<p>theatermom,</p>
<p>Ditto to Nah! </p>
<p>My gosh, just checked the archives and I first posted a little over 2 years ago....where has the time gone!?</p>
<p>SUE B</p>
<p>I just wanted to let you all know that I am sending many good wishes for all those who will be auditioning soon! I know this is a very stressful time, but I know everyone will do wonderfully.</p>
<p>Shauna</p>
<p>Do- Over? Not me! I am a mom of 2 D's currently studying musical theater in college. I found this sight about a week after my youngest finally made her choice of schools. My oldest did 6 auditions and my youngest 10. That is all I will ever need. Even though my 2 D's choose to study musical theatre - they are very different in their interests and goals. Each (fortunately) has found the perfect spot that suits their needs. I am so glad we went through it all and equally pleased they are so happy we don't have to do it again!</p>
<p>I'm writing to wish all of you best of luck. I would have liked to have found this sight earlier to get more information and feedback. My youngest thought she knew what she wanted until she visited and auditioned at these places. Each person is different - just like my 2 daughters - their needs, styles, strengths. Each program is very different even though they are mt oriented. So even though you hear about rankings and what is a perfect program for your friend, may not be the program for you. My best advice... just like the schools are looking you over, take the time to look them over - you will know when it is the right fit. </p>
<p>One final comment regarding Michigan. Yes it is not necessary to play piano or read music. There are plenty of people in the mt program that do not read or play. However, my daughter was asked if she could read and told that if it comes down to 2 people who have equal strengths and one reads or plays and the other doesn't the spot will no doubt go to the one that does. I would probably emphasize that more for girls since approx. two-thirds of those auditioning are girls. </p>
<p>Take a deep breath... and enjoy!</p>
<p>I would like to add my best wishes to all who will be auditioning and to all who are waiting for decisions. Mega-dittos to NAH....I don't want to go through it again. I will say I enjoyed it, hanging out with my D, and I accompanied her on all of the auditions. It was real nice sharing that experience with her.
Soozievt: Tell your D I am proud of her for sticking with piano. I know it wasn't easy.</p>
<p>You know, this will all be over very soon and your S/D will be out of the house, no more constant singing, etc. So enjoy this unique time.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good wishes from you veterans! Studio (mom), welcome to the board and I hope you will post. You must have a wealth of knowledge gleaned from having two daughters go through the process and both attending two different programs. I have two daughters real into musical theater as well but only one is pursuing it for college and beyond. I agree with your thoughts about each program being quite different and the importance of picking the one that is the right fit for your own needs/criteria/interests. I would say that of most college applicants, even not for MT. The only concern I have is that as much as we discuss programs here at home and which appeals and for which reasons, it seems so darn difficult to get into these programs that it all might be a moot point insofar as picking the right match because we are thinking it might come down to whichever program (hopefully at least one) picks the student. She can't contemplate truly having a choice. I know if she does, she has some preferences but it is hard to think beyond merely getting accepted, given the odds. Hopefully it all works out. I only hope she gets to "pick", but for now, we gotta just stay the course and see what happens. </p>
<p>Gkoukla, I printed out an earlier post you wrote today to show to my D when she gets home. As far as "sticking with" piano, I must admit she really loves piano so it was not like a struggle to stick with it. She has always played two instruments, though piano is her primary one and the one she started with at age 7. She is into music and like I said, would love to continue with piano in college. That is one appeal of UM, though I know she will always continue playing, even if not in formal lessons. She actually plays for pleasure and not just what she HAS to play for her piano studies. That says something to me, as it certainly is not a chore. The part that is not easy is fitting in practice which cannot be as often as it used to be as the time commitments for all her performing arts extracurriculars has her out of the house mostly and then there is heavier homework in higher grades or rigorous classes, but I must say to keep with the lessons and then continue to do the annual National Piano Auditions (are you familiar with those) that requires memorizing ten pieces before a judge at a certain level of difficulty from various repertoires/composers and such is a lot of work on top of schoolwork and theatrical and dance activities. So sticking with THAT part of it, I am proud of her because there are added pressures for it in spring at the same exact time as our annual dance shows and lots else. </p>
