<p>Our son seems to think he will be in beginning theory based on his evaluation--I think we both assumed that was a good thing, since the theory education he will get at NEC will be top notch. I'm sure his ego may be attached to other things we have not yet come to!</p>
<p>I am trying so hard not to call too much. In fact, I have even tried to coerce his siblings into calling for me, but they are wiser than I am and know what I am up to! Except for one email expressing frustration with a non-working printer, he seems to be ok--went to the apple store on his own to replace it, registered for classes (ugg--I didn't ask all the questions I wanted to ask about the classes when I spoke to him about that!!)</p>
<p>I wish I could have attended the "wellness" seminars they had for the students so I could absorb the stress management information myself.</p>
<p>I'm using text messaging - it's a very good idea. Son seems to have settled down for the moment. But...orch. auditions tomorrow morning. I hope he's pleased with the results! There are many different ways it could come out in such a huge school (5 orchestras). Of course, we've told him, it doesn't matter where he's placed - it's already so incredible that he's just there, but of course his ego is tied up in it.</p>
<p>Thanks for keeping us posted, stringfollies. My D is starting her senior year and will be applying to schools as a violin performance major. We are trying to organize a visit to IU (and other schools)and to take some sample lessons soon so I will be interested in hearing how things go with your son.</p>
<p>Stringfollies, we found text messaging worked amazingly with S1. He could text around other kids, while he wouldn't talk around them. I had to learn how to do it, of course, a year ago--but now I'm pretty good!</p>
<p>Keeping fingers crossed that your son is pleased with his audition.</p>
<p>Stringfollies, we got back a few days ago from IU after dropping S off for his freshman year as well. He did not get a room in the dorm with most of the music students either and is in a triple rather than the double he asked for. That turned out well as the triple is huge compared to the very tight-fitting doubles.</p>
<p>S was going to take the theory placement tests but decided at the last minute not to so that he could get the full IU take on theory. I think it was a good decision. </p>
<p>It was a bit overwhelming at first getting everything there --bass in flight trunk along with as many suitcases as we could check, and buying quite a bit of stuff in B-town. I'm not sure how he will get it all home next May. We'll cross that bridge later. He got a huge locker for his bass and the flight case is safely tucked away in another building, reserved a practice room for the entire semester, and figured out the best time to practice on a Saturday if you don't have a room reserved is during the football game.</p>
<p>Texting works really well as does IM and gmail chat.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you and your son. I know how hard it is to fly with a bass these days. </p>
<p>The solution to getting stuff home is to leave as much behind as possible. Rent some storage space in Bloomington over the summer, perhaps going in together with another student or two to fill up the smallest rental unit. It makes no sense to fly stuff home and then fly it back unless he will really need it over the summer. His portion of the rental will probably be less than the excess baggage charges one way. Obviously, the bass will come home, but I bet that much of the rest of his stuff could stay behind.</p>
<p>My older son also went to IU and he rented storage space during the summer for most of his stuff. But warning: there is high demand for the storage spaces and it can be hard to get if you wait until April - we learned the hard way and he almost had to rent a space about 4 times the size he needed (and 4 times the price!). So plan ahead if you decide to do it.</p>
<p>My son did his audition yesterday. Felt it went "okay". He'll be awaiting the results. I'm just glad it's over.</p>
<p>Actually he and his roommate talked about renting a storage unit this summer right after they both moved into the dorm. I'm going to start looking now for someplace close by, especially since S wants us to bring his bass stool with us during Freshman Parent's weekend. I think I'm just going to order one and have it shipped there and keep the other one at home. </p>
<p>He had his audition today but I haven't heard anything. Good luck to your son as well! Do you have any idea when results will be posted? S has already had two lessons with his teacher and will be working on (in his words) ridiculously hard solo pieces this year.</p>
<p>Lucky guy! My son hasn't had a lesson yet and is chomping at the bit. He says orch results will be Thursday or Friday. They have call-backs for principal slots tomorrow - mostly those will be grad students. I hope his audition went well.</p>
<p>For us, the ensemble placements have generated excitement, the amount of music being played sounds huge, and the feedback on the academics sounds like he is engaged. So, keeping fingers crossed and looking forward to the first concert!</p>
<p>I am envying all of you. Northwestern move-in is next Tuesday (Sep 16)! I think they designed this late start so that parents will be beyond thrilled when their kid goes to college and kids won't be homesick, just sick of home! EVERYONE else has gone to college and S is bored stiff and starting to pester his high-school friends, who are, of course, deeply into their own college applications and don't need him hanging around angst-less. Now we know that next year he had better plan for work/study/something! that lasts well into mid September. And our high schooler in the house is not thrilled that his older brother has no homework...yet.</p>
<p>He's keeping up with voice lessons and reading music history but he really wants to get started NOW. I'm getting vicarious thrills reading about your sons' experiences, though!</p>
<p>My D was cast in the fall opera - she is thrilled. To be cast as a freshman is very flattering. She's in the chorus and she can't wait until rehearsals start. Voice lessons started the first week of classes in her studio. She has also started practicing new rep with her accompanist. The only glitch was that a class conflicted with opera rehearsal so she withdrew from the class. Now I see why there are so many "super seniors" in music.</p>
<p>cartera, as an aside, one thing son found beneficial was to take evening classes if offered. If the school has a program geared to adult students, you may find that a number of "general requirements" are offered in these slots.</p>
<p>It's possible to find a class that meets one day a week, till 9:30 or 10 pm. It CAN make for a long day, but sometimes it can be a very viable option in scheduling around a conflict without adding a heavy credit semester, or an winter or summerterm cost factor.</p>
<p>Thanks violadad - the class she had to drop was an evening class - the rehearsals are in the evening. She doesn't have to take freshman English because of her AP score and she took math in summer school this year at a local college so that will also transfer. That made it possible for her to drop the class. Hopefully, she will be able to pick the class up in the Maymester.</p>
<p>Wow - my son is so lucky to have all his academic credits behind him going in. He certainly had to work for it the past two years, but now he's really free to jump into music whole hog and it's a good thing because....he auditioned into the top orchestra! He's one of only 2 freshman violinists in it. They're playing the season premiere concert in just 2 weeks conducted by Slatkin and starring Joshua Bell. So he's thrilled, but completely stressed to have to learn very challenging orchestra rep on short notice, 2 lessons a week, piano class, etc. It's a really good thing that he didn't get the advanced theory placement he wanted because that would have added to the stress. He's got a fantastic single dorm room which we helped him to set up so he can easily entertain guests (which he's already done) and he's got a bike to move around freely on. The wind is behind him for the moment. We miss him terribly, but we're also very excited for him. A good start.</p>
<p>That's wonderful Stringfollies! congrats to him. </p>
<p>D knew when she chose her school that it required more Gen Ed courses than any of her other choices. There are 41 credit hours of general education coursework required so the performance major in particular is really packed.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son Stringfollies on his great ensemble placement! Sounds like he's jumped right in with both feet. What a great first concert! Hope he keeps the wind at his back and has a blast along the way.</p>
<p>Sounds like everyone is doing wonderfully. What a great group of kids! Our son also made an upperclass ensemble in addition to his required freshman ensemble. Much happiness!</p>
<p>I can relate to what Neumes is saying. My D is waiting for next Tuesday to roll around for the start of the Northwestern school year. EVERYONE else has left for school and my D just survived the removal of 4 impacted wisdom teeth. We are so hoping that she is fully recovered by next week!</p>
<p>It sounds like everyone is doing great. Cartera, congrats to your daughter! My D cannot wait to get to Northwestern to begin all of her auditions!</p>