I don't know what to make of these assessments... (**sorry long**)

College Majors Music Major
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<p>When I first started posting on CC, my daughter was in jr high and although I was nervous about her dream of studying oboe performance, I supported that dream. We, with the help of many on this board, formulated an academic plan (and she's tried not to feel guilty about not taking every Honors and AP course imaginable) and set to work. There were some things she wouldn't give up that for a few more weeks are eating into her precious time. Of course there's always homework.</p>

<p>From outside sources we've got the assurance (however much you can be assured) that she is capable of going down this long road. School, of all places, has become a different story. She's taking Music Theory and participates in Wind Ensemble, yet feels under constant pressure to find room for Chorus, Pit Orchestra and Marching Band. Most of the top music students participate in all of these. Of course she feels she has a much more realistic understanding from reading certain books, this board, talking to people and other places on what she needs to do. She understands the unbelievable competition. I would say she's one of the top 4 musicians in her school, I don't know maybe first. I think she has the best attitude in that she doesn't go around acting like a prodigy. I don't really want to out myself and location but depending on who reads this the following will give it away-- in the local youth orchestra she has been principle for two years and is given much in terms of encouragement, positive feedback and encouraged to pursue her dream. Her private teacher encourages her and says she is capable but worries about all classical musicians "having a paycheck". But she has never discouraged her from going forward. </p>

<p>In our relatively small 3 county area, she has placed first, second and third on oboe-- third last fall. It was very upsetting to her as she said "if I can't succeed here, how can I get into a good college/conservatory?" I asked her director straight out-- tell us now, please, if this is not the route she should be traveling, if she's not good enough. He said she's been playing top level solos since 7th grade, scoring near perfect and he's behind her. He said for some reason our area has a very strong group of 4-6 oboe players, something that he's never seen. Last year, she was told she didn't make Area All-State. We're not talking All-State, just Area All-State here in NY. (She wasn't eligible for all-state in 10th anyway). Heartbroken, my daughter wondered how that could be. I asked our director how the committee chose students and he said it was totally on score on audition, nothing else. That put me in a predicament-- I had seen three scores and my daughter's was the top. The other two were in Area All-State. I asked him again if he could check the scores. He said he had no access to them. I told him straight out I had seen the scores of other students from different districts, which I had. He made a phone call to the committee head and three hours later received a call that a "mistake" had been made. They had labeled the solo the wrong level was the reason given. But we knew more then one student had played this solo! (And the other scored lower and was in.) They stuck my daughter in at third seat band, a seat that never existed before. This year (based on last years scores) she was given this same "new" third seat after scoring higher on an all-state audition, a few points from 100. I know nobody got a 100. We were contacted by a few teachers I know in different districts, and "others" who I'll just say would know, telling me that my daughter will never be seated in front of her two biggest rivals, and a third is just behind. I said "why"? And the answer was two of the three were kids of the head of the committee and the third was the kid of the festival organizer, and my daughter was lucky to get a seat at all. I don't know what to believe. I know there is nepotism in music, but this is public school. Scores are kept secret. Judges are usually the same people on the four person committee, or work for them. We just want a realistic assessment! One year my daughter ended up playing all of the solos because once they got to rehearsal she was the only one capable! But this is eating into her confidence big time. She just doesn't know. It is interesting the local youth orchestra has picked her as first, two years running, and when there was a totally impartial judge from a different region my daughter was first. It's hard to say NYSSMA doesn't matter when it's telling you that you rank so low. One year in just all-county, the only feedback given, on the only form the judge used was "outstanding in every category excellent in one". That was literally it! No score! They took two oboes and not her. Two teachers kids. Her director felt horrible because listening to her he had already given her the music to practice the solo! That was jr high, same group of kids. Later that year she was chosen for an All-State Jr. High band adjudicated by outside judges, first seat again.</p>

<p>My daughter is frustrated and questioning her ability. It's affecting practice time. Be honest. Are we looking for scapegoats for low placements (despite high scores) or is it really "odd" this is only happening in local public school events? We were even told by a very trustworthy source the kid that has gotten first chair asked the local youth orchestra if my daughter was trying out. It was a public list, yes she was on it. Outside our area, this kid said " forget it, if I can't be first I'm not trying out". What does that say? The other two oboes with my daughter in youth orchestra aren't from our region.</p>