<p>You are so right that when these kids leave home, the piano playing, the singing, etc. stops. Every car ride involves music, and so many days involve schlepping to the activities and then watching all the performances and when they leave there is a big void in that respect. My college freshman daughter was home for a week recently and she sat down to play piano (having been off it for four months, the first time in 11 years) and her playing still sounded beautiful and I found myself crying to think I had not heard her play all fall. Even going to school concerts and not seeing her in them is rough. Next year will be even rougher cause BOTH will be gone! Yikes! Can't think about it. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Studio 7 -</p>
<p>Would you share with us which programs your daughters attend - and what attracted them to the different programs - why they chose the program they did? (Or was it on instinct?)</p>
<p>And if they were accepted to more than one program (bravo considering the odds) - why one over the other(s)?</p>
<p>Thanks for your insight.</p>
<p>Lots of "break a leg" to all you auditoners!</p>
<p>Jane (parent of a junior -thank goodness!)</p>
<p>My husband and I were just talking last night about what it's going to be like next year without D's singing all over the house all the time. Arrrgghhh!!! And she's our only one, so we'll be left with enjoying the talents of our dog and 3 cats. And each other, of course.</p>
<p>What serendipity that "Candide" is on tonight! Tonight is also the Choral Masterworks concert at my D's school. They're doing Britten's "Ceremony of Carols," Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" and...from Candide..."Make Our Garden Grow," a piece that always, ALWAYS brings tears to my eyes. Then we get to come home and watch Chenoweth & Lupone!</p>
<p>Susan: (In reference to both of your D's out of the house) Don't think about that today, think about that tomorrow........Scarlett! Love that line.
I am happy your D loves her piano, and I meant that getting in practice time is next to impossible with all of her other activities. My D kept it up, too, but somewhat under duress. It became difficult when she entered high school with all of the reasons you mentioned. And, yes, I am a National Guild judge and teacher, and am very familiar with the tough requirements. That is why I am proud to hear about your D and her accomplishments regarding piano. It will repay her tenfold. As we say in the piano biz, one for our side!</p>
<p>Susan,
If it does come down to one program - that will be the one that is right for her. Don't worry too much - both girls did not hear the decision they hoped for right away. It does make you worry. Eventually some very good decisions came in - and then making the choice became stressful! If you do get to choose, then be selective. Try to find out all you can before you pick. Sometimes our image of a school/program is solely based on someone else's description or image, or by what we have read. My youngest daughter to this day is so thankful that her first rejection happened. Otherwise she might have just cancelled the rest and never have found some other programs that she knows now are really more suited to her. I just posted some info on the audition thread that I think will help clarify what I am trying to say.
Regarding empty nest, gkoukla was right - always refer to Scarlet... don't waste a moment of living in the present. It sounds like we have much in common - raising 2 girls with love of the arts and wanting the best for them!</p>
<p>There are two HAIR sections...the one I made:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.geocities.com/hairhartt%5B/url%5D">http://www.geocities.com/hairhartt</a></p>
<p>Works every now and then because the server only allows a certain amount of data transfer an hour. If it gets accessed too much it shuts down. </p>
<p>You can brave through all 320 HAIR pictures at the photographer's web site:</p>
<p>Jen Lester
<a href="http://public.fotki.com/jenlester/the_hartt_school-3/the_hartt_school-3/hair/%5B/url%5D">http://public.fotki.com/jenlester/the_hartt_school-3/the_hartt_school-3/hair/</a></p>
<p>There are also pictures from "A Little Night Music," "The Crucible," "Tis Pity She's a Whore," "Learned Ladies," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Love's Labour's Lost," and "Hay Fever." The main stage musicals from the 2002-2003 season ("Ragtime" and "Hot & Sweet") were taken down. I am not sure why. The operas are not from the MT program but The Hartt School Vocal Department.</p>
<p>artsymom,</p>
<p>Love that word serendipity!! :) Guys go back to school tomorrow....and then we have to get use to "the quiet" all over again...it's tough stuff. I know it won't be as hard as when we dropped them off at school in the beginning, but I can already feel myself choking up thinking of leaving them again. Nice to know that others on this thread feel the same!!</p>
