Audition Information

<p>My s has his syracuse audition in syracuse in 2 weeks. I pray there s not a snow storm! Its interesting, sometimes you are asked to do extra things, improv or take direction or asked questions about your resume,, Is there any sense that if you are asked to do anything at all that that is a "sign" that they would not take time to talk to you or ask you to do something different if they were not intereted. From those who have been excepted all ready was that the case?? did the adjudicators talk to you, have you sing your songs different, improv etc???</p>

<p>MTWannabe, I cannot answer from the perspective of a parent of a child who is already accepted and it will be interesting to hear the responses you get from those having already been accepted. I think you raise an interesting question, though I think when it comes to auditioning (not just for colleges but in general), you can find yourself over analyzing "what does this mean?" and so on and so forth. And I am not sure if ya really can make sense from it because certain things can be viewed in both positive and negative lights. For instance, sometimes in auditions, they don't need to see very much because they can tell they want you right off. On the other hand, your analysis above also makes logistical sense regarding why bother asking someone to do all these "extra" things if they had no interest in the person. But you can drive yourself nuts analyzing what happens in an audition room, at least from my experience though it is very natural to do so. Your logic above actually makes sense to me too but who knows if it really means anything or not. </p>

<p>So far, we have only gone to one college audition. My child got to sing both songs and that school only had one monologue. She was asked to do one of her songs a totally different way and also do her monologue with a completely different take on the character. So, according to your logic (which I think makes sense), you might think she might have gotten in. Right now, she is accepted to that school but is on a deferred pile to find out if she got into the BFA program until all the auditions are complete. I guess this is positive but it is not like she is totally in either. So, I am not sure any of those things in the audition could be "read into". But maybe if those who have admitted kids share what their experiences were like, a trend might appear. My gut feeling is that anything can happen in an audition room and some things that can be viewed in a positive light, can also be perceived as not positive and vice versa. </p>

<p>I can think of an example at our high school. You might think getting a callback is a positive thing and then if you don't, well, then you aren't cast, right? Here, you can be cast as the lead (my child was last year) and NOT be called back. If they can already tell if they want you from one round of auditions, they do not need to see you again. Those who were called back did not all get parts. Often it is the other way around. </p>

<p>By the way, we also will be at the Syracuse auditions in two weeks and maybe we will meet. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>MTWanabe - I agree with Susan. Actually at the Syracuse audition, the woman in charge said not to read anything into anything. The one young lady who helped with the organizational end of the audition had been an MT graduate of two years prior. The woman explained that when that girl auditioned, they didn't let her finish even her first song. She assumed that she did not get in. Quite the contrary, they didn't need to hear any more. So, while I guess it's definitely good if they ask you to show them, for instance, your hip hop moves or maybe sing a song a different way, you just never know until that envelope comes in the mail! Good luck. Hopefully all this information re. auditions will help somewhat calm your nerves. At least you're going into it with a little more information than you would have otherwise known.</p>

<p>mtwanabe - At our Syracuse auditions in L.A. they specifically said "do not read anything into whether we ask you to do a piece differently or over again...that it means nothing."</p>

<p>
[quote]
You might think getting a callback is a positive thing and then if you don't, well, then you aren't cast, right? Here, you can be cast as the lead (my child was last year) and NOT be called back. If they can already tell if they want you from one round of auditions, they do not need to see you again. Those who were called back did not all get parts. Often it is the other way around.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is definitely one of the biggest assumptions most people make. And is it ever difficult to explain to some people.</p>

<p>Thanks!! i guess we all look for something to hang onto while we wait for that envelope. My s auditoned at Ithaca early Dec. not for ED. Although it is rolling we have not heard a thing.. We were told there are 3 piles. 1 definate, 1 NO and 1 maybe and that is when they wait until all auditons are done so rolling admissions can be a misnomer in this college auditioning experince!! yet we still go tho the mail everyday anxious. SIGH!!! sometimes i think I am more neurotic about this then my S.</p>

