Completely new to this

<p>Wwe just got D1 off to Emory. The college search process for her was what I would call rather conventional for a highly academic student -- look in-state (VA) or out-of-state but have to get scholarship to help defray the cost difference.</p>

<p>D2 is a junior this year and is seriously considering pursuing her love of the Oboe in college -- likely with a double major in math or psychology (which means I think we are looking for a traditional college, not a conservatory program. She is first chair in her high school wind ensemble and has a lot of musical talent but has not participated in any competitions or special camps yet and will focus on that this year.</p>

<p>I've read some of the posts on this board already but wanted to introduce myself and get additional hints on how someone with no kowledge of this process as it relates to music starts. I think both D and I are worried that she's making this decision pretty late and that she is way behind the curve. Her teacher is encouring her to look into Interlochen Summer camp -- how competitive is the application process? He thought it would be a great match for her (both his kids went, one on scholarship) and I assume he wouldn't have brought it up if it was completely out of her league.</p>

<p>Look forward to learning a lot from the seasoned pros here.</p>

<p>collegex5- Welcome. You will get plenty of sound advice (no pun intended) here.</p>

<p>The seminal posts to read are the three under "featured discussions" at page top and the three sticky threads pinned to the top of the forum if you haven't
read them already.</p>

<p>If you plan on sticking around, a short post in the "introduce yourself" thread helps as well.</p>

<p>Double major/degree has been covered many times. Use the search this forum function to find relevant posts. </p>

<p>Personally, no experience with Interlochen, but the intensity of a high level summer immersion program is invaluable. It does a number of things: it exposes your d to the national level of what the quality of musicianship is, and how she relates; it puts her "out there", exposes her skill set to others, she can examine and be exposed to a number of different teachers, methodologies, and styles. She may well form friendships that last a lifetime, or decide that music as a career is not her thing.</p>

<p>Many questions will emerge. Ask away. You'll get a multitude of advice.</p>

<p>Enjoy the ride.</p>

<p>Hi collegex5. My D is an oboe performance major at NEC and attended the school at Interlochen. Although she didn't go to the camp, I can vouch for the fact that Interlochen is a special place and the primary oboe teacher, Dan Stolper, is one of the nicest people I have ever met. His students are very fond of him. There is even a facebook group called something like "Dan Stolper for ruler of the universe", which I would join if my Ds would let me get a facebook :). I don't think it would be too hard to get into the camp, but it is very competitive to get into the top ensembles there. They have also started to offer a one week "Oboe Institute" that your D might find beneficial. </p>

<p>In the mean time, I would strongly suggest that your D look at musical opportunities outside of school, such as a local youth orchestra. Please feel free to PM me if you have specific oboe questions. My D knows many oboe teachers, having done many masterclasses in high school, college and summer programs.</p>

<p>My S's best friend (female) from HS went to Indiana U for double oboe/something else (ended up being Asian studies but she went in undecided.) The oboe teacher there is supposed to be one of the best. My S (not an oboist) met her when she came to Juilliard to give a master class.</p>

<p>Interlochen is definitely worth a try. We have no personal experience, but it has a great reputation. I agree - your D's teacher probably wouldn't have mentioned it if she didn't have a chance. One of my former piano students went there this summer as an auditor for oboe and had a blast.</p>

<p>Linda Strommen is the oboe professor at Indiana, and she is indeed highly respected. As a matter of fact, she teaches at Interlochen during the summer.</p>

<p>Welcome to the music world CollegeX5,
First, congrats on d1. Emory is a great place, I loved it so much, I came for a BS, and stayed for a PhD!</p>

<p>There are many at CC, some of which have responded to you, with greater depth of knowledge, wisdom and longevity of experience than I, and there is a wealth of different experiences in this group to learn from, but as one who was thrown into this world suddenly as I see you have been, I think I can help by giving you some very general advice. Let me begin by telling you that although parallel in many ways to the academic preparation for college that you went through with your previous child, everything is very, very different. I, too, have a successful college musician that had her epiphany late, albeit during sophomore year of HS- that she wanted to enter what we found to be a highly focused and sometimes competitive world of musicians. It's definitely not too late, but you need to learn quickly and use your time wisely to help your child through this world.</p>

