<p>Hi, I'm new to the forum here. I am planning on auditioning this fall/spring for entry into college in Fall 2009 as a jazz studies major (drums).</p>
<p>When is a good time to register for audition dates? I am applying to about 8 schools, most of which require live auditions. Also, is it a good idea to do the 2nd (out of 3) audition date for my dream school, or should I just do their 1st audition date? Thanks!</p>
<p>There is no "best time".</p>
<p>The procedure for auditions is very school specific. I'd suggest pinning down those you intend to audition for, and check the parameters on each school's website.</p>
<p>Some schools allow you to schedule pre-application, some schedule with application, some after receipt of app, and some have a prescreening involved; passing the prescreen cuts allow you to register for an audition slot.</p>
<p>There's plenty of very useful advice here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html</a></p>
<p>Some schools have a November or early December audition date, and you know if you're in by Christmas. Many people will try to do at least one of these early auditions, just to have the experience, and potentially a "yes" early in the process.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>For all but one of my son's schools, we didn't choose dates; the schools told him when he was expected to be there (there is usually one set day for each instrument in jazz, with only a bit of overlap), and this was after first passing pre-screenings. There was only one school where he could select the audition date.</p>
<p>If you can choose the dates, be sure to lay them all out on a large wall calendar and consider the amount of travel and exhaustion (as well as very unpredictable weather, if you are coming to the midwest or northeast). We had one week with four auditions and a thousand miles of driving, and I know people who did that multiple weeks in a row. Some people are hardier than others, but I was really exhausted at the end of that week, and I wasn't the auditioner.</p>
<p>The only real reason to go early IMO is if you are completely ready (some people really benefit from extra practice time that a month or two provides for the later date), and/or if they will give you a response early (like the Oberlin early review, or the first audition date for UMich).</p>
<p>My son badly needed as much time as possible to prepare his audition pieces. He scheduled the schools he cared about the most last and got into all of them - probably would not have if he had done them earlier. We did the consecutive weekend thing. We had scheduled two in the same weekend, but he ended up cancelling one of them. I can't imagine doing what Allmusic did! We never would have survived, but it really depends upon your stamina and everyone has a different rhythm. My son does best if he is really composed before an important performance. If he's frantic, he plays frantically! We went to all the cities where there might be snow early on the day before the audition to avoid missing it if there were airport/highway delays. This was Bassdad's very sage advice. I do suggest reading his thread on the process. It is like a roadmap for planning and executing an audition season and it really does work very well. </p>
<p>Very good luck to you!</p>
<p>When I went to audition for colleges last year, I made the audition for my safety school in December and the rest in February. I didn't want to go to that school anyway, so it was good practice for my more "serious" auditions. I would definitely recommend doing things that way, though. It made me much calmer than if I had headed into my top choice audition with no experience.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate all of your advice!</p>
<p>Re: First audition date at U Michigan: - do they promise to respond with a decision early?</p>