<p>I'm relatively new to the music major world. I'm currently a senior in HS and would just like some info/advice on starting the application process. I have two choral directors and a private music teacher, but I'd like to be a bit independent in starting this process. My family is painfully na</p>
<p>Go to the web site for each school, they will list audition dates and requirements and deadlines for application, audition, etc.</p>
<p>For example: [Undergraduate</a> Admissions - Audition](<a href=“http://www.music.utexas.edu/admissions/undergraduate/Audition.aspx]Undergraduate”>http://www.music.utexas.edu/admissions/undergraduate/Audition.aspx)</p>
<p>…and feel free to come on back and ask questions, but the school web sites will give you the basics of what you need to know. Good luck!</p>
<ol>
<li> Do what ohiobassmom said.</li>
<li> Write out a summary list for each school you want to apply to, including application deadline (many are December 1), whether you need to send in a DVD for prescreening or application, and the required repertoire.</li>
<li> If you can afford it, buy yourself a video recording device and record yourself. For us, the Zoom Q3 works great, ordered it from amazon.</li>
</ol>
<p>I’ll add to the list:
4. Discuss financial options and possible contributions with parents. Find out what they plan on spending/can afford. Still apply to out-of-state and private programs, but consider that you may need good scholarships to be able to go. Be certain to apply to in-state programs your parents can afford ;)</p>
<ol>
<li>Begin EARLY (eg. now) to ask for both music/talent letters of recommendation and academic/character letters of recommendation to include with your application materials. </li>
</ol>
<p>Usually, you apply to the school, then are contacted if you’re eligible for audition. Some schools prescreen; some also prescreen you “academically” first as well. </p>
<p>Also, in terms of repertoire, your private teacher should be able to guide you, but another trick is to scour websites of the school music departments. Sometimes you’ll find “example repertoire”.</p>
<p>Best wishes in your search.</p>
<p>PS Some people have found putting the requirement info and deadlines into a spreadsheet to be helpful…</p>
<p>Everything everyone has said so far, but I would like to add looking into the University of North Texas as well. It is in Denton about 35 miles north of Dallas-Fort Worth.</p>
<p>Going through the process ourselves, even having been on here and been around kids for several years applying to music schools and such, it can be confusing as heck. I like the recommendations others have said, and be especially careful with the financial side, that school with the great reputation that costs 50k a year could put you in debt and not give you any better an education, depending on what you are doing.From my take if you are thinking of a music ed degree, rather than performance, that you have more options. As others have pointed out with Music ed, there are benefits to going to a state program in state, besides the financial side, you also could have a leg up meeting the standards of the state you are in. In music performance, there may be reasons to go to a more expensive private school or conservatory as opposed to a state school (though, for example, if you lived in Michigan wanting to do performance, U Mich is a great school, same for Indiana U), but doing music ed may give you more options that are financially more sound. </p>
<p>I agree totally with others, put together a spreadsheet once you start looking at schools and narrowing them down. With audition rep, the key is finding what is common for all of them; for example, on violin all auditioned programs require solo bach, but if the kid is going to apply to Curtis they need to prepare an entire Sonata or partita, whereas another school might require contrasting movements (which obviously means the kid would prepare for curtis requirements, which would prob cover every other school). Juilliard on violin requires a 20th century piece, which other schools don’t, but a student could do a modern sonata that meets that requirement and at other schools could be used to meet a requirement for a sonata in general. This is really important, because you need to get your audition rep chosen and prepared yesterday…:). </p>
<p>The other thing to keep in mind is that you very well may need to go to grad school anyway, so if a program has good teachers, it may not matter as much as you think. a lot of school districts require masters these days anyway from what I know…</p>
<p>The other point, are you planning to teach K-12? Or were you looking at teaching privately? Only reason I ask is what comes up all the time, if you are thinking of teaching privately then you prob won’t need the music ed degree, and if you are thinking of performing it could be better to do a performance degree (keep in mind these are questions, I don’t know enough about choral to say what the right path is). Music ed is different in more then a few ways from performance, and if choral is like the rest the courses required can take away from the performance side…but if heading for K-12 public (and some private) schools at that level, you would need a music ed and it prob would give you a wider field. Again, though, you could do performance UG and then get the Ed degree graduate, that is done all the time. </p>
<p>i second getting a Q3 HD zoom, really neat little gizmo, good for pre screens and also to tape recitals and such:)</p>
<p>You might want to call a faculty member (possibly at LSU??) in the Choral dept and see if they can turn you on to a local voice coach who is familiar with the school. Someone who you could hire to run through your choral education audition rep and see where your stregnths are. It’s a good idea to get some professional input well before you begin to prep for your applications.
