<p>I usually just sit back and let other parents ask the important questions. Unfortunately, it was impossible to have a good question and answer session with so many auditions for different degrees at the same time.I did ask how many auditions they were holding, and they said they had 1200 prescreens and cut that to 500-600 in person auditions. </p>
<p>It was rather jam packed. I don’t know how they sit through so many auditions and then are able to make the decisions. It is just mind boggling!</p>
<p>University of Michigan Audition
Fortunately we dropped off S BEFORE going to park the car (slushy sidewalks), because while the audition email said “arrive before 9:00”, they actually started the presentation by current MT students well before 9:00. Students had wonderful things to say about their program - especially about feeling like a family, one that sticks with you for life. Mr. Wagner also talked about how the faculty is connected with their graduates WELL beyond the time the students spend in the program. He emphasized that UM is a program that not only builds a student’s MT - for that INDIVIDUAL - but because of its incorporation in a fantastic university setting provides much more than Arts training. As a parent, I loved this philosophy.</p>
<p>Looks like approximately 80 kids are here today, with significant number of boys. Dance call split into 2 groups because of size. S is in10:30 call, second group at 11:30. Auditionees assigned individual monologue times separate from singing times throughout the afternoon. Mr. Wagner said no notifications have gone out yet, will wait until all auditions are done on February 14. Notifications should go out by end of February.</p>
<p>Here’s to more waiting. . .</p>
<p>mom4bwayboy - just be aware - both Friday’s so far - the singing room has run WAYYY behind schedule. Mr. Wagner told us last Friday that they had made significant changes to the schedule (we got new times) to try not to get as far behind as the week before - but it didn’t seem to help much. My D was scheduled to sing at 4:30 and didn’t finish until 5:30. Similar size group and mix last week. D LOVED the UMich dance call. Said it was the most fun combination yet. Last week they indicated decisions wouldn’t be out until mid-March. </p>
<p>Kategrizz - thanks for heads up on timing. Fortunately S is scheduled at 1:00, so hopefully won’t be too far behind at that time. S just broke for lunch. He also liked the dance call, nice and “jazzy”. They were also asked if they were “advanced” tappers. Those who said “yes”, stayed to “tap” in jazz shoes and were gradually “cut” as requested skills got more difficult.</p>
<p>Yep - My D loved that part of the dance call as well - as it allowed her to show off her strongest dance style… tap!</p>
<p>S’s 1:00 audition did indeed run half hour behind. Then he came out of the audition room only to find that his overcoat had been taken. Very frustrating since parents had been specifically instructed to stay away from the music building. If only we had been doing our usual Sherpa duties. . . At least it wasn’t an expensive musical instrument. Anyway, S was happy with audition. Now on to I.U.</p>
<p>Mom4bwayboy… Small world. We will be at IU tomorrow too! (Tucked into a hotel room now!). Sorry to hear about your sons coat. We weren’t told to stay away from Moore… Just to stay out of the audition hallway… So I staked out some benches on the other side of the building. </p>
<p>Kategrizz - BOL to your daughter at I.U. At least the weather is cooperating for once - especially for “men without coats” : )</p>
<p>OK, so this is a combination vent and audition day review. My wife and daughter made the snowy drive into Chicago today so that she could make her audition for Emerson. That’s an extra night in a hotel and everything that goes with it, just to make one audition. I’d like to say that it was worth it, but I’m sorry to say that this was not the case.</p>
<p>The words that I would like to use are not appropriate for CC, so I will temper my comments. </p>
<p>The MT director for Emerson is apparently a bitter little man who delights in crushing the dreams of potential MT students. It started with the info session, where he stated that didn’t agree with the elimination of the cut program by Emerson because “some kids just don’t belong in MT.” </p>
<p>The girl who went in before my D came out in tears! He had told her that her song choices were terrible and she didn’t belong in MT.</p>
<p>He then proceeded to tell my D that her monologue and song choices were too dark for a 17 year old. He feels that teenagers should stick to bright, cheery pieces. Apparently he never watches the news. At least he didn’t tell her that she didn’t belong in MT! He kept telling her “I’m a truther”, which is a jerk’s way of justifying being rude to someone. Anytime someone says “I’m just keepin’ it real” you know that you are NOT about to hear a compliment.</p>
