<p>I just realized today that I missed the opportunity to audition for all state choir. I had always thought it was only for public school kids, but in my school inbox today, I realized I had received an email in September about auditioning. The deadline was at the beginning of October. My dad thought it was a big deal that I missed the opportunity. I’m really sad, especially because I’m a sophomore now, and I only have two more years to audition. He said that it would be a good experience, and it would have looked good on my resume. How impressive is all state on a resume though? If I’m not mistaken, I thought I read a thread on here a while ago where someone said all state isn’t that impressive, or it doesn’t matter much, or indicate talent, but I can’t find it. Thoughts? Is it really that great of an experience, or will it look that good on my resume? I’m in the choir at my school, and the auditioned vocal ensemble. I might join church choir, and I’m starting to add a lot more vocal competitions to my schedule. I don’t really like ensemble singing as much as solo anyways, but I love any chance to sing. What did I miss? Should I make sure I take the opportunity next year?</p>
<p>It’s not that big a deal. If your going to be a music major it’s nice but even then… </p>
<p>There are so many opportunities to show interest and committment in music that missing several doesn’t matter much. Music ends up either being a hobby, a job (music teacher), or a profession (with killer talent)… The sooner you understand what category you fall into the easier it will be to decide where to spend your time and energy…</p>
<p>Have fun and if you like to sing… SING</p>
<p>The titled threads:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/504562-all-state-vocal-competition-states-if-any-toughest.html?highlight=all+state[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/504562-all-state-vocal-competition-states-if-any-toughest.html?highlight=all+state</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/861731-texas-all-state.html?highlight=all+state[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/861731-texas-all-state.html?highlight=all+state</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/294700-all-state-chorus-how-important.html?highlight=all+state[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/294700-all-state-chorus-how-important.html?highlight=all+state</a></p>
<p>It can be fun, as camaraderie, another experience, an exposure (or a re-connect) with other peer musicians, or as exposure to some noted clinicians, educators, music directors. As a “resume builder”, it may be one part of the picture. By no means is it mandatory, or in many cases indicative of the level of competition you may encounter at future audition pools.</p>
<p>Let’s try to estimate some numbers. Many if not most states have an all state choir, frequently both a mixed chorus and a women’s chorus because so many more young women apply than young men. These choirs tend to be pretty large - I have seen groups that must have had 200 singers in the mixed group and as many again in the women’s chorus.</p>
<p>If I had to guess, I would say that the number of students nationwide who participate in all state choruses cannot be far short of 10,000 and may indeed be well over that. Now, accounting for the schools that are not eligible to send students, there are probably several thousand more students at that level who could have made it but were not even allowed to apply. The requirement, at least in NJ, is that a teacher from your school must volunteer a certain number of hours in judging auditions or helping with various other jobs needed to run the event in order for the school where they teach to be eligible to send students. If there was nobody from your school to do that, you may not have been eligible even though you were sent an application.</p>
<p>Now consider that the competition to get into all-state is fairly keen in some states but not so great in others. I think you see where I am going with this. Given the large number of students so honored, the uneven nature of the criteria from state to state and year to year, and the uneven nature of the judges from one site to another, all-state is not going to stand out on a resume unless, perhaps, you achieved it in a very competitive state and were chosen for a solo.</p>
<p>Do you have a private voice teacher? If you are interested in a performance major in voice, you will be at quite a disadvantage come audition time if you have not been studying with a good teacher. If you do have a teacher, I recommend you ask them some of the questions concerning whether you should be singing in choirs and competitions and, if so, which ones. Advice from people who have never heard you sing and who have no clear idea of where you are in your vocal development may actually hurt more than they help. If you do not have a teacher, you might consider trying to find one while you still have a couple of years before auditions.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t break a sweat over it, all state in either voice or instrumental music, while it can be/is a great experience, probably has little impact if you decide to go into music. I think having performance opportunities are a great thing, I think you get to meet other kids, experience different pieces of music, and that is valuable, much as is being in an all state ensemble gives you the opportunity to meet other kids, play different repertoire, and experience how different conductors work with groups, and so forth. Plus because they are auditioned they give you experience with the audition process, though at least in the all state choir program I had some experience with, it was done via a submitted recording and recommendation, not live audition, and there is a big difference, could be different in the program you are talking about. BTW I see you mention competitions, even those from everything I have been told and seen have little direct impact on getting into a music program, that while valuable in terms of performing experience and perhaps getting an idea of relative levels of how you stand, even they have little impact on admissions other then if they help bring your level up. </p>
