<p>Classical percussion.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Pukadad, Congrats to your son. Just a bit of advice learned last year by accident. I'd request the earlier day. In case there's bad weather or some other obstacle, a lot of places will accomodate your last minute problem. We had the problem with a snow storm that prevented us getting there in time on the scheduled day. Since the audition (not Julliard) was also a first-come first-served on that day, they said they would try and work us in on the second day, which happened with no problem.</p>
<p>Great advice tango. For those who haven't seen it, this thread is full of great tips <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>Good luck to all.</p>
<p>Thanks all. We had to take the 2nd day as to avoid a possible conflict with his audition at MSM. We are going to fly in on the morning of the day before and will watch weather in case we need to fly in earlier. Does anyone know how long the audition time slots are at Juilliard?</p>
<p>D, a violinist, auditioned at Oberlin Saturday (early review). Today she received an email from one of the teachers telling D that she played very well at her audition and that the teacher would like to work with her next year. Has anyone else had this happen? Am I right that this is next thing to an offer of admission?</p>
<p>Bluepearl..
D recieved very much the same type of e mail after her early decision audition at another school. They asked to keep them informed on her auditions and outcomes and hoped that she would chose to attend there. D returned an e mail basically saying thank you, she would be very happy there and most of her auditions were scheduled for Feb. The reply she received was once again...please keep us informed and wished her the very best. When I shared this story with a teacher, who called it a verbal offer, he said the school will more than likely back it up with a formal offer after admissions passes the application. It seems that this is a big accomplishment...not many are given this offer so soon after auditions. So...CONGRATS!! My d auditions at Oberlin in Feb and cannot wait to see the school. Is this your D's top pick? Could you actually be done????!!! :D</p>
<p>I love Oberlin and would be very happy if that's where she goes. She, however, wants a big city and feels Oberlin Conservatory kids are not "intense" enough. So she hopes she'll be invited to audition in Boston and New York. I'm not sure those are the right places for her, but we'll see what happens. Still, it'll be a thrill to have an acceptance early. Interestingly, the email did NOT come from the teacher D had a lesson with earlier this fall.</p>
<p>Bluepearl, that is very exciting and encouraging! Congrats to your daughter for making such a good impression!</p>
<p>My d's e mail came from the music director who was in the audition. She did not hear from the teacher she had lessons with either. D feels the same way. Loves the teacher and the program, but hopes to get other acceptances to chose from and decide. This school may end up being her pick, but it is nice to have choices. It is a good feeling to have "one under the belt", isn't it? Good luck for Boston and New York....D has those cities on her list too.</p>
<p>You will not have long to wait for Oberlin's official response in any case. They usually have decisions and merit scholarship offers in the hands of successful early review applicants within two to three weeks.</p>
<p>Yes, the director of admissions told us in a meeting that he hoped to have letters out by the middle of December. He also said that the majority of those auditioning early review would be deferred. But it will be a good feeling to have that letter already, especially if the merit award is good.</p>
<p>Bluepearl and Notfromme,</p>
<p>Congratulations to your Ds - and their families! It's all so nervewracking for everyone - great to have early good news!</p>
<p>Bluepearl (and others with recent Oberlin experience) the question about the teacher writing the e-mail not being the one your D had a lesson with made me wonder. Maybe someone can help other students interested in Oberlin out. </p>
<p>Several years ago - 3 or 4 - the last time I knew a violin student considering Oberlin as a first choice, Oberlin didn't tell the accepted student what the studio assignment was. They waited until everyone had accepted before they finalized teacher assignments which meant you signed on to Oberlin not knowing your teacher. I knew at least one kid who rejected Oberlin because of this policy - went elsewhere where the teacher assignment was clear. I think that policy may have changed - seems like I'm now hearing of kids having "final decision" lessons in April with the teacher they've requested.</p>
<p>I thought the question might be of interest to some - especially if the policy is still the old one of not telling kids who they'll study with. Does anyone with recent experience know when Oberlin makes its (violin) studio assignments? </p>
<p>It seems obvious to me that a student can have definite preferences in teachers and want to know if that will be honored before they agree to enroll...</p>
