the degree course requirements for a BM and BA at Frost. Sometimes they are on the website.
Typically a BA is about 50% music and 50% liberal arts classes. A BM will be about 75% music and 25% liberal arts (mostly time for gen eds only). These are rough figures so you need to check the school. Also you’ll need to check the impact on ensembles etc.
My D did a BS in music (usually called a BA). I think they called it a BS since it was heavier on the music classes and needed to partner with another related and approved arts area. So performance and music were about 75% in the end but a slightly different mix for music/performance classes than a standard BM.
Best to call the school and get more information on their BA - although it does seem odd and could be a mix up.
Most BA programs are 1/4-1/3 music; a few are 1/2. A BS would be more music than a BA. And of course a BM would be 2/3-3/4 music. GoForth, we look forward to hearing this is a mistake. If not a mistake, maybe check to see if there is a possibility of starting with a BA program and transitioning to a BM later.
It says that advisors from other schools at Miami monitor progress, that private lessons are available, but that BA students aren’t required to have recitals.
So I’m confused. This is all very eye opening for me as we start on our senior year path. We leave to visit Frost on Thursday. Your S was accepted to Frost with a 30K scholarship right? That doesn’t sound to me like “level of performance not being enough for a BM”?!? I didn’t even know something like this was possible. I thought either you get in or you don’t. I would be interested to ask some pointed questions about admission during our visit on Friday. Please do keep us updated as you learn more.
It was called Presidential Music Scholarship 2. S’ stats aren’t high enough for a 30K Miami academic award. We don’t know if the 30K was based on the audition appraisal that corresponds with a BM level of performance.
Something is not right. Hope it’s a mistake. Admission to Frost with a scholarship of $30k would not seem to indicate an audition that was less than stellar.