<p>Has anybody ever encountered anything like this? In my daughters positive moments, she says "I can learn from this, competition makes me better." On a bad day it's "if I can't be #1 here, how will I even be #10 anywhere else?" She is a junior in HS and confused. Her unmusical parents are wondering if she needs to explore other avenues. Is she overreacting? Undereacting? We are open to a GAP year of just music study but don't know if it's necessary or would help. She does wish she had more free time to enjoy HS. This has been hard for me to type. Her private teacher says her lessons show she's putting the work in, has the talent. At Potsdam last summer she was given excellent reviews by Anna Hendickson and provided with excellent contacts and resources. She was very outgoing at Potsdam, considered shy at home high school. Thoughts?</p>

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<p>I can’t speak about NYSSMA, not being from New York, but I don’t believe that regional assessments are terribly meaningful. My daughter never did any kind of All State competition because her teacher discouraged it, pointing out that the adjudication was all over the place, and citing evidence of how his less-capable students would frequently place above others who were better and more serious. (Please, no brickbats–I know there are many good things about this system.) </p>

<p>But his point was that the adjudication isn’t always reliable. (He also thought of these weekends as being too time-consuming and distracting.) Because my daughter did not go to a high school where there was pressure to enter these competitions, it was not a problem. But I understand how strong the pressure can be to participate. Just don’t think of it as an absolute meritocracy with the best students always coming out on top. These adjudicators will not be ones listening to her college auditions. </p>

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<p>The outstanding musicians we know also did not participate in regional or state assessments, and in the last year or two didn’t participate in school band, orchestra or chorus either. Participation in a conservatory preparatory program and youth orchestra was important. You may not have a conservatory nearby, but I would say whatever program outside of school she has access to, that can help her grow as a musician on a steady basis, is better than high school or “district” competitions and performances. The youth orchestra sounds like the best resource you have locally.</p>

<p>Has she done any summer programs? Summer programs have benefits musically, of course, and also offer a sense of community that can be healthy.</p>

<p>After raising a musician and dancer, with all the pressures in both fields, I feel concerned about your daughter and her perception of the music world in this intensely competitive and hierarchical fashion, however realistic it may or may not be. Practicing and other hard work is so much better when based on a personal desire to improve, and a love of the art form, rather than thinking about being #1 in a regional or #10 in a conservatory. Perhaps that sounds naïve, but I truly believe this.</p>

<p>I understand that your daughter, and you, are nervous about both admissions and career, but am hoping you can get past these external motivators and get back to the internal motivation that she had in the first place. The oboe is a beautiful instrument and she will always have this ability to play it, regardless of what decisions she may make as she grows up, develops and changes in the same ways all kids her age do.</p>

<p>Your daughter sounds stressed, honestly. Regardless of choices already made in terms of AP’s and honors, she has many paths available to her for study after high school. She has not painted herself in a corner. I would encourage her to understand she can still choose not to do music in a conservatory if it is too stressful to prepare. Talent is not everything, and resilience is important. Perhaps knowing she still has other options, including music study in an LAC, for instance, and still has the freedom to choose what she will be doing, will, paradoxically, free her up to focus on oboe in a healthier way.</p>

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<p>ps I had one thought: you and/or your daughter might want to read one of the books available on careers in music. I happen to have “The Musician’s Journey” by Timmons on my table here. Many musicians are entrepreneurial these days, and make their own opportunities. (My cousin plays the oboe and created her own music ensemble, and also freelances). It is not all about gaining first chair, or third for that matter. Thinking about the field in a different way, and reading about the paths of others, might be helpful for your daughter.</p>

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<p>There is nothing neutral about NYSSMA All-State. The process is entirely subjective. If 5 violinists (or oboists) all have the same score awarded, they pick students by other determinants. How is it possible that a Level 6 score of 100 is given, with endless glowing remarks, several years running, is not selected? Been there. As glassharmonica indicates, the process is all over the place.</p>

<p>We are very familiar with the peer pressure of participating in All-County, All-State, etc., but your daughter should really consider unplugging from all of these events (and marching band, and pit also). They take a lot of time to prepare for and participate in, and from those we know who have chosen this career path, these events are not significant, in the end. Far more important is getting involved in a precollege program, or youth orchestra, where she can rise to a higher level of performance.</p>

