We dropped S off at the music school for auditions and he texted us to pick him up when he was done. That was that! We didn’t even consider going in with him.
OK, I can honestly say that I’ve never witnessed that kind of bad parent behavior at any of my son’s jazz auditions or competitions. Partly my personality - not paying attention, so I may just not be noticing it. Also the nature of jazz, too.
That said, I am his biggest fan and can’t imagine just dropping him off (and he would be surprised if I did.) But I promise to do my best not to be that parent. 
Since this was first college audition, I had no idea what to expect. I was just the coat holder. I was actually glad that I was around for the meetings because all the parents were and I would have missed a lot of good information about the program. What was also great about being there was meeting the voice professors. If she does end up there, I have no worries that it’s a great program and that she will be very happy. She also was invited for a lesson, which I certainly will not attend. My daughter is also very self sufficient and I always follow her lead on these issues.
@Musicallax, congrats to your D! She must feel great having an acceptance in hand. Will she be auditioning elsewhere?
Yes! My daughter is thrilled and was not expecting this at all. She’s got 5 more schools-3 with pre screens that are not decided yet. Bienen, Jacobs, FSU, Illinois and Vanderbilt.
I didn’t notice any bad parent behavior either. We mostly sat there and held bags and coats and gossiped with each other where we were going next.
At first, I wasn’t even allowed in the building for auditions, but he eventually relaxed about it. I went to parent meetings, etc.
I never experienced any bad behavior either. I don’t doubt that it happens. But most parents were sitting around in a pile of jackets and bags, reading a book or a tablet and looking bored. Very few seemed to talk to anyone.
I took on the persona of the “audition mule”. My job was just to carry stuff around (including schedules, maps and of course money) and then stand around with nothing to do until my master came out and lead me out the door. I dutifully stayed a few steps behind and tried to look inconspicuous.
Exactly!!! So true. I love “my master”. Haha. So the diva isn’t always of the female variety? Good to know!
My D had her first audition at UArts in Philly last month. She felt it went pretty well, the music students were given an overview of the program and performances by a few ensembles. She then had theory and sight reading before singing. She thought it went pretty well but was taken a bit off guard by the accompanist playing her 2nd selection faster than how she’s practiced / performed it in the past. I did the parent tour and attended an informative student panel while she auditioned.
She wasn’t given a timetable on a decision. Her SAT scores weren’t back yet at the time but have since been sent. Still waiting and of course she’s anxious for feedback.
Next up are auditions for Berklee this weekend, St, Rose in January and Loyola and Memphis (her first academic acceptance came through a couple weeks ago!) in early February.
Good luck to everyone, its been an exciting journey so far!
My D and I have experienced some atrocious parent behavior on the general campus tours. So much so that we now just exchange glances and smile. Not so much around music parents, though. Perhaps because music parents have been accompanying (transporting, schlepping, holding coats for?) their children for years at this point.
Good luck to all of your children auditioning. Enjoy your time with them in each of the cities you are traveling to for auditions. I so enjoyed the alone time with my son last year!!! Now he is at his dream school and I wish we could do it all over again
My D had an extremely positive first audition at Oberlin last week. She got in the day before and had a lesson with a professor she knows from a summer program. The following morning she had her audition and was very pleased with the entire experience. She took another lesson with a professor who’d emailed her a few weeks earlier and said they loved her pre screen and wanted to meet her etc. It was just a very warm and welcoming audition weekend. No crazed parents. Only 14 VP auditions, so very intimate.
My daughter got 2 emails whilst we were at the airport in Cleveland heading home from teachers who were on the panel praising her on her performance. She was thrilled to be invited for one teachers Italian summer program. Both teachers said that IF she comes to Oberlin they would love to have her in their studios. So, being that this is her first audition we have no idea what any of it truly means. Sadly Oberlin has done away with their early action as of this year, so it’s " hurry up and wait."
I am pleased she had a superb start to what is sure to be a crazy season for her.
Break legs everyone. And stay healthy!
@greatchoir we also experienced some obnoxious parent behavior at Jacobs this past summer on a tour/info session. This parent completely monopolized the conversation. She kept interrupting the host, asking endless questions about Jacobs vs another school. It was highly irritating. I felt sorry for the poor kid,as did my daughter.