<p>MTwannabe - Could you discuss what the Ithaca audition was like? Was it friendly or stuffy? Anything that would help the rest of us relax a tad bit....My D's auditioning on 1/29 in Ithaca. My S and I have a Mother/Son dinner the night before, so when that ends, we have to drive about 4 or so hours to Ithaca! I'm definitely not looking forward to driving at 11:00 p.m. to a strange area.</p>

<p>Lynn, Just to let you know (it is hard to keep everyone's plans straight!), we will be at the Ithaca audition on Jan. 29 too, following the Syracuse one the previous day (thus we will just have an hour to travel that night). The trip out there is long though and the way all these auditions are in the middle of winter just adds to the whole thing. I hope to meet up with you again. </p>

<p>I hear ya on splitting the time between your kids' events. My life has been like that for 18 years and there were always conflicts. Now, even though my oldest is a college freshman, I am having schedule conflicts. All of her college ski races are every weekend in the next seven weeks or so and we would like to go see them as we live in New England and they are in surrounding states, but on my end, I have to go to the younger one's college auditions every other weekend during this same time period. I just got an email list from parents on her college ski team of everyone going to all the races (kinda nice, just like back in high school) but I have to go to college auditions. I am going to go travel to the other kid's ski races in between all the audition trips. So, well, I'll see ya on the road!</p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>Susan - It's insane...these schedules! I looked on my calendar yesterday and said "Only 7 1/2 more weeks for these auditions to be over". And, like you said, let's pray the weather won't be another factor we have to worry about on top of everything else. I'm a single parent, and usually I can handle all the tug of wars with my time, but this winter is going to be tough. Fortunately my S isn't involved in basketball this year, or I'd really be in big trouble. Now I just usually have to find a friend to leave him with while we take all these weekend trips. He can't be bothered to come on most of the trips with us (he's a h.s. Freshman and would rather stay around home and "hang out" with his friends.). I'm glad to hear you'll be at Ithaca. It's always nice to meet up with people from C.C.</p>

<p>Regarding Syracuse, etc
I may be able to clear up some of the concerns about the Syracuse auditions.
My d auditioned at Syracuse last year and had similar experiences. She felt she had one of her best auditions but did not get very positive feedback. Many of her theater friends also auditioned there. Each had a different story to tell because there are usually three different set of faculty doing the auditions. The one who my daughter and another friend had was very stone-faced and seemed anxoius to move things along. Others had a woman who asked all of them to rework one of their songs, a third was all smiles and encouraging to her group of students. In the end we know people from each set that got accepted and denied. The auditions at the school itself are well-attended and often all three judges are working. The dance call is also divided up by two instructors. The one who approaches dance more classically and often looks you over is also the one my daughter had. While the other taught more of an up-beat latin combination. Unfortunately you do not get to pick your instructor.</p>

<p>In the spring we visited the school at an open house for accepted students.
It was a fabulous experience compared to the audition. The head of the program is one of the most interesting people I have ever spoken with. The acting class my d sat in on was outstanding. We saw "Chicago" performed and again it was exceptional. The music school where they study voice and piano was impressive. They have courses in their curriculum that you will not find anywhere else and they are the only university mt program with an equity theater in the building. Even the weather was improved! (this is definitely the biggest negative). While there we were told that based on scores at the audition there were 58 sent over to admissions with top scores. From that they offer about 45 admisssion to get 25 in mt. It is those 45 that are determined by administration regarding grades, essays and resume. </p>

<p>We thought it strange at first that they would have 3 different people with 3 different approaches auditioning, yet it probably adds to the diversity of the students accepted. At least these are the instructors that will be teaching in the program. At NYU there is a similar situation with a variety of instructors auditioning - however majority of them are not the teachers the students will have. These were the only 2 schools that we know of that auditions this way. </p>

<p>So, yes don't read too much into your audition and eventually try to visit every school you were accepted at because you may be pleasantly and impressively surprised! Hope this helps, good luck.</p>

<p>studio7 - Thanks for the information! Did your d end up going to Syracuse?</p>