<p>Fortunately this was not my D’s first audition. Her four previous experiences were great - supportive, cheerful, fun, professional - everything that you’d want in a college MT program for your kid.</p>
<p>It’s also fortunate that my D is an incredibly strong, self-assured kid. A weasel like this would never be able to get her down.</p>
<p>Fear, intimidation, and harsh criticism are the least productive methods of training people. If this is the culture that exists at Emerson, then thanks for letting us know now before you wasted any more of our time and money.</p>
<p>I’m sure that there are students who are happy at Emerson, and kids who had much better audition experiences. Maybe he was having a bad day and decided to take it out on the kids. All that I can offer is our experience. </p>
<p>Sorry to be so direct in this post, and I hope that I don’t violate the spirit of decorum that we all enjoy on CC. </p>
<p>I’m just keepin’ it real.</p>
<p>I appreciate the honestly input cheesehead, not all reviews have to be glowing. It is what it is.</p>
<p>Exactly. The kids all know not to expect much feedback at the auditions. How hard would it have been to simply say “thanks for auditioning, we appreciate that you considered our school.”? </p>
<p>Just because a kid isn’t a good fit for one school’s program doesn’t mean that they won’t be an excellent fit somewhere else. </p>
<p>And to give praise where it is due, my D had excellent experiences at Elon, Belmont, Florida State, and Catawba.</p>
<p>Yes thanks for the update cheeseheadmike. There were a couple schools we went to where we never met an adult or faculty member on the tour; the tours were all student led. This approach makes me nervous, as I would like to meet at least one faculty member to be sure I feel good about them. Emerson was one of the schools with no adults in the tour/info session.
Sorry this happened to your D and I hope the rest of the week is heaps better!</p>
<p>Otterbein</p>
<p>Some of this will also be posted in the “Schools that surprised you thread”</p>
<p>I honestly can not think of enough positive things to say about today’s audition experience and this program. I will advise every younger MT friend my S has to check this school out. Tomorrow at the parent meeting for the teenage performing arts group my S is in I will talk to the directors so that they can research and direct future kids in Otterbein’s direction.</p>
<p>My S loved today from start to finish. First the area is something that should be on a postcard. Such a quaint college town, cool shops on main street, tons of restaurants within an easy walk from the University. A short drive to a large shopping district and 15 minutes from downtown Columbus. If you are looking for a large university this may not be for you but we loved loved it. Not sure what kind of fitness regimen these kids are on but they are constantly jogging around in their Otterbein hoodies…I feel like its some sort of requirement this jogging they all do LOL</p>
<p>Day started at 8AM with check in. You turn in your resume, headshot and music when you check in. Everyone completes a short form. Dance call was at 8:30. My S applied for MT with a concentration in dance, which is just basically he is placed in advanced dance from the start. He said it was the first dance call he felt challenged in and he loved it. He came out panting and searching for his water bottle, that was a first lol He told me he has no idea how anyone that hasn’t had any dance training would make it through that dance call. I wouldn’t let that scare anyone away I have no idea how highly dance is weighed. There were 28 auditioning today, fairly even split between male and female. They were broken into 2 groups. Group A auditioned at 9:45 and had their music theory evaluation at 11:00. My S was in group B he had his music theory evaluation at 10 and audition at 11. Everyone in the group goes into the auditorium together so they watch each other audition. Then they get a lunch break and the meetings with Dr John and faculty begin. </p>
<p>Dr John is such a warm, welcoming and talented guy. All the kids I spoke to said this was their best audition experience by far. Dr John spoke to many parents individually before the parent meeting. He is also funny. He said they don’t room all MTs/Theatre kids together because MTs/Theatre kids are incestuous, they hang together, they only talk to each other etc and “if they expect to play regular human beings on the stage, they are going to have to know a few regular human beings” I cracked up!</p>
<p>The day ends with a meeting with Dr John and forgive me for forgetting their names but 2 other faculty members were there. I think its an incredible thing they do at Otterbein, these meetings. They gave my S feedback on his audition, talked about his resume and then had him sing a song from his book. Dr John gave him a few techniques, S sang it again and they discussed it. My S was very nervous going in but came out glowing and so glad one of his friends referred him to Otterbein.</p>