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<p>I have not visited the music forum in such a long time. It’s nice to be back here again.</p>

<p>Redeye - I don’t think your daughter should place so much stock in these assessments. I have known excellent musicians who have been overlooked at these types of auditions (whether it’s for All-State or a local youth ensemble), and still managed to get into good music schools and be successful and happy. All of these audition experiences are important, whether they turn out well or not. And it does help to develop a thick skin.</p>

<p>I think summer programs are great for helping musicians see where they fit in, especially if you are in a smaller area. Sample lessons can be helpful, too. </p>

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<p>What glassharmonica and others said. We do happen to be from New York (NYC) and my daughter never did or even considered those programs or assessments–and neither did any of the (serious) musicians she knew. My advice is to shrug and move on. These things don’t matter in the slightest when she walks into the college audition room. </p>

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<p>We just went through this! My son did not have much time to prepare for obvious reasons (prescreens) and decided to do it for fun and be with his friends and get a few days off of school. Did other kids place higher than he was clearly techniques ahead of? Yes. But it was his choice. And tbh, their bach suite this year needed much more time than he had. It was good to do to keep his skills up and do something besides audition repetoire but not to impress anyone.
Also, many kids from the camps this summer never participated in all state. </p>

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<p>Not NY but we had a similar experience in voice. The year after DD had a perfect score and was second in the state, the selection committee decided they did not want anyone with a “solo voice” and selected people who were way down in the chorus instead of the section leaders. DD then just chucked the whole thing and did not even try out for the next state level ensemble since she perparing for and then auditioning. It had no impact whatsoever on where she ended up. She was one of only 2 in the school that went into a conservatory level program. The advice from instrumentalists is good to practice for the love of music, get outside affirmation from the community opportunies and summer programs and she will go where she should be. </p>

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<p>Redeye:</p>

<p>I would never minimize the importance of school-based music programs in this country, as we need every last minute of music education to be supported for all children. However, for highly advanced students, school programs may not be the best place to pour one’s energy as those above have mentioned. It sounds like your daughter is getting mired in confusion and needs to step back and evaluate the best way to spend her time.</p>

<p>At this point, I think she should be focusing on auditions for top level summer programs. Many of the deadlines (Interlochen, BUTI) are Feb. 1 or so. Kinhaven might be a wonderful place for her this summer; it is very supportive and perhaps she needs a place where she can be in a very collaborative environment. Apply for scholarships and financial aid before ruling anything out, too.</p>

<p>Bow out of any upcoming school opportunities gracefully. There really isn’t any need to explain other than, “I just don’t have the time.” I’m always happy to be the fall guy for my kids, too - “My mom doesn’t want me to, she’s kind of funny that way :)” Stay away from any talk that involves comparing student musicians -those toxic environments don’t do any of us any good.</p>

<p>At one time you posted about your daughter considering a gap year. Perhaps if she has a longer view she could relax a little bit. She would likely be an even better musician for having less stress around the process. Music is demanding, but if she loses the ability to enjoy it that would be sad. She may decide she doesn’t wish to pursue music as a career, but enjoying music for the rest of her life would be a gift worth keeping.</p>

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<p>The perspective given here is spot on. It really doesn’t matter if your D gets into all-state or does pit orchestra in school. My S, with our encouragement, has become quite selective regarding the music activities he pours his energy into. For example, after sophomore year he dropped doing the highest level jazz band at our school (he is a bassist) in order to make room for our state’s fantastic youth symphony. The instrumental jazz program at the school is mediocre and time consuming. He felt he would be a better player if he dropped that to allow more practice time and get the experience and challenge of being in the top level youth symphony. He didn’t audition for All-state this year. He had a great experience with it the last two years but really wanted to focus his energy on his repertoire for college auditions, practice time and transcribing music for his jazz combo. It’s all about choice and time. S has learned to graciously thank people for opportunities he has to turn down. Also, I encourage him to just participate in those things that he really wants to…there is so much out there and you just can’t do it all.</p>

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<p>Hi redeye -</p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t think your daughter has anything to worry about. Our daughter’s teacher (as you know from our conversations, also a HS Jr. oboe) has done a good job at talking us off the ledge and has taught us to avoid trying to make heads or tails over audition results. Our motto has become “control the controllables”. What teenage musicians need to learn is that there’s only about 1.5 things you can actually control in an audition; how hard you prepare and, to a lesser degree, how healthy you stay. There’s 25 things you can’t control, one of which being if there’s less than a level playing field. (My daughter once had a judge sit there eating Chinese food during her audition. Talk about an uncontrollable!)</p>