<p>Preparation usually begins in HS, like a SAT prep class or a GHP program, but with summer music institutes, all-state and Youth Symphonies (often all three!) Depending on the level of your child's talent and commitment it can grow to a national level, similar to a National Merit Scholar, with NFAA, and other select nationwide programs & scholarships. And what your child has accomplished by mid-senior year along that rubrick usually is some sort of indication as to where they can study music in college. Of course, exceptions abound, but that is generally how it works.</p>

<p>Now think about how much effort you put into organizing the academic college prep calendar for your college child's last 2 years of hs school, beginning with PSATs and ending with graduation. I'm sure it was extensive and timed as best as you could to accomodate it all. The same applies to the music. Now is the time to start putting together a calendar that schedules what needs to be done-and when.</p>

<p>Parallel, but completely different. For double degree majors, it simply means you follow both paths at the same time. As the parent of a musician in college, studying music at a highly academic school, and a HS Jr heading along the double degree path, I would suggest you take a look at the online article <a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree&lt;/a>. Although written for Peabody conservatory, it really discusses the possible permutations of double degrees for instrumental musicians at all US schools within the context of what kind of student/musician your child is. Although not completely accurate for every school, it really wraps its arms around the concept in general and helps parents & kids to see the parameters and possibilities.</p>

<p>In order to move down both paths, it is a lot of work for both you and your child. My opinion is that it is not worth worth pursuing if your kid doesn't really love what they are doing. But if they do, the extra effort is so worthwhile!</p>

<p>Oh, by the way, it's time to start reading about the specific audition requirements for those summer program auditions and picking out & learning the pieces that will be needed. You record those auditions in Dec/Jan for submission in January/February. Live auditions are also around the same time. It came so quickly during my d's sophmore year of HS, we missed the boat. It's like forgetting to sign up for a required course - you can take it the next year, but you've lost a whole year that the knowledge would have helped.</p>

<p>Well, that's my general advice. You can start to fill in the details accordingly.
Good luck and have fun!</p>

<p>Interlochen is great. Make sure you start saving money now, though. They want the money pretty quickly if you get in, and it can be really rough if you're not prepared.</p>

<p>Yeah, 2 summers ago I was in over $7K when everything was included like uniforms and lessons on a second instrument...</p>

<p>Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Team_mom, thank you especially for posting as someone in a position similar to mine. I'm sure a lot of you have the same experience that it's so easy for my D to get focused on this and play her Oboe that the rest of school can get lost -- she just loves to play. I guess that's why so many of these kids end up in conservatory programs. I'll be posting here a lot throughout the process and, hopefully, a year or 2 from now will have helpful advice for others.</p>

<p>One of the most important things to try to do right now is for you to get to really, truly know your daughter ... and for her to get to know herself. Can she deal with a pressure-cooker situation, or does she like a more laid-back vibe for her playing? Is she a joiner? Is she non-conformist? When she pictures "college" for herself, what is it she sees? What does she want to get out of it? Has her education to date been broad enough that she wants to use her undergraduate years as vocation training -- or does she hope to grow and challenge herself intellectually? Does she have to major in oboe performance, or would she be content to play in a by-audition orchestra or ensemble as an extra-curricular activity? Take all these things into consideration to see what the truly right choice will be. </p>

<p>As you zero in on certain colleges/universities/conservatories, put them through the search engine for the entire College Confidential site. That can give you a sense of what the campus is like, etc. Also, google. </p>

<p>My daughter is in her sophomore year of high school. She is a vocalist, who knows that only a career in some aspect of music will make her happy; ideally, performing. I have been researching possibilities for her here and elsewhere on the internet. My list started out with all the "usual suspects": Oberlin, Eastman, etc. But I got some wonderful piece of advice to stop conducting my search as if my daughter's undergraduate years will be vocational training; and instead consider what atmosphere my daughter will need to become a well-rounded individual, comfortable yet challenged at her craft, at the appropriate level. So, we haven't started visiting campuses yet, but will be starting this fall and spring ... and of my original list of 15 "right choices" list, only 2 haven't already been scratched off. Yet I have another 10 in their place!</p>

<p>So it's not enough to get a list of those colleges that offer the ideal double-major. You really need to look deeper and take the time to research further.</p>

<p>I would also suggest that you read the articles from Peabody. When DS applied there, they were included in his application packet (he did a paper application). The offer a terrific perspective on music and the options available.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You need to read all of these articles in their entirety to get the full picture.</p>