Also chatting with a member of the faculty at LSU might demonstrate your seriousness of purpose.</p>
<p>***and I would second UNT----lots of opportunity there.</p>
<p>You’ve received some really good advice already so I only have a few things to add. </p>
<p>Even though your parents know little about music, they can likely help you with the other necessary application materials. Having help in some of these other areas may allow you to concentrate on the music portion of your application. </p>
<p>How is your high school’s college planning department? Do they provide you with materials to help you formulate your application information? Begin now by jotting down your accomplishments, volunteer work, etc. Seek out your references early to be sure that you give them enough time to submit them ahead of any of the deadlines.</p>
<p>If you haven’t done so, take a look at the Common Application and note the information required there, even if the schools where you are applying don’t use the common app. It’s still a good place to start in organizing what you need. If you work on this little by little, it won’t be nearly as daunting as it might be otherwise, especially with the added features necessary for a music application.</p>
<p>Be sure to have your parents submit a FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a necessary step in helping you afford to pay for college.</p>
<p>Best of luck! I wish you well.</p>
<p>“I have … a private music teacher …what things I should be doing this semester and next to get into a music school.”</p>
<h1>1 pick out the teacher recommendations, and ask them NOW to write them for you.</h1>
<p>This is #1 because it is the easiest to get done quickly.</p>
<h1>2 it is the JOB of your PRIVATE music teacher to help you pick out your pieces for the audition. Pick at least two contrasting operatic pieces in a foreign language (preferably Italian and/or German), and one in English. NEC had the requirement of “pre 1850”, or something like that. You need to have these down cold by the time of the auditions next Jan-Mar.</h1>
<p>The reason this is #2 is that it will take you the longest amount of time.</p>
<h1>3 consider hiring a Vocal Coach to help you polish the pieces around December. Don’t worry most singers have a voice instructor and a vocal coach. If there is a disagreement, I would side with the Instructor who knows you better. VC’s also help you with your physical presentation of the piece (movement, etc.).</h1>
<h1>4 pick your schools.</h1>
<h1>5 find out the important dates and requirements: What type of audition DVD/CD? What types of songs do they want to hear? Deadline for submitting. Deadline for applying to the school (if different from the audition). When are the auditions held? Figure out a schedule to do the auditions so you know what date(s) to request. When can you start booking an audition? Does the school take the common app. Will you apply for both the music school and the regular school (double degree). Have you taken the ACT/SAT? If not, when will you?</h1>
<h1>6 make a calendar of when you will do what. Set weekly milestones, like 1st draft of an essay. Memorize the words to the song. etc.</h1>
<p>That is all 1st semester.</p>
<p>Unlike other applicants, you can’t coast 2nd semester. That is when you get to do all the auditions. Note: Some schools have early action, and you can audition as early as December. The problem with that is: Will your songs be ready?</p>
<p>You need to plan your calendar because you need to take time off from school to travel to the auditions. Arrange this stuff in advance with your teachers.</p>
<p>Also, do you want to visit the schools? During auditions, you can see the school (they will have tours), but you CANNOT visit with the music teachers. They are busy auditioning the other kids. If you want to get to know the teachers, you need to plan a separate trip.</p>
<p>In the meantime, go check out the Classical Singer High School competition. If there is a local event, DO IT. The value for you is practice being in front of 3 judges, and singing with an accompanist you have never worked with.</p>
<p>I am guessing you are a female. The schools are overwhelmed by female applicants. The competition will be very tough.</p>