<p>Fortunately we have never encountered anything like what you mention (our district assessments are 100% blind - kids are known only by number and everyone performs the same rep and all-state selection is entirely based on your district audition score, not a committee), but it doesn’t really surprise me. A friend’s child is experiencing something similar this year in a sport at school. Their child is clear and away the best in the school in that sport (has even received high praises from professionals), but the coach is buddies with the family of the #2 kid and that, as they say, is that. Even to the point of the coach moving practice and our friend’s kid being the only one to not be notified.</p>

<p>Also, as others have mentioned, I would encourage her to eliminate marching band and pit orch. These simply take up time and are not critical to college/conservatory. I know it’s tough if the expectation at her HS is “this is what the top kids do”, but she needs to be OK with doing what’s right for her. Our daughter does neither, even though I’m sure her director wishes she did. She does HS band (and may not even do that senior year), youth symphony, private lessons, a few concerto competitions, and summer programs. That’s enough. Her HS band is going on a trip next spring (optional) and she’s not even going on that because the trip isn’t particularly inexpensive and we felt it was better to spend our limited funds on summer programs. Her director really wanted her to go, but he totally understood when I explained things to him. She’s done district and will be going to all-state this year, but I can’t say it’s terribly important to her. I would suspect she’ll skip all-state senior year if she feels it might conflict with audition season.</p>

<p>I think your daughter likely has what it takes (whatever that means!). She has received praise from all the qualified, IMPARTIAL sources she has come across from youth symphony and summer programs. Encourage her to listen to those people and tune out the others. She’s good enough! It’s just a part of life that some people insist on making up their own rules. Uncontrollable.</p>

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<p>I have given you this advice before and will give it again. You are not that far from Ithaca College and Eastman. Get in contact with professors there and get lessons with them. Get a true evaluation. </p>

<p>Is NYSSMA a true evaluation of talent? NO<br>
Get a real evaluation from a real college level teacher. </p>

<p>Seeking out true professionals to evaluate is the number one thing to help your child. </p>

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<p>Redeye, I don’t mean to offend, and I may be off base, but it sounds like you are too caught up in the whole ranking/competition aspect of all this yourself - where your daughter ranks as a musician in her school, where she has “placed” in the county, how her scores compare to the scores of students from other districts (how did you come to see the scores of the other students anyway?), referring to other students as “her two biggest rivals,” focusing on speculation about favoritism and connections (which may very well be true, but there’s not much you can do about it), and the need/desire to be #1. None of this has anything to do with music. Music should be a source of joy, not stress. There can be real joy in being in an environment and playing with other kids who are really good and share your passion for music. But not when it turns into a competitive mess.</p>

<p>I agree with those who suggest that your daughter forego these types of competitions and “assessments”, and instead focus on practicing and developing as a musician, seek out alternative avenues for making music with other dedicated students, look for high quality summer programs that offer a friendly and collaborative environment for musically talented students, and most importantly, enjoy playing her instrument. I think it’s fine if you/she want to go to Ithaca or Eastman and do a lesson and get some feedback from a college level teacher, but I don’t think it’s necessary and wouldn’t do it if it’s going to cause stress. And I think the best thing you can do as a parent is to try to shield her from the stress as best you can and let her just enjoy her music.</p>

<p>When my son applied to conservatories, neither he nor my wife and I had that much of an idea for how well he’d do in the process. He had never done any of these competitions or assessments. He had attended some good summer programs, and loved playing with other talented students, so he had the confidence that he was capable of doing it. But he just focused on playing as well as he could, putting together the best pre-screens that he could, and doing his best in the auditions. He ended up getting into some great schools. As others have said, when it comes to conservatory admissions, it’s all about the auditions.</p>