<p>Last year my son was accepted for violin at Oberlin - he decided to go elsewhere, but they have a great school and good violin faculty. They did not assign a teacher in the acceptance letter, but you can work it out with the teacher in advance to be sure that you are assigned to the studio you want. Congratulations!</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted in the early review phase four years ago and is a senior there now. They did not initially assign a studio, but we were able to get them to make an assignment before her response was due. As it has turned out, she has had classes with all three bass teachers (one for her primary classical lessons, one for secondary jazz lessons and her orchestral rep classes were split between her studio teacher and the other classical bass teacher there) and it has worked out very well. She has also taken secondary lessons with world-class teachers on viola da gamba and hand drumming and has had various semester-long seminar-style playing classes in African Mandinka, Javanese Gamelan and Indian Raga style music.</p>
<p>I wonder how widespread it is that students don't get their teacher assignments until after acceptance. I know my son is a jazz musician and not a violinist, but he, too, went into his acceptance at NEC not knowing who his teacher would be and, in fact, ending up finding out that his first choice was not in residence this year--not until the first week of school!! This didn't matter to him at all, fortunately, as the nature of jazz instruction is so different; instrumentalists study with many private teachers at once, and he was excited to be with any of the options at his school. I'm just curious how often students actually do have the ability to make a final decision based on the private teacher they will have.</p>
<p>Of the three schools that accepted my daughter, only one (NEC curiously enough) included the studio assignment with the acceptance. As mentioned above, she was able to get an assignment from Oberlin before her decision was due. I get the feeling that a lot of schools like to keep their own options open by putting off the studio assignments for as long as possible, but many will make an assignment if strongly requested to do so. That does not mean that the assignment will always be made to the desired studio, however.</p>
<p>My experience and observations with violin, primarily at competitive conservatories and music schools, is that the studio assignment is generally made at the time the student receives notice of acceptance. Sometimes, the student is given the option to choose between several studios, but that is less common. Some "top" teacher have waitlists for their studios and the student is informed of their acceptance to the school with a waitlist to that studio depending on responses.</p>
<p>Of course, teachers do move, retire and die so even the most carefully considered teacher request can fail to be in place for an entire degree program!</p>
<p>There is also something to be said for not indicating a teacher preference and letting the instructor pick the student. I've known several kids who didn't have trial lessons or strong preferences who allowed the school to assign the studio teacher. In the cases I know, the instructor had a real interest in teaching the student based on the audition and the pairing was a great experience for the student.</p>
<p>There are a handful of violin instructors - I could quickly name 3 - 5 big names at major schools - that are known to have difficult personalites, teaching styles, mannerisms, etc. If students can "take" the teacher's shortcomings, the teachers can produce excellent results - their names appear on the bios of many soloists and symphony players. For a student who needs a more nurturing or supportive instructor, the results can be disasterous! I'm sure other instruments/voices have similar instructor concerns. For reasons like this, it is worth exploring - at a minimum by reputation amongst other students - the teacher studio assignment.</p>
<p>My son (also violin) did not receive any studio assignments in acceptance letters, but he was able to work out arrangements at all the schools he was interested in and then decide among the teachers who agreed to take him. A lot of this is done by lessons either before or right after acceptance and then communication with the teacher. One of the frustrations with the process is that, while the whole faculty at the schools get to see you, you only get to "audition" one or maybe two teachers and then must choose the school. It's a good idea to do as much research as you can before asking for a sample lesson because that will probably be the only teacher you end up having much idea about when you find yourself choosing schools,.</p>
<p>Congrats to all who have already gotten an acceptance. Dear son, a lower Brass (tuba) had his first audition and nerves got the best of him....Found out that there was only one spot, and already had a "star" audition in first round. He is unofficially on hold....three more auditions ahead....Love the travel but hate the anxiety of the day. Best of luck to you all.</p>
<p>I'm very thankful my daughter got everything in on time and was ready for the early audition at Oberlin. I think it will make the rest of her auditions perhaps a little less stressful.</p>