<p>It has been phenomenal learning from those of you whose children are going off to school this year. I thought it might be helpful for those of us in the "application mode" to recognize each other, too. My D is a soprano, living in the Southeast, looking at conservatories. Right now, we are in the process of gathering recommendation letters and preparing to record the pre-screening CD. I talked to Cincinnati last week (their website recommends a DVD) and admissions says they accept CDs although they feel a DVD gives a more in depth look at the singer. (DUH)</p>
<p>I too have been listening and learning - lots - from those who’ve been through the process before. D3 (the baby!) is a violinist/violist looking at colleges and conservatories. Even though we’ve been through the college process before, the music aspect makes this an entirely different experience…one which I don’t think we could manage without the support of this forum.</p>
<p>POTO Mom - it’s interesting that they’re asking for a DVD. A lot of other schools we’ve looked into say no to the DVD - CD’s only. I guess that’s why everyone suggests we make a chart. </p>
<p>You’re much further ahead than we are - congrats! We’re still in the Heart to Heart phase (How far away will she be comfortable - the best school in the world could be a disaster if she’s too homesick). </p>
<p>Stradmom - I’m with you. This is our second time around, but our first was very academically oriented, willing to go anywhere in the world, etc. When you add the Music aspect to the different child, it’s like starting all over again!</p>
<p>Another soprano’s mom here. We’re trying to finalize our list right now, which is not easy.</p>
<p>Beez Mom - From page 18 of CCM application handbook: Prescreening Recordings are required for all voice program auditions. Applicants who wish to audition in Cincinnati or at a regional audition must submit an accurately indexed high quality sound recording
postmarked by November 27, 2009. Video tapes or DVDs are preferred, but CD recordings will be accepted. (See each degree for prescreening requirements.) </p>
<p>I was trying to decide if it was worth the money to videotape the recording session. Several parents have suggested that it is great to have a backup in case your child is sick or perhaps you have a weather issue that grounds your plane, etc. Better to have something rather than nothing for those schools willing to accept it.</p>
<p>Hi POTO Mom,</p>
<p>First of all, daughter would be Class of 2014 (graduation year, not entrance year). I suppose you are Class of 2010 for HS, but this is a College forum.</p>
<p>Plan on taping the recording session. Some schools want it as added proof that the student memorized the piece.</p>
<p>I recorded the session to CD (high quality mics, etc.) and also video taped the recording session. Then I used one of the video editing software to replace the sound track with the CD recording. On a 5 minute song, you might end up a fraction of a second off by the end (comparing visual of the sound track), not enough to be noticible when watching the DVD.</p>
<p>With both the DVD and CD, you send whatever is their preferred format.</p>
<p>BTW: Each school has it’s own set of desired songs. # of songs, Languages, number of different languages, etc. NEC even said pre-1800 non-operatic aria (???). We ended up with about 5 songs, and burned the selections the school wanted.</p>
<p>I would not have thought of videotaping the recording session–thanks so much for that, Operadad!</p>
<p>Hi POTO Mom -
I wasn’t doubting what you said about CCM’s requirements, I was just stating that it is interesting that different schools have such different sentiments on the same subject. From the Peabody PreScreening requirements page, they have a lengthy statement as to why they will not accept DVDs, ending with:<br>
“Finally, there is an aesthetic consideration. We know of no easily portable consumer equipment that doesn’t optimize the audio portion of the recording to make words easier to understand. This involves automatically making soft passages louder, and loud passages softer. It also involves changing the timbre of the sound to emphasize the range of frequencies involved in voice recognition. Taken together, you get an unreliable representation of the performer’s tone and dynamic range—two critical elements in evaluating an applicant’s level of development.”</p>
<p>Again, I’m finding this to be so different from straight academic admissions. I see many charts and calendars in my daughter’s future (and therefore mine by association!)</p>
<p>Hey Beez Mom, I was not thinking you were doubting me, I’m just covered up with all these little details so I just copied and pasted in case somebody wanted the verbiage. Like Opera Dad said, some of these schools get very nick picky on the particular song. We have not been lucky enough to get our recording list to 5 songs. I reminded my D that we are paying the studio by the hour! It went in one ear and out the other.</p>
<p>Too funny Potomom…can’t get her list to 5 songs…do I need to have my daughter contact your daughter???</p>
<p>DD recorded 5 songs(for another project) and recorded from that cd…used same 3 pieces for every application and was accepted for auditions at ever school she applied to…tell her to choose her best and just go with it</p>
<p>Hey Opera-mom! I know your D is excited. Has she left yet? I think one of the problems I have is that my D LOVES to be in the recording studio. We have been doing CDs for about 3 years and she really gets excited about it. We’re using a new place this time - Edwin McCain (if you know his music) has his recording studio here and we went by and met with them last week. She’s looking forward to it. You should have your D facebook mine. I’ll drop you a PM.</p>
<p>This is my first post AAAHH XD
I am a mezzo currently in the app process. Haven’t mad much of a dent yet, because most applications require listing the songs you want to perform and I haven’t finalized that yet. I’ve made a semi-final listof schools: Indiana, Michigan, Eastman, CCM, Baldwin Wallace, Miami Ohio and Wright State (Im lucky enough to have several decent schools in my area.) My first choice is Indiana, and in all my schools Im really looking for a balance of music and academics.
