<p>Mom55-I suggest he do some prep and retake the SATs. There is no downside to that, and it will give you a better idea of what sort of academic fit would be right for him, besides the music fit.</p>
<p>If he's leaning towards conservatories, I'd recommend he get into a very aggressive summer program and start working on audition skills...</p>
<p>It's all a matter of where. </p>
<p>Strict conservatory: work on music. </p>
<p>"Selective" University, i.e. Michigan: work on music, grades and SATs are already there. </p>
<p>"Extremely Selective" University, i.e. Oberlin: work on SATs.</p>
<p>And don't forget the "instrument" factor. Clarinets, flutes, violins, voice, piano and the other popular things make the "dime a dozen" list, limiting the influence the music faculty can put on admissions to help borderline students. Bass brass, bassoons, and the others on the "hen's teeth" list do offer the music faculty some leverage...</p>
<p>Northwestern string faculty member told parent that he had no problem getting B average students admitted, even C, but D's were a problem..</p>
<p>What other instruments are on the "hen's teeth" list? (LOL! Never heard this term!) Which are the "dime a dozen"?</p>
<p>i've worked in music school admissions at a very competitive university and can tell you that overall the audition is more than 80% of the acceptance, but i will say that i have seen individuals with top scores in the audition rounds cut because of their academic record- but these individuals had extremely low averages (lower than 3.0)...</p>
<p>if you've got above a 3.0 and your SATs are above 1100, you're fine anywhere... If you're talented, the school will want you, and will do anything they can to get you; work more on your audition!</p>
<p>I doubt those type of SAT numbers will be a factor unless he decides to not go to a music school. Even then few schools refuse a student because of 1270 SAT. So I would not spend much if any time worrying about that. If he wants to read a review book and retake the SAT, fine, but don't spend time that could be spent preparing for auditions if performance major is where he is headed and really good enough to get in.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone...I really appreciate your feedback. He is looking at jazz performance, sax (another popular instrument). If he double majors it is likely to be music ed as the second degree. This has been an interesting journey thus far; tough when you are trying to keep all options open (academic/music) while he figures out what is right for him, and especially challenging right now as he participates in 8 different bands/ensembles, takes lessons on 2 instruments, and as we ask him to keep focused on his studies, too. (although I am "getting" that academics aren't where most of his energy/passion is flowing). I am sure that what I am saying is familiar to many of you.</p>
<p>There is a caveat to all of this, i.e. what if he changes his mind down the road and wants an academic curriculum? A higher SAT score may make a difference in transfer options. Taking an SAT review course and/or doing a number of practice tests will raise the score, and it could be important later.</p>
<p>What about in LACs where music isn't such a strong asset, but they want to improve their music department? Has music ever pushed talented musicians through?</p>
<p>it certainly does help... depending on what the school may need. I was accepted to Sarah Lawrence and Vassar, and I know that the fact I was intending to major in music there was one of the big decision factors for them. What I did was contact the head of their music program, and I also contacted their theater head (since I'm equally interested in both) and had nice talks with them over the phone, along with an audition tape- in which they said they would put forward recommendations for acceptance. I don't think I would have gotten in without those recommendations... </p>
<p>I ended up pursuing a B. Mus program in the end...</p>
<p>I just came across this relevant current post by a Juilliard faculty member on a trumpet forum:</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <blockquote> <p>From our perspective at Juilliard, we have, for the last several years, pulled the files of everyone we are considering accepting and looked at their academic record. We have even dismissed people based on poor effort in that area. So, yes, your grades absolutely count with us and this is different from years past. </p> </blockquote> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>With that said, your playing is still primary and grades and SAT scores only tell one aspect of the story. We don't have any set standards for grades, or scores - but we look at it all, including the essay. </p>
<p>So, my advice is to keep working in school and do the best you can. Do NOT blow it off! Remember that, no matter where you go to school, eventually the world doesn't need just another musician...we need a worldly, well educated person who can also play their horn! This is ultimately more valuable. </p>
<p>Best of luck, </p>
<p>Kevin Cobb<<<</p>
<p>mommab-
Fascinating post about Juilliard!</p>
<p>When our son applied two years ago, we found it interesting that Juilliard did not require SAT scores but DID require a recommendation from an academic teacher, preferably an English teacher, I believe.
This in addition to private music teacher rec and audition, of course.</p>
<p>Nice that they do want their students to be literate in more than music!</p>
<p>i would agree- although the audition is mostly everything, music schools really want their students to be motivated in other areas such as philosophy, history, and literature... i'm a firm believer that just being able to play the music well doesn't make you a great artist- you need a full understanding of the work as a whole.... most music schools would agree, and will push for this in their applicants.</p>
<p>Actually I found just the opposite, professors at some Conservatories usually dont want their students to have to spend time on anything other than their instrument and the school could barely care if you graduated HS and certainly dont care about grades, SAT scores or what courses you took. If you can speak English well enough to converse with your teacher you are qualified academically. It is as close to 100% about the audition as you can get at several of the conservatories. If the talent and ability is there, you will be admitted no matter what, even if you never even heard of philosophy, never even read a history book and think great literature is a bio article on Mozart.</p>
<p>A sad thought -- but apparently not always the case: Bard, McGill, Oberlin, UCLA, and, apparently, Juilliard, are some examples of performance programs that care about the mind of the musician as well as his/her proficiency.</p>
<p>I can certainly side with that- many universities, even conservatories will reject very promising talent for poor academic records... it usually shows they are unlikely to succeed in a university learning environment. even conservatory- you have theory, music history, and performance practice courses that will require heavy academic work, and when you need to pass such courses to graduate- they certainly take that into consideration.</p>
<p>Eastman is another school that considers grades and test scores. It is more "academic" than some of the other major conservatories.</p>
<p>When DS applied to NEC (and was accepted) he had to send in a graded research paper from his hs. (His was on the life of Louis Armstrong...a great topic of research for a trumpet player...). He also had to send his SAT scores. However, his audition was the trump card.</p>
<p>Let's face it. If a kid totally blew them away with his or her audition they won't care if he or she ever went to school. (I'm strictly talking about conservatories here.)</p>
<p>And if it really is a conservatory, then all they should be concerned with is making you a great player. If you want more, go to a university.</p>
<p>That is how the tradition of the conservatory started in Europe and worked well.</p>
<p>But from everything I have seen and been told, Julliard, et al will as you say not care what else you have done or can do if you play well enough.</p>