<p>I forgot to tell you that my Ss gave me a journal for Christmas....they wrote notes in it encouraging me to write about my experiences. Of course this came from the importance they have learned from keeping acting journals in school. I'll always treasure it!</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>I love the idea of a magenta ribbon- I'll try to find one but we're flying out very early tomorrow morning. I called UM today and spoke with Katherine who told me that they don't care at all about the color of the leotard so my D will go with her blue one.</p>
<p>I'm 63, very short brown hair, will be with my husband, and I'll be wearing a trenchcoat and brown rain boots. Hope it's not too cold!! Off to pack now and my D's still needing to write her essay for the audition!</p>
<p>Sandy</p>
<p>Gkoukla and Studio, don't worry I truly am not thinking of the empty house next year. I can't tell you how many local folks recently have said to me, "what are you going to do next year?" when they see me sitting and waiting at the dance studio and stuff like that. In all honesty, I have not yet thought about it. I can only deal with now and I will deal with it as it comes. Already I have been through the first child leaving this year and while I felt teary eyed the first week, I got used to it (as best you can) and while I miss her a real real lot, I don't have trouble with the whole thing really. The best thing is how happy she is and honestly, I am happy for her, this is the step of life she was ready for and thankfully it is going so well and she loves her school (is at Brown). The only times I feel teary is if I think about it or when I have to say goodbye like the other day she returned to see her sister's show (left ski team camp to support her sister, would not miss it). I was like that as a kid too. I loved overnight camp every summer, never got homesick but I do have trouble saying goodbye. I am so thankful that that daughter calls every couple of days and shares what is going on in her life. She may not be physically present and I can't see all her games and recitals and so forth like before, she is still sharing stuff on a regular basis and she calls sometimes if something exciting happens to her that day and in fact, that was the case tonight when something positive happened for her and she had to call and tell me. So, I am pretty used to it. Next year, with no kids, yeah that is a huge change but can't worry about it now. I thought I'd have another year to go because my girls are two years apart and this one is just sixteen but she drove us to let her graduate early and thus she is leaving home a year earlier than I planned. So, it is happening quicker and their college processes overlapped and I have been immersed in this thing for a while now. I am reading the junior parents on here posting and saying, thankfully they are not in the middle of it yet and ya know what, I thought that when I read this thread the past two years too (well I WAS in the middle of it with the other D but not for BFA programs) and now, I can't just sit back and read like you junior parents like I thought I would be doing because she decided to graduate a year early so now I am in the thick of it! But hey, I will try to stick around next year because I am so thankful for the last few years of reading parents of older kids' accounts/help. </p>
<p>Gkoukla, wow, I had no idea you were a piano teacher or a judge for the National Guild. My kids have been involved with that for like 12 years now. So, yes, you know what I mean in terms of prep. It has gotten much harder, not just the level of the pieces but the lack of prep time with ECs that are very heavy commitments and more schoolwork. I think for my younger child, she memorizes material quickly so somehow pulls it off every May. She has opted to go for the diploma this year too for piano. I am proud that my older one stuck with National Auditions through senior year too because she had an extremely heavy EC time commitment with all her performing arts and three varsity sports as well, but she decided the last couple of years that she would still do National Auditions but enter for the levels under "hobbyist" where you don't have to memorize the pieces but just play ten pieces with the music, because she had no time to put into the memorization, and she also plays another instrument at the All State level. But the second child stuck with the National Auditions, the ones you have to memorize playing ten pieces. Somehow she does it but the auditions fall every year in the intense period of the final dance shows in which she is really involved. I guess all this stuff and lifestyle prepares ya for these intense BFA programs. I say, you gotta love this stuff to put in these demanding hours. Who would do it otherwise? </p>