<p>In terms of influence getting into a school of music, I don’t think it is that big a deal. If you are planning to go to a LAC, it would probably be a plus as an EC on a resume, like doing other things that show committment,but it is one of many things you can do. If you are talking conservatory programs (or maybe even music programs in some LAC’s), it probably doesn’t mean much of anything. Fortunately or unfortunately admissions to most high level music programs is based on your audition, the repertoire you are doing and how well you sing it, and that is pretty much it. From what I have heard, including from admissions people at some well regarded programs, things like what orchestra they played in, making all state, etc may only weight in if they have a two candidates to choose from, or a borderline admit, it is the same with things like recommendation letters and such. Caveat, there may be programs, especially in Choral music, that would give this some weight, I know nothing about choral music programs, but in voice and instrumental, I am petty certain that all state or other programs have little weight in admissions. </p>
<p>Plus as BassDad pointed out, the level of all state programs varies, depending on the talent pool in the state, and also quite frankly competing programs. For example, in places where there are high level youth orchestras, like in Chicago and Cleveland, or pre college programs like NEC, Juilliard and so forth, the talent pool for all state might not be as high level as a state where all state is a big deal, where they basically get most of the top level students trying to get in. Even assuming that being in All State weighed in, would they be able to judge if getting in met a particular level of excellence they were looking for?</p>
<p>The most important thing IMO (and not being involved in the vocal world, this is just my impression, so some of the other vocal oriented folks may know better) is if your are seriously thinking of going into music, it would be better to make sure you have as good a teacher as possible (if you have a teacher now who is topnotch, then that may not be an issue) and focus on that, rather then worrying about any specific ensemble or whatever (for the reasons I gave above). I think it is important to get performing experience, to use your voice, but the real focus is getting your singing level to a point that meets the stanards of the admissions committee.</p>
<p>Go for All-State in Jr and Sr years. That solves the issue.<br>
Here, it is quite selective- large, but only talented singers/musicians get accepted. The kids love it and are proud. The concert is super. </p>
<p>Thank Dad for his support and concern, then check your email next year. The fact that you missed a Sept email is more worrisome than only doing A-S twice.</p>
<p>I’m a parent of a Jr and thought the All State designation would be a big deal too. BUT in researching all of this in relation to college…really, it’s a pretty small part. There are tons of vocal kids from our area that get in and yet the top kid in our state two years ago was turned down at AZ state (music dept). Since you are a Soph., I wouldn’t worry and just put it on your computer calendar now for about a month before the deadline next year. My S did apply but I’m not so frantic about it after reading up. If you know you want to pursue music in college, just keep working on what you do in high school and outside of school. You will develop and be ready for auditions when the time comes which is really the most important part of the process.</p>
<p>Really, your dad knows how great you are and wants all the best for you. If you want All State - you have Jr and Sr year to do…no worries. Also, this is a great year to get some practice with organizing your calendar as Jr and Sr years are FULL. If you are planning on doing anything musical over the summer - start setting up some guidelines for yourself (research) and then the application dates.</p>
<p>Squiggles…LOTS of very good singers are turned down by ASU.(and just as many are surprised by the competition at the auditions) They attract the top western vocalists, since they have been producing some strong successful singers lately and they are reasonably priced.
As far as All State goes, we had never even heard of it until we were out on the “audition trail”. It is not quite as popular here (Los Angeles area) since there are so many other opportunities to perform and there are plenty of soloist competitions in the region.</p>
<p>My D attended a high school with a voice prime and none of the kids who graduate from there do anything in all state. They focus completely on solo work. Kids from this school are routinely admitted to top music schools throughout the country and not being involved in all state has no impact. They were thankful for not having to spend so much time on choral work. The most important experience she received was the opportunity to perform solo. Performing in a group does not prepare your for solo performances. She has friends in her music program at college who came there without much solo experience and she felt there was a distinct advantage to having performed in many solo recitals.</p>
<p>Dear ImThinking: I like your name, first of all. Very good. I agree with a lot of the comments here. As a single omission on your resume, missing one year of All State is not that big a deal. On the other hand, since you’ve already started to think about these things, I have to say this: everybody who contributes to this page will tell you that the thing that really gets you into music school is the audition. None of this other stuff matters much with regard to actually getting in. However, if you want to get lots of scholarship money – that’s another story. And there are a lot of scholarship opportunities, not just the big one to get you into music school. For example, my daughter, as a sophomore, won a scholarship from the company where I work. I heard why she won – because she had an extensive resume (all extracurricular activites); because she was actively engaged in her career. If you, as a sophomore, are already thinking as you are about these things, you will find plenty of opportunities to make up for this one omission. Good Luck to You and contragulations on your thinking!</p>