I can choose to fly a day early cheap. Or fly the night before for the same price, but not get to hotel until midnight,but with a 9 am audition time the next morning. Yikes. The hotels are cheaper there compared to some places and he’ll have time for another sample lesson and watch a performance. The drawback is missing 2 days of school instead of one.
If your child is not in danger of failing or other academic issues, enjoy visiting the campus, catch a performance and take a sample lesson. Your child will have a better idea about whether or not the school is a good fit after the visit. Your child will be investing 4 years and tens of thousands of dollars for the music school and an extra day will give you both more information. Depending on the school, it could help with scholarship money because your child will have shown interest and can remind the studio teacher of the visit during scholarship negotiations. If it is too much academically, then there isn’t harm in doing the shorter trip just the usual travel anxieties and lack of sleep.
For the last 2 years, son has watched the audition videos with his studio teacher. The teacher was showing him how to evaluate auditions and what to look for in his future teaching career. The studio teacher looked for improvements made since sample lessons and he especially was looking for students willing to try new techniques in addition to a basic level of musicianship , etc. Good luck and safe travels.
Thanks. I just needed a reminder of what is important. Thanks!
I’d go early.
Go early, if you arrive that late the night before, one late flight could mean missing the audition. Plus it gives you time to relax and experience more of the school.
I also vote for early. Much more relaxed experience for the auditioner.
Early!
Early for sure!
Early! Especially if you are traveling anywhere that weather can be a factor. And last year weather was even a factor in TX.
I agree, early. When my S was auditioning at Colburn, we went out several days early to give him time to practice before the audition and get a feel for the place (plus it kind of turned into a mini vacation for me, got to see a little of LA). For his next audition, we had to take a red eye after his audition at colburn back to the east coast, landed at around 8 am, and he had an audition that afternoon, and it affected him, since he got little sleep on the plane and then needed to meet the accompanyist that morning to do a run through and so forth.
We went early and it made everything that much more relaxed and enjoyable.
That cracks me up about weather in Texas. A little ice shuts Dallas down completely. I feel better about going early. I feel a little bad were not doing 2 auditions since were staying there so long, but it is better to be early over all.
Next I’m considering flying to at least Chicago (cheaper) instead of the long 12 hour drive to auditions. We have a blizzard today and I’d be ok driving, but it would be a very slow pace and would make it a 18 to 24 hour drive or not go at all…yuck.
I like road trips but I think you’re smart to consider that a long long drive might not be efficient considering all the priorities. We’re driving to most of my son’s auditions but we’re on the east coast and most are within 6 hours driving distance. One thing I really like about driving versus flying, however, is that you can be assured your instrument is safe and sound!
A few years ago we had this decision to make for my daughter’s CIM audition. We live about 7hours away and most people we knew who were going from our city decided to fly. There was a blizzard the day before and I was worried about the trip, but once we got onto the highway it was quick, smooth driving. 8 hours later were were in Cleveland in time for dinner and a good night’s sleep. Our friends who flew in had massive flight delays and, while they all arrived on time for their auditions, they were very stressed. It’s really a gamble, no matter what you decide.
I’m starting to refer to my son, cello and I as us. We are flying. Or there are three of us. Its pretty funny how the cello starts to sound like a person.
I agree glassharmonica. It is a gamble either way.
It is always better to go a day early. Once you are there the travel/weather issues are behind you. You can take a campus tour, sit in on a class, do your homework in the library if you need to, maybe meet some students and practice, pratice and relax
Cellomom6, does the cello prefer window or aisle!
I forgot you were a cellist’s mom-- if I had to pay for a cello’s seat and deal with airline craziness (no matter what the rules are, you could always run into an uninformed crew that will make your trip impossible) I’d opt for driving over flying for trips under 10 hours.
We travel and fly with a double bass!