Auditions - Regional vs Video vs Campus

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello all,
Due to a lack of finances to help me on my journey, this upcoming year is going to be a challenge. I plan on majoring in Music Composition, and currently live in Texas. Auditioning at the schools in Texas will not be a problem, but auditioning at Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, and possibly Tulane/Oberlin/Johns Hopkins/Boston U (still have not really narrowed the list) might be a problem. Carnegie Mellon seems to be my top choice, followed by Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>I realize that some schools require a music audition on a principle instrument even for composition, others require an interview, and most all require a portfolio. The portfolio is not a worry - a postage stamp can get me by with that. I might be able to scrounge a trip to CMellon and/or Vanderbilt for the Interviews (from my understanding an audition is not required), but for the other schools, what should I do?
I realize that some schools have "regional" auditions where I may be able to audition somewhere in Texas, and others will accept a video of some performances. I am sure it is best to audition on campus if possible, right? ...but if I cannot afford a trip around the US, is either a video or a regional audition held in a better light for admissions over the other? Should I just make one video and send it to all the places I will be applying? Help please!</p>

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<p>I think that a regional audition might be slightly preferred: a) the audition at a regional is more comparable to a live audition than a DVD would be (the DVD allows for many takes of a movement); b) showing up at the regional shows more interest in the school than just mailing in a DVD. </p>

<p>However, be aware that all that happens at some regionals is that a representative from the school (often not an instructor at all) will be present to record you. If the school accepts either a DVD or a regional audition in place of a live audition and the regional is a long ways from you, then the DVD is probably the way to go, especially seeing as you aren’t planning on majoring in performance which means your DVD/audition is not as crucial a factor in determining acceptance. At some regionals the representative will be available to discuss the program with you and answer questions, but they might have limited knowledge of how the composition program works.</p>

<p>You need to check each school’s audition repertoire requirements: while there will certainly be some common repertoire, there will also probably be some differences. Hence don’t “just make one video and send it to all the place [you] will be applying.” You can reduce (or eliminate) your acceptance chances if you ignore the schools’ repertoire requirements.</p>

<p>I do think that it is a good idea to get to your top couple of choices for a live interview and audition. You really should meet the people with whom you might work intensely for four years and also see the place. </p>

<p>I would suggest that you inquire about the possibility of skype or phone interviews for schools that are a long distance away from you. Although I have not heard of this happening, it may indeed be happening, and, in any case, times are changing and more schools are embracing technology.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>Auditioning regionally is probably fine for a composition major, as the standards are not quite as high for the primary instrument as for a performance major - they just want to be sure you can keep up your end in an ensemble. However, missing the interviews is something else entirely - in a pinch they can indeed be done on Skype - but that will put you at a disadvantage unless your portfolio has really blown everyone else out of the water.
In addition, you will also miss the opportunity to find out how you and your prospective professor will fit - the time spent talking to them about your music, and music in general, will be the single most important factor in choosing the school. Meeting with the professors can be done at at time more convenient for you than an audition weekend - and indeed for composition sometimes an interview is not even required - but I think it is essential anyway, for your sake.</p>

<p>What criteria are you using to choose your prospective schools? I can’t tell from your list. I suspect it is not the composition faculty which has attracted you, but rather other factors, but I’m not sure what they are.</p>

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<p>Another consideration to add to your list is financial concern and commitment. Many of the out-of-state top schools for composition are extremely expensive to attend, and while scholarship money can be available, it does not normally cover all of the expenses and some of that money will be in the form of loans to you and your family nine times out of 10. So if you might find yourself committing to even 50% of the OOS or Private school cost over 4 years via family and student loans (even if you have a zero EFC, you can expect that you will ultimately still have a financial commitment via loans), then is it worth finding/spending a few thousand to travel compared with the $100,000 or more it will take to actually invest in the degree (even within Texas, you can expect to spend about $22k wiithout scholarship).
On one hand, you DO want to audition for programs that are “reaches” financially, because you never know, some students luck out with very generous financial packages, especially from private schools that <em>say</em> they meet need (like Oberlin) – because they COULD end up being cheaper that in-state in some cases! On the other hand, it is not reasonable to be in a position to commit a hundred thousand worth of resources (or more!! – eg. COA for some privates is in the neighborhood of $58,000 without scholarships…) without ALSO expecting to spend some money on the auditions/interviews.</p>

<p>In terms of composition, you really don’t want to miss the interview, because it is usually with a “panel” that actually represents most of the faculty you’ll be working with (at least in the case of UMich, for example) and it is an excellent way to determine fit. </p>

<p>The way to reduce costs on an audition tour include greyhound and youth hostels: most hostels charge $35 or less; most greyhound fares under $100. It’s summertime, and if you don’t have summer employment yet, I’m sure you could find odd jobs and save up to do the research you need in person to find the right fit of a program. It makes all the difference!</p>

<p>Good luck in your search!</p>

5

<p>Okay, so regional auditions seems like a good plan, and I understand that interviews are a must. Awesome.</p>

<p>I am one of the fools going for a double degree (physics - astronomy track, and music comp). I have been looking at top schools primarily close to home (Rice, SMU, Baylor, Trinity U) and also those that might be able to help me with the degree situation (Vanderbilt, and CMellon’s BXA program). I have done quite a bit of research into the dual degree option, and I really believe that it is worth it (at least in my case). I absolutely love science (Einstein was my hero growing up) and from being in Band middle school thru high school, I have grown to love to write music. My reason for pursuing a music degree at all is for the knowledge; I want to learn everything I can about theory and writing that I can. Long term goal is to go on to grad school for a Masters/PhD in astronomy/astrophysics and become a professor. Possibly go back and get a masters in composition after all is said and done, but at least have enough classical training to be able to write movie scores/marching band shows/jazz charts (seemingly unrelated, but interesting topics for me). From my understanding, most of the people who write the marching shows down here in Texas work only a few months out of the year in the summer, and then go back to other jobs. </p>

