<p>Back from Berklee audition in Chicago. First let me say…being from a smaller city, the parking sucks and so does the pricing for it! But anyhow, my daughter went in alone to the audition while I and my husband walked down Michigan Ave. to keep ourselves occupied. We dropped her off at 2:30pm. Her call time was 3:15pm. She was given a room to practice in (which she says helped a lot to get rid of some of the jitters and do singing warmups). Afterwhich she was ushered into a room with 3 people, one which was the sound engineer guy (?). They told her she may not be able to sing both songs because they were running behind. Because her interest is songwriting, she started with her original piece and then was able to do the second one (YAY!). </p>
<p>Next she was given rhythm patterns to mimic by clapping. Then Jazz improv which included chord progressions. She also had to do a bit of sight reading (not as hard as she thought because she does it quite a bit for chorale). She was then directed to another room for an interview. The questions were in the realm of those posted on their website but worded differently. Overall, she was really excited about it!! Personally, knowing that they were behind and concerned about time has me worried because did they really take the time to actually LISTEN and HEAR my daughter? In my mind it seemed rushed when those words came out of their mouths. @SnowflakeVT she took her song catalogue but they didn’t have time to look at it but she did inform them of what her portfolio included. </p>
<p>Sounds like it went well … I will keep my fingers crossed for her. I would guess that getting to do 2 songs is a good sign. I think they have to say they are behind schedule otherwise kids would try to each do 3 songs plus show their other talents. This may force students to immediately prioritize their best stuff, and if it is good, the auditioners keep going. </p>
<p>@PopPrincessPop I was just wondering what you know / where you heard about McNally Smith? I hadn’t heard of that one before. It looks like they have a decent summer program. I know my D is going to want to go back to Berklee again next summer, but I’d really like her to try someplace different. Since McNally Smith is high on your D’s list, I was just curious if you had some inside info on their programs.</p>
<p>Great thread btw! Thank you! I’m finding your list very helpful! We may go check out CCC because it’s so close to home. Also, one of the teachers at D’s music school went there (for music business management), so I’ll try to ask her about it. I’ll be sure to let you know what we think / find out.</p>
<p>Looking for some help with a speed bump I’ve encountered. My D doesn’t want to go on her interview for the NYU Future Music Moguls program because she’s getting push back from her job at the mall. They told her if she goes she’ll have to quit. </p>
<p>While I love that she has her own money I think she’s being short sighted. The NYU program is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the music business at the Clive Davis School…for FREE! </p>
<p>Am I pushing too hard? She’s less interested in the business side and I’ve been reinforcing that it will make or break her career. Here’s a link to the program. <a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube; Any tips on talking to her about it? The interview is this Saturday and she’s already RSVP’d.</p>
<p>Hi @dbandmom - glad you’re finding the thread useful…we found McNalley Smith searching for programs that offer pop/contemporary music. They were also at the Performing Arts College Fair we attended in October in NYC and it looks like they have a great program and I watched some of their YouTube videos. They mentioned they were one of the first universities to offer a degree in Hip Hop. The summer program does look good and that’s on our list too. </p>
<p>Wow we’ve got some similarities, my D has done workshops at Berklee the last 2 summers (maybe our kids have bumped into each other 
)! I’d like to see her try someplace different too, did you know Berklee has a program in LA? I’ve also been trying to get info from University of Chicago Denver’s summer program and Drexel’s looks interesting too but they don’t offer housing, parents need to stay in Philly with their students for the whole week. NYU also has a summer program that you might want to look into. </p>
<p>Popprincessmom … Not sure if you are pushing too hard or if your daughter is getting nervous. I think her job situation is despicable for them to threaten her job if she goes for this interview. What kind of job at a mall is more important than her future? If I was a high school student and that was the threat I would let them fire me. When she interviews for a future job she can explain that she is a student and her only priority over the job is her health and education for her future.</p>
<p>She can always decline if she is offered a spot, but she can’t just get a 2nd slot for an interview for this type of opportunity.</p>