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<p>Step back and take a deep breath. Honestly, you are putting way too much value in all of the NYSSMA stuff- there are many kids in NY who never bother with it either by choice or because their schools don’t offer ensembles in which they could participate. Students are chosen at the discretion of the committee and often, they are selected from those in only ONE of the rooms that day; in one upstate county, that is the usual procedure. If your kid wasn’t lucky enough to perform in that room on solofest day, even a perfect score on a very difficult piece won’t land them a spot in All State.
You are communicating your distress to your daughter and if she wants to aim for a career in music, she is going to need your support during the application and audition process.If what y Let her speak to the director if she feels she needs to, but really, she should be discussing all of this with her private teacher. She is a junior, so make the effort to get her to the best private teacher that you possibly can and let him/her take the reins. This year is crucial for getting audition repertoire prepared- I wouldn’t even bother with All County or All State- those won’t matter a bit to an audition panel next year. She needs the break and so do you.
Feel free to use us as a sounding board, but please do consider just stepping back from the involvement in your daughter’s world just a bit. Help her with getting to where she needs to be, listen when she needs to talk- smiles and hugs go a long way at this stage- but let her put down the burden of pleasing you. When she goes to audition for college (assuming that that is what she chooses), she will be up against kids who are not as good, just as good and some who may be better than she, but that is up to the panel to evaluate, and they will not care one bit who was first chair and who was third chair and who didn’t play that year. The best player in one place might not even make the cut in another so they don’t place credence in any of that. Relax mom, you’re going to be at this a while longer!!</p>

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<p>Great post mezzo’s mama . You should know redeye my son always says “getting in was the easy part then all the real work and stress start.” Conservatory life is very busy and can be stressful. As a freshman a good friend of his who was a senior at the same school told him " sometimes it will come down between your theory homework and your sanity. Your sanity will win every time" Can your child handle the high level of pressure a conservatory life brings? Can you? </p>

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<p>Redeye, here is a previous post by you, with questions about whether paying for a performance degree would be possible or prudent: <a href=“Another Music Major and Debt discussion - Music Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1667469-another-music-major-and-debt-discussion-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And here is a portion of what you wrote after receiving some responses (excerpt):
"A while back I posted on a gap year and that’s still an option. As daughter sees it if she can’t get some decent merit after 7 months of intense study, maybe it wasn’t meant to be. But I’m thinking she may also do well without the gap year. We’ve had her abilities “looked at” before by very well known teachers but that was three years ago. We’re looking into doing that again. Still, at 16, she’s got that attitude where she sees only the straight line from point A (college) to point B (major orchestra position.) We’re working on what she really wants/needs and feels is really important. Discussions on reality are on going! It’s got to be tough for our kids that have put other interests to the side, devoted so much time, and are teenagers with all the feelings that come with that stage of lifeI </p>

<p>I found it interesting that my own responses to your post back then were almost identical to what I wrote in this current thread. And someone in that older thread suggested a book on music careers, which is how I ended up with the Timmons book:) Have your daughter read one of the books suggested on online sites. She needs to loosen up her vision of success as a musician.</p>

<p>It would seem there is excessive pressure in your house, for your daughter to be a “top” musician, possibly for financial reasons (merit aid) and also due to the investment over the years by the family, and through your daughter’s own sacrifices. We told you then and are telling you now to stop thinking about music in this hierarchical, competitive way and help your daughter get back to doing oboe out of love and enjoyment for a bit.</p>

<p>With both my dancer and my musician, every once in awhile, I would ask them “Are you sure you want to do this?” “Do you want a more normal life?” At this age, when kids are transitioning to their own motivation from the earlier stage of pleasing adults, it is important for the student to own what they are doing. By giving your daughter the option to stop music, she can have autonomy in what she is doing. Remind her she still has free choice. </p>

<p>And if conservatory is too expensive, have her apply to some music schools within colleges or to colleges themselves, as well. Don’t think about merit aid until all the offers are in. Just let your daughter make her choices, enjoy high school, and enjoy her oboe. And a summer program will really help at this point.</p>

<p>Clearly you love your daughter and want her to be happy, but I think often we parents, in our dedication, can get in the way when we think we are supporting. This is true of all of us. We have to do some self-corrections at times :)</p>

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<p>Great advice given already so I’m just going to add an anecdote to demonstrate my hunch that things just work out the way they’re meant. The situation is different, but it speaks to the notion that sometimes we have to trust our kids’ intuition ;)</p>

