We purchased a tripod for around $30 
Sometimes you just have to get those videos done and sent in!! @stringbird, we have friends whose moms literally filmed their kids with an iphone in a not-super-tidy room or school hallway and their kids got into their summer programs of choice (the kids sounded really good–but the videos were super unprofessional!). We did something similar last year (though we filmed in a church choir room) for my son’s BUTI and Oberlin Vocal Academy summer videos. It was fine and he got into both programs, but like you, we upgraded for his precent college prescreens.
@stringbird, Most of college prescreening videos require piano accompaniment. IMO that it is best to ask a professional when you are recording for college prescreening videos, considering the volume adjustment of the viola and piano accompaniment. Good luck with your D’s summer camp auditions! All sounds great summer camps for your D!!
Ha! I was reading through this thread, and thought, Kinhaven would be perfect for this young woman transitioning to viola. I sent a message to the mom. And then the very next entry was Pirate Queen recommending it! Funny.
An update - we’ve heard back from BUTI (rejected) and Interlochen (accepted). My daughter was pretty excited about the acceptance! Interlochen gave us until March 2 to put a deposit down so I’m hoping we will hear back from Brevard before then. We did end up getting the Brevard application off on time, and my daughter was right to re-record - the second set of recordings was definitely better playing. (I’m really impressed with how quickly her sound is developing with this new teacher!) We have decided not to apply for EMF after all, as my daughter came to realize she would prefer Brevard or Interlochen over EMF for the camp experience.
I’m selfishly rooting for Brevard. It’s closer to home so if she gets in there, we’d be able to come to at least a few of her concerts. Interlochen is quite a hike from us. There’s a pretty big cost difference too, even before you factor in travel costs.
That’s amazing news, @stringbird, thanks for the update! Fingers crossed on Brevard as well!
My D (HS Senior, violin) heard back from Interlochen and was accepted, which is great news. ? But (as @stringbird mentioned) they require a commitment and deposit by March 2, which is way before she expects to hear back from Meadowmount (around March 20 according to their website). Has anyone else navigated through this kind of situation before? Any advice / ideas?
^^^ If she hasn’t heard from Meadowmount before the Interlochen deadline, call Interlochen and ask for an extension. We have not had specific experience with Interlochen in this regard, but have had the situation with other festivals where we were granted an extension.
I don’t know what Interlochen will say, but they run up against this all the time. It won’t be an unusual dilemma to them. Maybe others will have specific experience with Interlochen’s policies to relate to you. Good luck!!
@IronCitEE : This wasn’t with MM/IL, but with MM/Aspen, I’ve had to do both call one and ask for an extension, and call the other for an early result. At Meadowmount the professor/studio your child applied to will likely have reviewed the audition tapes by end of February, and decisions will be made around first week of March. So its quite possible that they may have a result. Aspen gave us a few days, not close to 18 days that MM seems to need past the IL deadline.
Any insights into your experiences at Interlochen (Instrument Institute/Summer Orchestra Camp), Brevard summer camp, and Curtis Institute 3-week summer program for musical growth as a 9th grade high school woodwinds player interested in a music career/major?
Thank you, @Musicaspirant and @gram22. Good to know that there may be some flexibility as far as asking Interlochen for an extension and/or asking Meadowmount for an earlier decision.
@midwestmom2020 I’ll send you a PM regarding our experience at Interlochen. Happy to spread the word! ?
@IronCitEE, the best way to reach Mary at Meadowmount is by email. She’s usually quite quick to respond and very friendly.
As to asking Interlochen for an extension, they hear that all the time. You have nothing to lose by calling.
@MidwestMom2020, my string player did Brevard for 2 years. Absolutely loved it. For high school strings, it’s a mid-range camp on skill level (my opinion only). Great for 9th grade. Couldn’t say on clarinet.
I have a question about Interlochen orchestra program for string players. How does placement work? On their website I’m reading that they audition for placement into either WYSO or the Philharmonic upon arrival, but I have also heard that they re-seat everyone periodically based on “challenges”. How does this work? Is this re-seating contained within each orchestra, or do students bump up and down between orchestras?
We’ve not been to Interlochen but our viola friend went two years. She says initial placement auditions are day of check-in. Reseating is every 2 or 3 weeks. Kids have been moved into different orchestras based on audition. Last year auditions were at arrival and week 3. Previous years was every 2 weeks.
Thank you @tableforsix. For the auditions once they arrive at Interlochen, does anyone know what they are required to play? Is it same as original application?
According to my friend, if they’re high school, they could be tested on any of the first week of repertoire for the WYSO. I do know they loved it there!
@lsa999 If I remember correctly, there is rep posted following acceptance that students prepare for auditions once they arrive at Interlochen.
@tableforsix Thank you for the information regarding Brevard!
What is a typical day like for students at Brevard? I know Interlochen indicates that there is about 3 hours of rehearsal for orchestra, 2 hours for chamber music, an optional elective, as well as a weekly private lesson. Brevard mentions there are additional educational opportunities for the high school students. Is that time scheduled, or is it up to the student to decide what they want to attend?
Do you know how many concerts Brevard has? Is there one each week, for example?
How rustic are the accommodations? I believe I read that they have air conditioning. Was your child able to get a reasonable amount of sleep each night?
Thanks everyone! That is really interesting that they let people move up and down the orchestras.
It took some hunting, but I can confirm that on the Interlochen website https://camp.interlochen.org/program/music/hs/orchestra-wind-symphony under “Audition Requirements” there is a section called “When you arrive at Camp” with a (not-yet-live) link to view audition repertoire for the first audition.