How Competitive Are Music Schools?

bridgenail
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 19:31:44 +0000

Just a couple more general comments to people in “wait mode” on prescreens and lurkers on school fit - riffing on the comments above:

@thumper1 -taking a “break”, yes, this can be important for some kids. At IU, it was called “being in the Jacob’s bubble”. I’ve heard similar references at other schools. It’s not high school anymore…and college music can be intense. My D loved getting a break from it…even if it was going to a coffee house NOT in the music school area to escape, even for a couple of hours, the constant chatter in the music school.

My D’s favorite college class was a upper level literature class. She felt that it really broaden her perspective and loved the teacher. Again a nice little break from classes primarily with the same people for 4 years (even at one of the “biggest” music schools…they aint that big in the end!).

As @Shellg shows - kids can change their minds during the process. It is very common to enter with one set of assumptions…and come out the other end…changed! So having some variety in your school list is a good thing…just in case your kids tells you in Feb while in a cold rental car after an audition…I don’t think an LAC is right for me…and most schools on her list were LACS. That was a bummer…but it got her to the right choice in the end.