<p>We are trying not to love it too much…they are very selective and its a long shot. But I would encourage all future students to check it out and try. The 9 week internship at a casting agency the Senior year has to be invaluable.</p>
<p>Thanks for keepin it real! It helps for our kids to know what they may encounter positive OR negative!</p>
<p>Indiana University</p>
<p>Another terrific midwestern program, based on what we heard from faculty and current students today. It’s fairly new as a BFA program (2007), but they’ve been turning out heavy hitters in the business for decades from their drama department with concentrations in MT. The faculty couldn’t say enough about what a pleasure it is to be working with each other, and how much they cared about the students and preparing each of them to be the best ARTIST he/she could be. They also emphasized the importance of a diverse liberal arts education in creating well-rounded artists and the opportunities for minors, certificates, independent study seems to be limited only by students’ imaginations - and time. They audition about 120 kids for 10-14 spots, for a total of 40-45 in the program, and do not believe in the “cut” system. Students are reviewed yearly, basically to see what they need to be working on in the year(s) ahead and the current students said this was actually something they looked forward to. The ENTHUSIASTIC current students could not say enough positive things about their program. They obviously loved the nurturing environment and the faculty. The MT program is growing and the contemporary dance department has been newly incorporated into the MT program just this year. A new faculty member will be added for next year and the students were thrilled with how much input they had in decision making - even in hiring new faculty.</p>
<p>The audition day went as expected. Parents met with faculty (briefly) before they went off for dance and acting call and then spent time questioning and touring with current students while auditionees did dance call and acting class. S said all was fun and being a guy didn’t have many details to illuminate. ; ) There was a lunch break and individual auditions started at 1:00. S’s was at 2:20 and started pretty much on time. He was given the choice of order for songs and monologue - which he likes - and was asked a few questions “Why I.U?” and “What strength do you bring to MT?” and then it was over. They will not make decisions until everyone has auditioned and we should hear results in mid - late March. Five down, three more to go. . .</p>
<p>MTMajorCook, great audition review, and I just want to say that the kids you saw jogging on campus were NOT performance major freshmen! 
The schedule is packed in the first year, and my son says it’s impossible to go running or get to the gym (although the daily 8:00 a.m. dance class at least ensures exercise!). He told me that the schedule loosens up after first year, though. So glad you guys had a good experience! </p>
<p>Marymount Manhattan</p>
<p>Loooong day. They split us into groups depending on our last name. Dance call was really, really fast, it was really clear that they were looking at personality way more than who was remembering the steps. Then we went on to our monologue/song auditions which were in a small classroom, they warmed us up as a group (which was sooo nice, that hasn’t happened at any other auditions I’ve been to) and we did our songs first, in alphabetical order. They told the girls to do their legit pieces and the belt would be heard if needed. I was third to go, I sang my legit and they gave me no adjustments or requests for my other piece, they just said thank you and moved on. Nearly everyone else they gave adjustments to or asked for the other piece, though…so I’m taking that as being either a really good thing or a really bad thing, haha. The monologue auditions began after everyone had sang, we went in alphabetical order again. I was tired at this point in the day and so my piece could have been better, but once again, no adjustments, but they worked with nearly everyone else. I’m going to try not to read into it that much. I had to skip out a little early to catch my bus at 6:30 (audition was supposed to end by 6, but they went over).</p>
<p>It was interesting seeing everyone else’s auditions (since Marymount does their auditions like a group class). There was a lot of questionable material choices…such as Think of Me, Glitter and Be Gay, difficult Sondheim songs, and lots of Emily monologues from Our Town. Outfits were pretty varied, some pants for girls, a couple bowties on guys, some people looked really unique and comfortable. Anyway, overall it was a LONG, tiring, but fun day. They said we’d hear in 2-3 weeks.</p>
<p>Cheesehead mike, thanks for that. I agree. Just say no, there is no need to crush dreams.</p>
<p>Agreed. Sorry to hear your daughter had such a bad experience.</p>