<p>Smithanan, one potentially cool thing I just thought of if audition weekend is this weekend. There is a concert at Ground Zero this Friday starting at 7:15. Ground Zero is a coffee shop on campus that they describe as a “Performance Cafe doubling as an awesome performance venue and a deliciously intoxicating coffee and milkshake bar”. There are two bands made up at least in part of popular music students that I think are opening and then two bands that are touring. Son is playing in one of the bands (a funk band which he is not that into) and the other USC student band is more of a rock band. I think the mix of the later bands is similar. Would give your daughter (and you if she’ll let you come) an idea of what some of the popular music performance kids look and play like and also a little insight into the campus life. Not sure if you need a college id to get in or not, but if you are around Friday night and want to go you could check with the Thornton admission folks and get an answer I would think. Ground Zero is not that big of a place and my bet would be the student bands are likely to play 7:15-8:30 or 9. Probably less crowded early. Last year Son and I went Thursday of audition week since we are way out of state and wanted to tour the campus Friday. Went to a more classical performance that Thursday night and that was impressive.</p>
<p>Thanks Raddad, sounds like very good advice, I appreciate it. We heard them speak about ground zero during the open house, that would be worth a look. We are driving down so hopefully can get thru the traffic and rain. Certainly would be more fun than hanging out with mom and dad! Also she could see the music type students as opposed to the frat and sorority students she saw in the spring. Onto break a leg as we say in theatre!</p>
<p>Raddad. Everything went very smoothly-D had time to warm up, Lamont Dozier was on the panel. Wow! She had to make up her own melody on the spot to lyrics they gave her! She was very pleased with how it all went.
We didn’t make it to the cafe-got in pretty late and wanted to make sure she was well rested. We are keeping our fingers crossed and sayin’ our prayers now!</p>
<p>Smithanan, glad to hear everything went well. Son really enjoys exposure to Lamont and they have performed Lamont songs for him last semester and I asked how Lamont responds and he said Lamont pretty much likes whatever they do, but the rest of the profs provide plenty of constructive feedback. I don’t remember son having to come up with a melody to lyrics during the audition but he does that now in the class he is taking with Jason Robert Brown and that is something he is good at and maybe only a few others in the class are so if your daughter did that well that is a good sign. I do remember son feeling good coming out of the audition, but these folks are so nice and focused on the kids being comfortable at the audition that I wasn’t ever sure if everybody felt good coming out. I can only say if your daughter felt good, she should feel pleased that she gave it her best shot. That is reason for optimism because she can read the people in the room and how they responded. Best wishes and keep us posted :)</p>
<p>Berklee auditions for admissions and scholarship at the same time, during the live audition. We auditioned in Miami and they had a team of about three who did the musical part and one person who then interviewed in another room. Berklee also has a 12week, 12 credit summer program which you might go for if you were accepted in the spring, to get a head start on fall. But it’s not much cheaper, just shorter.</p>