<p>Thanks @snowflakevt - I completely agree it is a pretty low blow. Her job has been flexible with her going on college visits and recitals and I guess they think she’s asking too much now, especially since its holiday season. She only works weekends because of school and she’d have to miss Saturdays if she got in. The NYU program looks phenomenal, she’d get to meet notable recording artists and producers, learn the elements of what makes hit songs, marketing, promotion, distribution, recording technology, make a professional recording in their studio and perform at a student showcase during the summer. They’re promoting it on NYC’s #1 radio station. Told her we all have to make sacrifices but to keep her goal in mind!</p>
<p>Has she looked for a sub on her own? Most of the retailers don’t care if you get your own sub. DD does it all the time for auditions. </p>
<p>@PopPrincessPop Drexel has a fantastic music business program! It only offers vocal music as a minor, but the cool thing is you can get additional scholarship money there for performing arts. Drexel has its own music label and studios that are run by students. It has a co-op program that places students in jobs from DC to New York, and can really give students a leg up when they graduate. I looked hard at that summer program for my S a few years ago, but he decided he wanted to do performance (guitar) only. If you are interested, your D is more than welcome to stay with us, we live about 35 miles north of Philly. Our D just applied ED to Drexel for animation and visual effects, and will audition for a vocal performance scholarship, so we are very high on the university overall. She did a summer art program at Temple last summer and got around just fine on the train while living at home. There might also be summer housing available at Penn, which is right next to Drexel (the Temple summer camp kids lived at Penn.) . The area around Drexel is safe. </p>
<p>I don’t know of any other summer music business workshops and that one at Drexel looks amazing. Anyway, don’t let the lack of housing hold you back if you are interested.</p>
<p>I also did not see Belmont on your list of potential schools. It has a very strong music business program as well, and a pop vocal performance program. Needless to say the opportunities in Nashville are tremendous. My S is a senior there (composition major) if you want any info. He has a high school classmate who transferred there for vocal performance last fall and within two months she had formed a duo with another girl and they got a gig opening for a well known country artist during the CMA Fest. She is singing all over Nashville now. He also has some friends in the music business program who love it. It can be challenging to double major there (the music business program does not require any audition or performance courses). </p>
<p>I would suspect working any days of the weekend will kill her if she gets into a program like that. My daughter’s first year if music school was intense! Classes, rehearsals, gigs, practice, technical classes, projects … She didn’t even try to juggle a job until her 3rd semester.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your support, she was able to find a co-worker to take part of her shift this weekend so she can do the NYU interview! She’s got to do well in order to get in but I’m super excited for her, I’ll keep you all posted. We’ll cross the bridge of keeping her job if she gets accepted but she understands that the program would greatly benefit her future.</p>
<p>@honestmom - I’m high on Drexel as a potential school too and plan to visit this spring. We’ll have to seriously consider the summer program, it does look great and that’s nice to hear about the scholarship opportunities for vocal performance. Let us know how things go with your D. I like that it has Co-Ops and a student record label. Philly is a nice city and she’s pretty comfortable getting around NYC and Boston so I’m sure she’d have no problem.</p>
<p>As for Belmont, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the program, my daughter is just concerned about the culture. We’re liberal Northeasterners and have read things about the school being ultra conservative with lots of rules, curfews and heavy handed with southern bible-belt viewpoints. Not sure if its true but that’s making her less keen on Belmont and schools in Tennessee. I’d love your S’s perspective on campus life.</p>
<p>Interestingly she had her first meeting with the guidance counselor at her performing arts school today who was pushing classical training as the way to go in college and to branch out into contemporary afterwards. They suggested she apply to Juliard, Oberlin, and Boston Conservatory. Not sure if we agree especially since she’s getting classical training in high school, not to say its not important but she’d like to really focus on Pop/Rock/R&B with some Jazz thrown in while at college.</p>
<p>Well, if you have strong classical training, it cannot hurt your music training and toolbox. As a musician, the more strong training you have as a base, the more directions you can go when the opportunity arises. The best musicians I know (including those on TV) have a very strong knowledge of music theory and classical music as well as any specialty area. This allows them to collaborate on many types of projects, not just those that they are currently known. One risk of a younger musician is that they corner themselves into one genre too soon, and then they don’t have an open mind later for new genres and styles that may also be suited to their vocal capabilities. The exceptions to this are young talents that just clearly are super talented in country or pop and have to go for it while they are young and fit a certain market. </p>