As for the CCM prescreen Im actually visiting there next month and thought they had only accepted DVDs, so thats a relief for me (as all the others Im applying to require CDs.)
Don’t have any questions at the moment (for you guys have answered so much for me) but I just wanted to say hi and thanks for all the info on the boards :)</p>
<p>Welcome GeeEmOhh, You will find so much information on this site and lots of people willing to help if you have questions. Good luck as you tackle applications. Lots of folks have done visits at the schools you mentioned. There is a school visitation thread and also you can use the search option.</p>
<p>Welcome GeeEmOH</p>
<p>Sounds like you are developing a nice list…Have you visited the Miami Ohio campus? My DD auditioned there…husband said the campus is beautiful…My daughter’s vocal coach knew the head of the opera program there and really liked her (she is a Mezzo so you might want to consider a lesson with her)…I believe they only require 1 year of language so you’ll need to make sure to add more as electives if you go there…</p>
<p>Re: application… I know that all of DD applications were online…and all but one could be saved and completed as we had time…so would be very beneficial for you to go in as you have time and fill out all of those things you can now…Address…references…ect…you can go back later and fill out the audition information</p>
<p>best of luck…let us know as questions come up</p>
<p>I guess I’ll join in the group. S is a tenor who wants to major in Music Education - Choral/Vocal. </p>
<pre><code> S is participating in a Schmidt Vocal Competition in September and that requires 3 pieces so he’s already gathering audition type pieces.
It’s almost hilarious to look at all the different school audition requirements. Almost hilarious… but actually more aggrevating and taxing.
S is a National Merit SemiFinalist and that essay/paperwork is due back to his counselor by September 11.
All of this stuff going on and he’s not the least bit worried. I refuse to do the worrying so something will undoubtedly go wrong. I think my bad attitude is showing. 
</code></pre>
<p>MaryTN - Congrats on the NM SemiFinalist. As far as the not worrying… I think we probably all have good days and bad days. If my mind is intact by June, I think I’ll donate it to science for study!!!</p>
<p>Welcome.</p>
<p>Welcome MaryTN, Thanks for the link - would love to watch your son’s performance. You didn’t mention where your son was applying. But yes, the audition requirements are all over the board. Good luck on the Schmidt Vocal Competition.</p>
<p>The best advice my D got, and actually paid attention to, was to stick with pieces that she was comfortable with. You can’t anticipate the variables surrounding the actual audition, so if you use pieces in which you can let “muscle memory” take over, that’s just one less thing to worry about. It sure worked out and also allowed my D to get in a few competitions during and just after audition season. Another caveat, for whatever reason, some schools insist upon a student having to identify and list their voice type. Many voice teachers detest this, and even during the first year in conservatory, just have the girls put down “female voice”. At that age, it’s often very hard to know where the voice will develop and eventually come to rest. For female applicants, beware of listing yourself as a “Mezzo” simply because you’ve heard that there are fewer of them and that it’s easier to get in as a mezzo as opposed to a “Soprano”; put down “Mezzo” only if your rep and audition pieces support that ID. The profs who make the final decision are well educated and know that if you sing “Je veux vivre” you are most likely NOT a mezzo! This bit of advice came after going through this past audition season- we actually heard such things and overheard some comments made by faculty.
Just heard from her tonight and she is having a great time in her classes and had her first voice lesson this afternoon. All is well at CIM! (The ankle is healing nicely, too)</p>
<p>Introducing myself as mother of son who is planning to be a composition major graduating HS in 2010. I have posted questions on another thread asking if anyone knew anything about compostion programs, then I found a great thread all about composition auditions. I would be interested in sharing over the next year. We live in Chicago, son plays piano and horn and in Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra this year = will be gone Sundays from 10 AM till 10 PM, on top of being Drum Major, playing in Fall Musical pit, he teaches 5 half our piano lessons a week and attempting to apply to colleges. Anyone else feel stressed about helping their kids set priorities?</p>
<p>OMG Yes on the priorities. Mine has 5 AP classes this year, school orchestra, COYO, Nat. Merit forms, regular bass lesson, chairs two extra curriculars, and is really resistant to balance her schools to apply to with safer, higher chances schools (vs. her reach schools, like Oberlin, CIM, Eastman). Plus all the pieces to learn. Oh, and OMEA orchestra auditions and summer festival audition.</p>
<p>Plus we’re going through a lot of flighty tempers and mood swings with the whole Mom/daughter independence vs. collaboration transition. We both go through, “Can’t go, I’ll miss you” and then swing to “Aaargh! you’re so aggravating, get out already!”</p>