<p>Financially - My original intent was to just minor in music (about a year ago), but after talking to an admissions counselor at SMU, He suggested that I might get more scholarship money if I double majored (dual degree). Money from both the music department and the science department + academic scholarships would be worth more than that of money from just one department. After really thinking about it and exploring other options, I realized pursuing both degrees would satisfy my craving desire for knowledge in both areas. </p>

<p>On another note, since I just live with my mother (father is deceased), my family makes less than 40,000 per year. I know at Vanderbilt, Rice, and plenty of other schools, that need based financial aid will cover most, if not all, tuition for up to 5 years (could take longer for double degree). </p>

<p>I would say I am competitive academically/musically, top 3% of class, 98.84 for my current GPA, mid range SAT/ACT scores for Rice and Vanderbilt, starting “research” next year in an independent study mentorship class (studying music comp with a prof from Trinity U and UTSA), done every single AP class and dual credit class (from local community college) available to me (13 APs, 4 Dual credits - two semesters each) , won several academic awards, National Honor Society Treasurer, Drumline captain for senior year, honorable mention in the state farm composition competition, rating 1 at region and state for snare solo 2 consecutive years in a row, region band, honorable mention poetry competitions, jazz band and music theory electives, had my pieces performed at the end of the year concert at my high school, over 100 hours of community service per year, etc.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the tips, it is really helping!</p>

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<p>Rice discourages double degree pursuits. You might be able to just take some composition courses there as an elective, while pursuing your physics degree. I think Vanderbilt will be more open to a double degree pursuit.</p>

<p>Btw. MIT has a terrific composition faculty. If accepted, you could pursue music there. Colleges which will be more receptive to marching band composing will tend to be the schools with Div I athletics. Have you looked at Michigan and USC? On the other hand, you will be an odd man out writing marching band music at a department like Oberlin’s.</p>

<p>I would not advise choosing composition as a second degree just for merit money. Instead focus on colleges that meet 100% of need, and have no loans for families making less than $60,000. There are a number of such schools - with great physics departments and where you could take composition classes.</p>

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<p>Ryantexas, as a mom of a junior physics major and a incoming freshman music major, I feel that you have a good handle on the music side. I would recommend that you chose your school for physics just as carefully as you would for music music. Hopefully, the physics department that you chose will be small enough that you will have one on one time with the professor(s) and not spend most of your time with grad TAs. Since admission to grad school for Physics is heavily dependent on recommendations (of course a high GPA is needed too), you want to have the opportunity to work with the professors (just as you would a music studio teacher) one on one. So, research the physics faculty and visit the schools that are close enough. You can also use the website Ratemyprofessor to see what current students have to say about the particular professors. Check the biographies of the professors and see where they went to grad school and what their field of study is.</p>

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<p>Ryan, you sound like you’re doing everything it takes. In your case I would try to find a few financial safeties in state with solid options but also focus on top programs. Just be sure to keep your eyes wide open about the odds of a true full ride. Most schools that say they meet need often do so by packaging excessive loans that are not viable to a single parent family in your income range, and the privates will assess assets such as home equity, etc. (eg so if there was an insurance policy that paid off the house, that equity could by a percentage diminish a need-based award.) Unfortunately, an applicant can never really tell how it will go until they get an offer. So in this case you’re better off applying to as many quality programs as you can in order to make sure you’re covered. So apply whether you can make the interview in person or not but still try to save up and travel cheaply to your top picks. You could also try to “couch surf” your way into visits by making contact with students at target schools ;)</p>

<p>To that end, my son is at umich and will be sharing an apartment with a physics/astro physics major. Said son is in the perfuming art tech program, which is part composition and part music technology at the school of music. He has confirmed that if you can get there after the start of school you are welcome to sleep on his couch and shadow classes with him. So if Michigan ends up on your list, send me a pm so he can contact you. That said, mich is a little hit and miss on the meeting need for out of state students, but we know a few who’ve received full need, so it’s situation specific. Some of the private schools are better at meeting need, and some aren’t – eg nyu is notoriously bad for calling huge parent loans “meeting need.”
Hope that helps! Cheers!</p>

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<p>Ps – not sure if we answered one of your earlier questions – for many of the comp portfolios you first submit a package with your work, re stour, and sample of playing, then interview once shortlisted. So in terms of duplications you might make tweaks to each package to fit the specific requirement but obviously wholesale prepare your best works for review. Summer is a great time to get the base material together and try to get recording of your work performed.</p>

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<p>Thank you all so much! I have been looking at schools with physics in mind (the SMU ratio of physics students to teachers is pretty astounding, Rice’s college of natural sciences is great, etc) (also why CMellon seems to be one of my top picks). As I mentioned earlier, although merit is a factor in choosing to do a second major, really it is to ease my heart a little. My mind is in love with science and my heart is in love with music. (plus it opens the opportunity for a possible Masters in the future).</p>

<p>I actually have looked at USC, but was discouraged to find out that California was cutting its education budget from 6% of its budget to 3%. I understand a school such as that would have a fairly large endowment, but nonetheless it is a turn-off. If it came down to it, I would rather go to UT (I am automatically accepted from being in the top 10% of my class academically - just have to nail the auditions - also looking at honors college there for the physics). </p>

<p>Thank you Kmcmom13 and Momofbassist for the insight. It really helps to hear that I am on the right track at least.</p>

<p>I’m open on any other advice anyone is willing to give, I will definitely start a thread when it comes time to submit my portfolio to ensure that I have all that will make it look the best.</p>

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<p>USC is a private school, and therefore not dependent on California public funding.</p>