So, my son tells me that pretty much everyone he knows in various music schools across the country all say that there’s a shortage of jazz bassists – I hope that means great outcomes for your son! And the bassist from his high school combo is a member of an up-and-coming rock band that has a song in the Billboard top 20. Seems like a good time for good bassists.
@ScreenName48105 - this note should also serve as a calibration note, that S’ experiences and results would need to be considered by future readers as coming from a time period of shortage.
For the one distant audition my son did when applying to undergrad he borrowed a bass. He brought his bow but he borrowed a bass. Learning to play on other basses is a good skill to have because honestly it is next to impossible to fly with a bass. Even Edgar Meyer has had problems. Our son went to the Panama Jazz festival last year and will go again this year and he plans on borrowing a bass.
As for the rumor that there is a shortage of bass players…there is some truth to that when you look at the situation nationally. But when you look at cities with top music programs (For example Boston and NY) and you look at the programs in those cities there is quite a lot of competition for Bass spots and plenty of Bass players competing for gigs.
This is a great thread and hope no one minds me jumping in. My D is a vocalist, jazz voice and singer/songwriter. She is a HS junior and absolutely wants to study music in college. Berklee is her top choice along with NYU/Clive Davis but that price tag is prohibitive given they offer pretty much zero in merit based scholarships. @GoForth I saw that your S has applied to Grammy camp jazz. So has my D along with National YoungArts. I hope we both hear good news!! Has your S auditioned for this before or NYA? We are in Michigan (at Michigan State actually) but of course our D wants nothing to do with school here…argh! Why would she when we get a tuition discount here??? (insert sarcastic tone…) I want her to check out Frost as well. We need some good backup schools in case she either doesn’t get into Berklee or gets in but with no merit $$ so if you or anyone have some suggestions on other schools I’d be grateful.
Keep us posted on audition results as you hear! Best of luck to your S!
When you have a Bassist in the family you get used to flying with a bass. Yes, it entails investing in yet another piece of expensive bass paraphernalia (a flight case) to make it less worrisome. Also, sticking with SW airlines has worked for us. They aren’t stressed about the bass and seem to treat it well. We haven’t had problems yet (running to knock on wood). It becomes part of the routine. Daunting, but easier with each trip for sure.
momsings I am surprised you have not had trouble flying with a bass. Even Edgar Meyer has written about the challenges of traveling with a Bass. Do you buy your Bass a seat? Has the airline made you unpack the Bass when you go through security (which could put the bass at risk during the flight). What type of Bass does your child own? Have you had to travel internationally with it. Just curious. As I mentioned our son has solved the problem by becoming comfortable playing on a variety of basses, just as pianist get comfortable playing on a variety of pianos.
I, too, have heard Southwest is very instrument friendly. Unfortunately, where we live we usually have to fly American. American Airlines is just awful when flying with guitars. I can’t imagine how they would react with a bass. Last time I flew with my son, the man at the gate actually ripped a guitar from my hands and told me I was not bringing it on the airplane and that he would keep it until everyone boarded the plane. I was not having it! He put a tag on it and took it down and sat it on the steps outside of the airplane. Fortunately, a flight attendant saw how nasty this man was and went and got the guitar and we were able to put it in overhead on the plane. So even flying with a guitar that fits perfectly in an overhead bin is a pain!!! I wish we could fly Soutwest!
One of S’ instructors flew a bass case that they put upside down (bridge down) on the conveyor belt from the airplane, and it fell off the belt, landing scroll first, breaking the case and the bass.
Yes, there are definitely horror stories for basses. We’ve not yet flown internationally. At some airports they allow you to be present when TSA opens the flight case and goes through it. Others do not. Inside the flight case we put a note to TSA to make sure they fasten all the straps around the Bass and that they are pulled tight. I know we have been extremely fortunate. The Bass flies as oversized luggage. The case is 7 feet tall and could never fit in a seat… On SW, you pay $75 each way for it to fly. @StacJip, S has a Laborie with an extension.
I would definitely say you have been LUCKY. All it takes is one mistake by a frazzled TSA agent or a bumpy flight where the bass was not quite secured right and you could have quite a mess on your hands. I am glad it has worked out for you so far and I hope Southwest continues to be so dependable. My son has not had to fly that often as part of being a musician. I am not sure my son would be willing to take that risk. But as I said he has become comfortable playing other basses. Everyone has to figure out what works. My son’s teacher had a traveling bass he used, but that was also because the company that made the traveling bass sponsored him. My son never liked the sound of it though.
Sounds like a good paper for a business class- the bass sharing network. Delivered to your local destination. Quality levels - serial-numbered units with user feedback database.
The auto-calculator for UNT has been updated for 2017. The top Excellence award of $8,000 had its ACT threshold moved up from 29 last year to 31 this year. That puts S in the $6,000 zone. That will have to do for now.
A specific scholarship offer came to S from UNT. It says $5000 for 2 years, a level III-2 scholarship. I read that as 5000 each year for 2 years, BTW. It is ready for him to press “Accept”. We are a bit confused and will have to follow up with the school. Does accepting now become some kind of event where he should drop all other application to other colleges (eventhough acceptance to School of Music is not completed), thus being something that should be pushed off til the normal offer/acceptance season. Or, does delaying this particular “accept” allow the money pool to evaporate, and this is just sort of an intermediate level of “accepting”.
@GoForth, definitely have your son contact the admissions department at UNT for clarification.Personally, I don’t think it will hurt anything to accept the scholarship now, unless there is an early decision binding contract. Have they given some sort of deadline in which to accept the scholarship? If they haven’t, the money will be there whenever you decide to accept.
Most likely, upon clicking Accept, it will redirect you to a payment page where they will ask for a deposit. The scholarship money should be there for you until your son’s decision is made. Of course, you should double check with school but this is how most schools operate.
Yep, call the school and clarify.
Why is it a 2 year merit offer?
Hi, all. A letter has been drafted to ask for clarification on these points. @ClarinetDad16 - I did ask if the 2 years should be viewed as basically “positive” or “limiting”. Such as, is it good that the second year is automatically in place already (each year requires a re-application anyway), or does it mean that years 3 and 4 are right out.
We’re pretty happy about it since latest numbers indicate that room is $5,300, Full food plan is $3,600, and in-state tuition/fees seems to be around $10,000 (all per year), before scholarship.
The answer just came back. The “accept” would be non-binding. After the 2 years, it would not be there anymore, but subsequent scholarships (not the Excellence Scholarship) could be available in ensuing years.
If you asked and they promised a traditional four year renewable offer, would you accept (binding)?