<p>lynnM,
When I read your post regarding the dance audition - I just had to laugh because it brought back so many memories- "cattle" is probably a similar way my d described it. Because of our return trip to Syracuse, it became a very serious contender/choice. In the end she did not go there, but still keeps in contact with others that did and they are having a great year. We think it is a great school.
Best of luck on future auditions.</p>

<p>Michigan Auditions</p>

<p>Warm thoughts towards all who are auditioning this weekend. We have a weekend off, but have a big question. We got notified of our Michigan audition date (Feb 4) but I can't remember anything about essays, black leotards or anything similar - - just a date and a schedule. Did I miss something?</p>

<p>Hoofermom..
The essay information comes in a U of M School of Music booklet that details each major available and audition information. (My guess is that this information is also provided on their website where it details the audition process.) The "Black clothing preferred" comment comes from the Audition information that was emailed with the Audition Approval Email. ..when you go online to confirm your date, etc....it was with that email information. Hope that helps!</p>

<p>Thanks musicalthtrmom - - I found it! I had even highlighted it in pink, but had not reviewed it recently. Your comment about the online confirmation also threw me for a loop but I had printed out the confirmation page. Am I the only one losing my mind? By the way, I froze in L.A. on Saturday, so I'm not sure I'll live through Michigan. LOL Thanks again.</p>

<p>lynnm, regarding the Itaca audition. It was our first so there was nothing to compare it to but i thought on the shoe it was very positive. after the monlogue my s was asked questions about his resume what other schools he wa applyng to..and he fsaid they laughed at his comedic mnonologue.. many kids came out and said they asked nothing other were asked to sing a song or do a monologue differently. there is no dance audition and my s found it difficult to incorpoarte dance into his song.. the chair speaks to the group first and talks abou tthe competitive program.. that made us more uncomfortable.. but we knew that anyway.. there was coffe and bagels for the aiting parents and they did a relly goo d warm up with the gorup. Students were there from the MT program and wee very supportive.</p>

<p>MTwannabe - Thanks for the Ithaca info!</p>

<p>lynnm, my D auditioned for Ithaca last year and her experiences were very similar to MTwannabe's but with one additional comment. The accompanist (student or grad student) could not play my D's uptempo piece--did just the chords, not the melody, which sort of threw off her D's performance. And this at at an institution known for its music school!!! She was discouraged and I suggested she ask if she could do that song again using her audio tape as accompaniment (always bring those with you!!) She felt that would be too pushy and she ultimately was not accepted. My husband and I both have close ties to Ithaca so we were hoping for a good outcome. </p>

<p>On the warm and fuzzy scale, Syracuse had the most positive, customer-friendly audition day program for parents and students, and Ithaca was much further down on that scale, just a projected attitude that you are lucky to even be auditioning. One of D's friends at her current school was accepted into MT at Ithaca last year but chose not to attend because they made her feel less than welcome on audition day.</p>

<p>MTwannabe, forgot to add to my post, but last year my D auditioned at Syracuse at the end of January, minus 10 wind chill, driving there in whiteout conditions! All I can say is make sure your windowshield cleaning fluid is not from last summer or it will freeze on your windows. Daughter still loved Syracuse in spite of the weather and the Syracuse folks were delightful. The dept chair had such sensible and reassuring things to say when parents asked about the value of the degree and getting employment. He said that the theater kids graduate with a ton of useful skills that can be applied in many settings, even if they get discouraged after rejections. He gave a benchmark that many kids go to NY (or some big theater city) and give it a year, audition like crazy, and if they don't get many callbacks in that year, then they might rethink what they are doing. If they get callbacks and are close to parts, then they might want to hang in there and plug away. I found his comments very real-world and helpful. We want our kids to pursue their passions but not to live in a cardboard box on 42nd Street.</p>

<p>I haven't posted in a while, but I, too, want to wish good luck to all of those auditioning at UM (and elsewhere) this weekend. Good luck and "break a leg."</p>

<p>vocaldad</p>