<p>I have a jazz vocal audition at the Frost School of Music coming up in about three weeks and I was wondering if anyone had auditioned there before. I would like to know the audition procedures and what to expect. Mostly, I am worried about sight reading. I don't have a lot of experience in that area so I am hoping that someone who has already auditioned could help me out. Is the sight reading piece difficult? Do you get a few minutes to study it? I could use all the advice I could get!</p>
<p>My son auditioned there last year. He’s not a vocalist, so I can’t tell you anything specific about that. However, I can tell you about our experience. </p>
<p>The audition day starts with an assembly at around 9:00 a.m. There is a music theory test right after that. Then, my son’s auditon was not until about 2 in the afternoon, so we had to kill a couple of hours. We got the the music building about an hour early for him to warm up, and his audition had been moved up by half an hour. His audition was mostly sight reading. The professor did not ask him to play any of his prepared pieces. Maybe, that’s because they have already seen the video, or maybe it was just this one guy. Who knows.</p>
<p>The music building is very crowded on audition day. </p>
<p>My son auditioned yesterday. A great experience. Everyone super friendly and well organized. Registration is between 8 and 9. Apparently they changed things a little this year. There is tons of construction on the campus so they have lost the parking close to Frost. So you have to leave a little time to park in a Parkin garage and get a shuttle bus. But they are frequent and easy to use. There are several classes you can sit I on during the day and they have a “required” session which is very informative. My S didn’t audition until 3.30 but the day flew and the campus is a great place to relax. The only tiny complaint: No coffee for parents, unlike most places, so bring your own :)</p>
<p>I echo NYsaxmom’s comment about the coffee! We sat next to each other during the rather bizarre Music Education forum which was actually about throat care. Other than that bizarre event, everything went as planned. We stayed over that night since we didn’t know when her audition would be scheduled until we arrived on campus and had a very pleasant info session and tour with a Frost student tour guide. Regarding the parking, the e-mail stated that we would receive a parking permit in the mail. Instead they e-mailed a parking pass to my daughter. The e-mail stated that it was also permitted to park in any lot except “purple” ones. So we parked in a lot right across the lake and walked to the building - it wasn’t far. Also they’ve changed their policy and they no longer require a music theory evaluation on audition day.<br>
Good Luck to all our sons and daughters!</p>
<p>@NYsaxmom and mom22girls. Thanks for the info; it’s very helpful. My D and I fly to Miami next Wed for her Fri audition. I’ve scheduled an info session and campus tour for Thurs. I know they have some forums planned, but is there enough stuff planned to keep you busy while waiting for your audition time to come or do you have to find something to do on your own? Is there someplace near to the music school on campus to grab lunch/coffee, if necessary? Also, do you know if all of the music programs are not requiring music theory tests at the audition or just certain ones? My D is auditioning for Studio Music and Jazz for Vocal Performance.</p>
<p>Hi NYsaxmom - audition went great! The people gave her several "brava"s and said hope to see you next fall. We ran into one of the profs at lunch and he made several positive comments to both of us. Then we ran into another prof at the strings forum and the same thing happened. So we’re very positive about the experience. Onto Jacobs this Thursday. How did your son’s audition go?</p>
<p>There is a full day’s worth of events that could keep you busy. Whether you’d be interested in attending all of them is debatable… (i.e., jazz choir, music ed forum) There is always browsing time at the bookstore to occupy a good amount of time. Or you can de-stress by sitting by the lake. We make it a point to eat at the dining hall/food court whenever we go to a campus. This time we hit the food court. Wait til you see all the cute gliders they put in for seating! There is also a starbucks right near the main admissions office. They announced that there would be no music theory test at the mandatory info session for all the potential students, so I’m sure it applies to everyone.</p>
<p>I thought the food was pretty good for college food. Probably the best we’ve had. Audition went very well and he spent some extended time with Dale Underwood which was priceless. But he also found out that he’s only taking 2 saxes from all the audition days. But you never know!!!
We have a break now for 2 weeks then 2 local auditions, FSU, GMU nad UNT. Then we are DONE!!!</p>
<p>NYsaxmom - when are you auditioning at FSU? My D is going there on Feb. 23 - maybe we’ll see you there! Also, I’m guessing by your name that your S plays sax. I was a sax major at FSU with Pat Meighan, who’s still there, and he is wonderful. I loved having him for lessons. Is your S more interested in jazz or legit sax (haha - I always thought that was a funny term)?</p>
<p>Yes…good pick up…sax is the instrument!!! We will be at FSU from 10th - 12th feb. We couldn’t make any of the schedules audition days but Prof Meighan was very nice and he’s going to hear him on 11th. We are going to UNT on 22nd so couldn’t get to FL the same weekend. He loves both jazz and classical but as he wants music Ed (or the double with perf where it’s available) his auditions are classical (although he’s doing both in a couple of places). Will enjoy hearing about your travels too!!!</p>
<p>NYsaxmom, Pat Meighan is truly one of the nicest people you will ever meet. And I can tell you from personal experience that they have a great music ed. program there, although I don’t know if you can do both ed and performance (I never asked). I got a music ed degree from there and felt very prepared to teach afterwards. And my experience as a Marching Chief was the best of my life! If you do decide to go there and your son has any questions, please feel free to PM me. Good luck to him at all his auditions!</p>
<p>Hi everyone…my son auditioned at Frost on January 26th as a Contemporary Drumset player hoping to be accepted as a Music Business Major/Creative American Music minor. Anyone else out there also interested in this combination? His audition was a great experience and faculty could not have been nicer!</p>
<p>Saxlady… This NE blizzard has changed everything! Long story but we can’t go down there this weekend now and have to send a disc. I spoke with Prof Meighan today and you are correct, he is the nicest guy. Completely understood. I don’t know if a CD will be as well received as an in person audition but Mother Nature had other plans for us this weekend</p>
<p>I’m so sorry to hear that! Have you been to the campus? It would have been great for you to visit it - it’s quite beautiful, especially in the spring (unlike us northerners, they actually get SPRING as a season - I miss that up here in Michigan - of course, it’s a little early for that). Good luck, and one thing’s for sure - he will remember who you are, even if he hasn’t met you in person. And considering how much trouble you’ve gone to just to audition speaks volumes. Good luck, and stay safe this weekend!</p>
<p>We also had the experience, mentioned by another poster here, that the audition had been moved up by half an hour. The only notice of this was that the schedule posted on the door to the audition room had been changed. I would strongly recommend getting to the music building and checking the schedule at least an hour before the time you were given for your audition. </p>