<p>My kid took a year off of music and this year, as a high shool senior, auditioned and was accepted at 3 university BM degrees. Of course, kiddo's admissions results weren't quite what had been hoped for before the year off but they are all good schools, each with their drawbacks (money is a stretch but all gave enough $ that I think we could swing it, known for a type of music that is not my performer's interest, emphasis on just mallets vs balance between mallets/ timpani, too many general ed requirements which we fear will interfere with practice time). </p>
<p>Long story short, a top conservatory professor in kiddo's instrument recommended a private teacher, thinking kiddo could get some months of good training in before freshman year. Kiddo went to said teacher who said he thinks he can get the playing level up so kiddo can be a stronger candidate to top schools if kid takes a gap year. He said he can't guarantee he can get kiddo in-- but thinks my performer will be a much stronger candidate and could be ready to apply in the next cycle. This new teacher does have experience getting kids into the top schools every year; former private teacher was good, graduated a good school himself, had lots of professional and regional experience, but does not get kids into the top schools. We have been told by several people that my kid was given some bad auditioning advice including what pieces to play, etc-- plus, a gap year would give kiddo time to just practice without academic classes, unlike this year in high school when kiddo was juggling 4 APs.</p>
<p>Now it's just days before we have to give final notice and I was wondering if anyone had any advice. We would be giving up a bird in the hand and some scholarships. At least one professional musician has told my kid not to take a gap year and to go to college, but this musician happens to make a living in the kind of music that that college stresses, which is not where my kid's interests lie. (To be clear, it's akin to saying my kid was accepted at a good jazz program when he wants to do chamber music.)</p>
<p>If you know of anyone who took a gap year, how did you structure it? Can you tell conservatories you spent all day practicing without their suspecting you were actually in rehab or jail-- or do you throw in a part-time job or volunteer work just to make it look like a more traditional gap year? One of the schools is actually commuting distance and kiddo is considering taking general ed courses or going part-time--- but would that affect the possibility of scholarships the following year? Kiddo's high school gpa was only a 3.0; would it make sense to take some college courses for a higher gpa or would the possibility of being classified as a transfer kill any chances of music scholarships? We would need scholarship or financial aid $ for kiddo to go anywhere other than our state school.</p>
<p>I don’t have all your answers, but your son could accept at one school, for now, to give you some more time to think about a gap year, if you’re willing to throw away the deposit.</p>
<p>Thanks woodwinds. This is a pretty good idea. We are actually still missing a financial aid package which makes it hard to decide. I asked kiddo this morning if in 1 year, the admissions decision was the same-- in other words, got accepted at the same 3 schools-- would kiddo regret taking the gap year and the answer was, “No, I will feel more ready.” I think kiddo just doesn’t feel the chops are at the level they should be for college.</p>
<p>There seems to be very little time to decide everything–to make a very important decision! I recall two years ago with a (non-music) daughter trying to decide at the last minute as she had been accepted to a “name” school off the wait-list, while still waiting on financial info to arrive.</p>
<p>It’s probably a good idea to listen to your son. My music daughter is the opposite–she’s in 10th grade, but wants to graduate a year early. Then again, she’s been getting ready for college auditions already for about 5 years now.</p>
<p>I don’t know if anyone has ever done this, and I think music school deferrals are not done, but have you asked any of the schools he has gotten into if they would defer him for a year? I mention this because two music schools my D turned down said they would keep her admission file for a year, and that if she changed her mind at any time, to give them a call. Perhaps the three schools your S got into would be similarly inclined. Of course, don’t know what that would do for the money, but I would guess that it would be negotiable. (He may still not want to go to them in a year, but it is a back up if the gap year doesn’t work out for some reason.)</p>
<p>He could go to one of the schools he got into and transfer I suppose. Are some of the classes in the first year curriculum and the schools he can go to, applicable to his preferred genre?</p>
<p>Theory classes are sometimes not transferable, by the way. Every school seems to do it a little differently.</p>
<p>My daughter, who is a dancer, skipped senior year to dance and then left dance and didn’t do much of anything for a year (long story). It didn’t seem to affect admissions for her. In fact, the dean at the college told me she was probably more mature than peers due to that year out of the academic structure (regardless of what she was doing). She has had a great freshman year.</p>
<p>Many schools have a certain number of credits allowed to remain a freshman applicant, so you can check that out. So he could do a few classes at community college, but would have to watch out and not exceed whatever limit you find out about.</p>
<p>I think it is significant that the schools are not a good fit for the type of music he plays. Why did he apply to those schools? Is he totally sure of what he wants to do? Would these schools help him toward his goals, or possibly change his goals in a good way?</p>
<p>I also wonder about why he quit music for a year. As I said, my daughter did the same with dance and it ended up being very constructive. She went back on her own terms. Has your son started playing again? Is he very sure he wants a BM?</p>
<p>A gap year might clarify a lot of issues and would provide a chance to practice and get his “chops” back. Many kids take gap years these days, of course. But I have also seen some kids lose their way a bit.</p>