<p>In the end, your D has to feel where her passions are, too. A classical based program can teach you a lot, but if your heart is not in it you won’t get as much out of it. Also, consider the background of this teacher … if they only have a classical background, perhaps their view is skewed, but if they have classical and/or jazz or contemporary experiences then her views carry more weight.</p>
<p>I appreciate the insight @snowflakevt , while I know its just high school, she actually is getting a pretty large dose of classical training at her performing arts school. Even though this year has been her first concentrated exposure to classical, she’s doing quite well with it. She scored well in her jury review of an italian opera piece and qualified for the regional choir. She also has an “A” so far in Honors Music Theory and plans to take the AP next year as a Senior.</p>
<p>As for the guidance counselor, we’re taking her feedback with a grain of salt, she’s actually new to the performing arts school and doesn’t seem to have much experience in advising students who want to pursue contemporary music. She did recommend schools with an urban setting for better performance opportunities which makes a ton of sense and of course her advice on portfolio development, applications, scholarships and auditions is extremely valuable regardless of genre.</p>
<p>While my daughter’s not opposed to continuing classical study as a base, she doesn’t want to study it exclusively. She really does want to make a run at being a Pop/Rock/R&B artist. Part of my reasons for starting this thread was that there seem to be very few schools that even offer contemporary majors. </p>
<p>While I know becoming the next Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Rihanna is a one in a million shot, I’m hoping her current and future college training equip her with the skills to at least have a shot. I’m pushing the business aspect so she can learn how to produce, market and promote her work, and find ways to make a living with music if her dream doesn’t come true. </p>
<p>That being said, her vocal coach thinks my daughter has the potential to make it in the commercial marketplace. She believes she has the right sound / look to warrant some record label interest. Her coach has some music industry connections and has shopped / represented artists with labels. She’s coached a few artists who’ve made it on Broadway, and who’ve done vocal collaborations with current R&B and Hip Hop artists. She’s an artist herself and regularly performs original and R&B classics at clubs in NYC. She invited my daughter to perform as one of her best students at a showcase in New York at the end of this month. I’m Dad and super biased but I think she’s going to do really well at the showcase, she’s singing 3 James Bond theme songs and sounds great!</p>
<p>You sound like a proud papa! Good luck to her.</p>
<p>You should definitely look into the BM vocal peroirmance degree at NYU Steinhardt. She can specialize in classical or MT, but veer into jazz standards too. She can have plenty of pop/ contemporary opportunies in NYC. Additionally she can do a minor in the Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology (courses in music business, producing, marketing through tisch, stern and steinhardt) and take even more classes through Tisch open arts. </p>
<p>We’re hoping she does well on her interview this weekend and gets into the Future Music Moguls program at NYU @uskoolfish . She’d have exposure to the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music and I’d love her to learn more about Steinhardt too. We asked about studying contemporary music at NYU at the Performing Arts college fair and I don’t think the reps from Steinhardt or Tisch adequately addressed her questions so she’s put it further down on her list. But the FMM program could help shed more light on how it could fit. Crossing our fingers as its not guaranteed she’ll get in but I think its an outstanding opportunity for her portfolio and to see what NYU is really like.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support @snowflakevt - I am super proud of her, she’s come a long way. Trying to do my part to support her dream plus give her a foundation to make a living with music wherever that may be.</p>
<p>Just remember that being a pop star is cool till about 24-25, but then some other young thing will show up. It is good that you see the value of a strong music/music theory base as that will help her transition to a more mature music style as her tastes change and she is exposed to more ways to use her talent.</p>
<p>@snowflakevt - Exactly, which is why I want her to learn the business side. She can be a music journalist, A&R exec, marketing director, promoter, producer…etc, or go into teaching with a solid music education. But since she does have talent I also want to support her trying to get to her dream of being a pop star…and at 16, 25 is a lifetime away from her perspective!</p>
<p>@PopPrincessPop you get it! </p>