<p>Hi. I haven't been on these forums in awhile as my son decided he did not want to pursue music performance as a major. However, he received a catalog today from Blair (Vanderbilt) which indicates that they offer a music performance minor. This is something I think he might be quite interested in! I did not know that music performance minors were an option anywhere - I thought there were typically just music minors which were heavier on theory, history, and literature. </p>
<p>I have seen programs for performance certificates at other schools, but often these seem to require an audition at the end of one's sophomore year. I have always wondered why they were structured that way - why a student couldn't start these earlier. The catalog for Blair states that auditions are required for a music performance minor, but doesn't seem to elaborate on when they occur. Anyone know? This minor looks wonderful for my ds because it is performance heavy!</p>
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<p>Hi, a simple Google brings up quite a few- Boston U, Syracuse, UF, GA Tech so you might find that there’s one somewhere already on your interest list. </p>
<p>The sophomore year auditions thing is pretty common among both the performing arts and also visual arts where a portfolio review is required. Sometimes it might just be a formality. Other times its because there’s a strict quota of places and not everyone will be admitted to that major/minor. So your son would be looking to keep up his performance skills and do his best on any pre-requisite classes and very possibly look to be part of some performance groups from day 1. The sophomore/junior divide is also a cut off point for many regular majors. You might want to do bio-chem but if your GPA isn’t high enough you might have to find another major. Keeps certain classes small enough and makes majors more prestigious.</p>
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<p>Vanderbilt’s website states the following:
Audition during performance exams at the end of the first semester of private study. Students must meet
minimum performance standards for admission to the program. Representative repertoire lists reflecting
minimum performance standards for entrance to the program are included below.</p>
<p>The audition requirements are clearly explained on the site also. Go here:
<a href=“http://blair.vanderbilt.edu/pdfs/perf-minor-2013.pdf[/url]”>http://blair.vanderbilt.edu/pdfs/perf-minor-2013.pdf</a></p>
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<p>^Yes. Sorry. I found this after I had posted my question. My apologies.</p>
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<p>No problem! Sometimes it all depends upon which search engine you use and the way you enter a site- you can find something completely different.</p>
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<p>As we try to navigate what appears to be at least some sort of music-related decision coming down the road in a few years for our HS daughter, we recently stumbled across these MP minors - never knew they existed. I really don’t know much about them. What doors do they open and what might they lead to? Do they lead to opportunities that wouldn’t be available simply by studying privately throughout college?</p>
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<p>^Those are good questions.</p>
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<p>It all depends on the college, of course, but a performance minor may be able to access better training and performance opportunities than someone who is just taking lessons. For example, the “elective” lessons may be taught by a grad student while the performance minor may be part of a professor’s studio and participate in studio classes/recitals, be eligible for scholarships and other competitions, etc. </p>
<p>Another factor is that the performance minor will have additional required classes that will give the student a more well-rounded musical background.</p>
<p>My brother could have gotten a music minor along with his English major in college, but he’s one of those “don’t fence me in” type guys who did not want any more required classes even though he was studying privately and participating in ensembles.</p>
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