<p>Studio, your thoughtful post really hits home. My daughter is quite cognizant that it might be a whole lot easier if she does not have a choice and it comes down to who picks her (a likely scenario)....though I pray one place at least does. She might have trouble deciding. Two schools right now are kinda "first" in her mind and she thinks it might be easier if the decision is made for her. But in any case, I agree that you have to scrutinize the details of each program as they definitely differ. Sometimes one program is not "better" than another but simply has different aspects that fit someone better than another person's preferances. I also agree, and thankfully my D has come to this conclusion herself, that you can't weigh too heavily what one person's experience is at a program because it differs from person to person as to their perceptions and wants. Even though she has two friends in a program she likes who were a bit critical of their experiences, she had just as many at that program who liked it. Then again, at another program, nobody said anything negative. She weighs what she hears with a grain of salt or realizes she has to talk to many in it, not just one person, but she also tries to gain perspective by hearing what kids say. Then, like you say, you have to put down the details of each program and what they offer or emphasize. So far, my D has only visited four of her 8 schools (got started later than I normally would like because I did not plan on her applying this year, so we only began the search 12 months ago). However, she is going back to the four she saw at auditions and then will see the other four at auditions (another reason she won't do unifieds). I feel right now, she really prefers some of the schools she has seen (makes sense) over the ones she has not seen but then I keep telling her she can't totally compare as she has not yet gone to those campuses (but will soon). Still, on paper, some appeal more than others but all sound great in their own way. Yet, certainly differ quite a bit. </p>
<p>Anyway, right now, the "analysis" of schools is on hold because the auditions are in full swing.....and at some point, the decision may not be between many schools anyway. I have to say, I kinda liked my other D's process last year when there was a lull in the process from Jan. to April, whereas this process just keeps going and going. </p>
<p>I would love to hear where your daughters go as it is great to hear more peoples' experiences that are first hand, yet not rely on just one person's. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>well I WAS excited about my UM audition! Now I'm just incredibly nervous!! I'm not much of a pianist and I would probably opt out of the tap audition. I'm starting to get veeery worried. Denvermom- i just finished that essay a few hours ago. We're leaving around 6am. Yea I should hit the sack.... but for anyone who will be at UM friday, look for me- I'm black (light brown skin with freckles), curly brown hair, petite, i'll be in a magenta leotard or a black and green number for the audition part. Ya ok. GL to everyone!!</p>
<p>Just a heads-up to those of you coming to the UofM auditions this weekend - they're calling for coooooold weather. It's actually warm (in the 50's) right now, but apparently that is supposed to drop to around 10, or lower, by the weekend.), so bring scarfs and mittens to cover those throats, just in case you aren't used to our crazy MI weather!!! :-) Best of luck to all of the auditioners!</p>
<p>Broadway, do NOT worry..you do NOT have to know how to play piano OR tap dance to be admitted. Kids get in who do not have experience in either of those areas. Believe in yourself and show them who YOU are and the main components are the singing, acting and dance parts. These other two things are "optional" type skills, so to speak. BE YOU. I hope we meet you. Break a leg!
Susan</p>
<p>Break a leg to everyone auditioning this week/weekend! I, for one, would LOVE <em>detailed</em> reports when you get back! :-D Thanks, we are all rooting for you!</p>
<p>Yes, everyone, break a leg at UM or anywhere else you might be auditioning this weekend! I look forward to hearing how everything goes for the kids, and also for the parents who get to put faces to screen names. My D's doing her Ithaca audition here in the DC area (the only one she won't be doing on campus, but at least we did visit Ithaca last year). I know that another poster will also be at that Ithaca audition, so maybe they'll get a chance to meet.</p>
<p>artsymom, which day is your D going? I also have a DC Ithaca audition this weekend (Saturday at 9 AM), followed by my Syracuse audition the next day. (I also visited both schools last year--Syracuse is my mom's alma mater as well as my first choice, which inevitably yields some nervousness but oh well!!)</p>
<p>Alex_nicole, my D's also scheduled for Saturday, 8:30am at the Best Western in Tysons. She's been seeming pretty laid back about it -- but maybe she was just distracted, because after her school choral concert tonight, she suddenly said she was nervous about her Ithaca audition.</p>
<p>Break a leg both Saturday and Sunday! The Ithaca audition will get you good and warmed up for the Syracuse one. Where are you in school now?</p>