<p>Most likely, these are also referenced in one of the threads Violadad highlighted for you. They really helped us understand our musician, and his direction.</p>

<p>I do agree that having orchestral experience is important and if your daughter's school doesn't have this (DS's didn't), you should look into a youth orchestra. These are usually auditioned groups, and again, give students a bit of "perspective". Also, it gives the student time working with others who have a commitment to their music. </p>

<p>Many of our kids had varying summer experiences from New England Music Camp to Tanglewood and Aspen. It varies, but again, provides a more global view for the musician. My son, for example, had been the first trumpet in every ensemble he had ever played in...until he went to his first summer program. It gave him a huge sense of motivation and when he returned the following year, he did move up in his seating. But that first year was a shocker. The reality is that these summer programs are filled with "first chair" students. But agreed with others...you daughter will develop friendships that last far beyond the summer. Music is a very unifying experience, and lasting.</p>

<p>We don't have a speck of experience with double degrees in this household...one kiddo is a performance major, and the other wanted to continue playing (oboe) in an orchestra in college, but NOT as a music major. Both found lots of choices, but not without some research. To be honest, it was harder for DD to find a school where she could play in the orchestra and take lessons, and not major, than it was for DS to find music performance programs. </p>

<p>The folks who post on this forum have a wealth of information. Welcome!!!</p>

<p>thumper- Giving credit where credit is due, I'm sure at least one if not both of the Peabody links are in Bassdad's epic post.</p>

<p>These are by far some of the most informative overviews that I've ever seen (besides Bassdad's missive) and really should be mandatory reading for anybody considering/entertaining going down a music path.</p>

<p>besides the one thumper posted, an excellent article on double degrees as well:
<a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Another excellent series from Rice. Pick the ones that pertain to your areas of interest. <a href="http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/%7Enavmusic/careerpaths/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~navmusic/careerpaths/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And I found this one fairly recently, I think it's the first time I've posted a link.
<a href="http://www.steesbassoon.com/auditions.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.steesbassoon.com/auditions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I'm gonna stick this one in the Auditions Tips thread as well</p>

<p>I LOVE that last article. So much great advice, I just forwarded it to my HS junior. Of course, more importantly, you should follow your teacher's advice on audition pieces. The very etudes and pieces that Stees mentioned he didn't think HSers should play, are the ones that got my d into Rice.</p>

<p>Actually, those Peabody links were probably recommended by others well before my time on CC.</p>

<p>I've been around since this music section was created, and I may be wrong, but I believe Thumper was the original poster of those Peabody links! They're just so good, the rest of us can't help but pass them along when the opportunity arises.</p>

<p>I will say, the Peabody Articles have changed over time. The original set my son had compared the "outcomes" for students attending conservatories, music programs within other colleges/universities, and bachelor's degrees. They helped parents (especially those who did NOT have a music background or appreciation) to understand the value of a music degree or not, and see how their musician might "fit" into one or the other of these groups. When I read them, my son was SO clearly a conservatory student....it was like the article was written about him. Does anyone else remember those articles?</p>

<p>Still...the current articles ARE good, and well worth a read. P.S. It doesn't matter who recommended them first...they are still terrific.</p>

<p>We probably were looking at choices initially around the same time frame as you thumper, and for whatever reasons Peabody did not emerge even as a long list possibility. </p>

<p>I do remember initially reading them about 2 years back, at the same time I found the Rice set.</p>

<p>You're right... we should applaud the author(s).</p>

<p>"...it's so easy for my D to get focused on this and play her Oboe that the rest of school can get lost -- she just loves to play. I guess that's why so many of these kids end up in conservatory programs."</p>

<p>Hmmmm.... I'm not so sure what you mean by this, collegex5. I can assure you that my D is strong academically and did not end up in a conservatory because she let her academics slide. I'd caution you against automatically ruling out conservatories in looking for a double degree program. One student in D's studio at NEC is in the joint NEC/Harvard program. Another oboist friend of D's is doing the joint degree program at Peabody/Johns Hopkins. It can combine the best of both worlds for the right student.</p>

<p>rcmama -- what I meant was simply that she loves playing and gets such joy from it that she tends to procrastinate on all else. She's a great student and does well academically, likely to be a NS semi-finalist. It's just that I'm never sure whether she's actually doing her academic school work, which is never a concern with her music becuase I can hear that she's doing what she needs to do with that.</p>