<p>By way of background, Mcson was in some ways a later start in music. Lots of raw, natural talent, but truthfully, I didn’t start out following the advice of his band leader (eg private lessons, camps, etc.) and myself was late to the game. But he just kept at it, lovin it, and mucking around, started writing and producing music too, and one day I woke up to the fact that he intended to pursue music…not the academic/creative life I’d been envisioning based on the gifted school he attended. I personally felt he was completely unprepared, and I felt responsible. For years people (eg fellow parents in jazz, etc.) had been telling me to get him into x,y,z etc. Even back when he was 5, a friend of mine who was a classical musician and had heard him fooling around on a keyboard, said he should start immediately or he’d be behind…and I ignored him too. At the time, i was a single parent in a demanding job and without time or resources to manage anything extra-curricular.</p>

<p>So, at some point way late in the process he finally goes to a camp, and has a disastrous audition that places him way way down the totem pole compared to where he’s normally apt to play, and paying with kids a lot younger than him. But the kid is a good egg and not a whiner so he sucks it up and helps out and works at getting his “immature” section to be a little more, shall we say, “conduct-able.” This did not escape his conductor’s notice.</p>

<p>Said conductor nominates him for a camp award that includes being able to do the European tour the following year with the uber-accomplished kids who are way ahead of him in terms of technique, years playing, etc.
I’m thinking OMG how will he manage when the material is often out of his range, etc. But he manages and loves the experience and makes some great friends and doesn’t give a rat’s arse that he is “behind” so many “awesome” musicians. He just loves to play, and loves to be around uber-accomplished players ;)</p>

<p>So come college application time…he’s stayed in touch with that conductor and gets a truly awesome recommendation. I mean, it brought tears to my eyes. Only god knows how much that helped him, but I suspect it did. His #1 preferred degree sought was hybrid and competitive but not based strictly on audition (portfolio for composition and production, with performance on principal instrument). Two of those uber-accomplished players he’d met through the tour applied to the same program and did not get in. (They did get into other top programs at Northwestern and Oberlin, and one later transferred into McSon’s program successfully.)
McSon, however, despite whatever deficits in terms of years-in and performance technique, did get in. Which amazed me at the time ;)</p>

<p>In retrospect though, it made sense. He took his “freedom” from structure and fashioned his own relationship to music. So he had a lot more technology and variety/musicality under his belt, which I later found out, had appealed to the department head, who’d shared a few things with me at a performance a few years later in which one of his compositions was featured. </p>

<p>Mcson has gone on record that there’s perfect serendipity in his life and that things worked out precisely as meant, has maintained he always knew they would, and says I’ve spent far too much time stewing about the things I wasn’t able to give him that he found on his own anyway. From where I’m sitting, I see that it’s true.</p>

<p>So redeye, I empathize with you entirely, but just want to say to trust your daughter’s future, if that makes any sense. Trust it to unfold and enjoy the ride :)</p>

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<p>@bigdjp I think we may be beating up a little too much on redeye here. “Can your child handle the high level of pressure a conservatory life brings? Can you?” It may not have been your intention, but that kind of question can sound patronizing.</p>

<p>I think her concern is completely normal. Her daughter is frustrated (understandably) and upset, so she came to us for reassurance. Let’s not go overboard by suggesting that she and her daughter are not up to handling the stress of conservatory. Every parent has moments when they question whether they’ve made the right choices. We’re here to support one another.</p>

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<p>Great advice from all of the responders! I especially appreciate the perspective of @jazzpianodad – musical pursuits cannot and should not be tied to some sort of scoring system, and panels of judges are always inconsistent. We see this at the conservatory audition level; two faculty may love someone’s playing, while two others may not. There is so much subjective opinion involved in evaluating art (and this is the way it should be!). </p>

<p>Yes, I understand that competitions and “winning” seats are part of some musicians’ professional paths, but the fact is that many of the world’s finest musicians have not won (and would not win) competitions. The greatest are often pushing the boundaries of art and expression in ways that make panels of “expert” judges uncomfortable.</p>

<p>As @Mezzo’sMama indicated, All-State spots or seating (or lack thereof) have no bearing on conservatory admissions decisions. We frankly do not care. It is great to get additional ensemble experience on a high level, but you can find this is many ways other than All-whatevers (like summer programs and festivals, youth orchestras/bands, and even local community ensembles). Just keep performing, collaborating, and practicing. And, don’t forget to breathe and keep perspective on why we choose to pursue music.</p>

<p>Best,
Alex Powell
Assistant Dean for Admissions, NEC</p>