<p>I would not make a deposit and then withdraw, at least as a plan. It isn’t fair to others who might want to attend.</p>
<p>He does have the summer to get in shape. Another option is to apply for January. Sorry for the rambling here!</p>
<p>I second the idea of asking these schools if he can defer for a year. We deferred an acceptance at Berklee. That way, you’d have an assured option if the higher tier schools didn’t work out. </p>
<p>If he takes a gap year, I think it would be a good idea for him to take a gen ed class or two at a community college, or the commuting distance college you mentioned. It couldn’t hurt to have some grades to show next year, and if he got credit for those calsses and the AP classes, it could save you some money, becasue he might be able to finish college a semester or two early.</p>
<p>I have known several people who have taken gap years to bring their audition material up to snuff and I have not heard any sign that the schools looked down on doing so. Music schools generally go by how you play on the audition so I am not even sure that would be an issue there, and from what I know of academic schools many of them have put out statements saying that students who delay going to college often come in better prepared and more mature. If anyone asks, simply mention you are working with a private teacher to boost your playing ability.</p>
<p>As far as taking classes at a local college, that may not be a bad thing, but it also depends on what kind of programs you are targeting. If you are targeting music schools within a university (like U Mich, for example) or Bard where kids double major, then getting core requirements out of the way might be useful and/or possibly taking AP tests to pass out of some courses…at a stand alone music school, though, while it is never bad to take classes, it probably won’t buy you much, since AP’s usually mean pretty much zero and they don’t have all the core requirements academic schools do (be wise to check what your target schools require and target that). On the other hand, if he can find courses in music theory and ear training, that could be valuable (I assume percussion majors have to take those as well, could be wrong). </p>
<p>From what you have said, the strong part of the decision making process would be if the programs he got into do what he needs. If he is of a classical bent, then getting into a Jazz program might not work well, music programs are not necessarily interchangeable (the same way getting a great scholarship for violin in a program where the violin teachers are not particularly good or easy to work with wouldn’t make sense)…obviously I don’t know much about percussion, but it would seem to me that taking a gap year and getting into a program more tailored to what he wants to do would make sense.</p>
<p>S is freshman percussion major at a university. He has learned a lot just from being around different perspectives (profs, students) of playing than just what he got from his private teacher in high school. His program is structured and although his interest is orchestral percussion, timpani isn’t until his junior year. But he also is taking jazz drum set as a class so he absorbs the whole percussion thing. My point is-if your son thinks he’s not “good enough”-he will get better at college with a whole new environment. And he will be taught all areas of the instruments not just one genre. And my S likes his general ed classes!</p>
<p>I think a very important criteria for taking a gap year is the child’s inherent nature. Do they need the pressure of daily classes and deadlines to get things done, or is he very self motivated? It’s not to say that they would not eventually be self-motivated, it’s all about where he is at this moment. Does he tend to need to be pushed to make a decision and then loves the choice, or are his gut instincts very good? I see nothing wrong in asking for a deferral, taking some classes at a local college to get his GPA up which are transferrable, and putting as much time as possible into getting his level of expertise to a point where he feels very comfortable auditioning for the program that is a perfect fit for him. Good luck with the decisions and remind him there are no right or wrong choices. There are positives and negatives in all choices and once he’s made his choice, don’t look back!</p>
<p>OK 2 College, I found on another post where your S (I think it’s S?) was accepted. Hello! He was accepted to top schools! Are you saying he wants to go to a conservatory instead? Are you sure he wants to even study music and/or go to college? He should be elated that he was admitted to these schools!</p>
<p>As the parent of a percussionist, I can tell you what we were told from professionals in the orchestral world who know what is being hired right now. Be the most well rounded musician that you can. Specialize in graduate school or through your work experience. My S was able to whittle his acceptance list down just by using this thought process and then it came down to finances for the final decision. At the end of the day, you want your child to be employable!</p>
<p>Just so you know, if your son takes any classes at all, even a CC class during gap year, he will jeopardize his freshman status and ergo the pool of merit aid available. Scholarships are typically far fewer in number for “transfer” students. So if you do pursue a gap year, do so with utmost caution if you’ve currently received good packages. They may not be there for a transfer.</p>
<p>PS Was there a particular top school your son had his eye on for which he was not accepted after audition?
– Is he maybe thinking “Gee, for all that debt, I’d really rather go to x?”</p>
<p>Because in that case (with the caveat of preserving the freshman status) go with his gut, as long as its not temporary cold feet!</p>
<p>I’ve been at work all day. Let me answer some questions… He got into great schools, all at universities but he did want a conservatory and got turned down from his top 3 choices. It didn’t help that friend after friend got accepted to top places. So yes, kmc, I think part of what he’s thinking is for all that debt, he would rather go to a conservatory but I don’t think the professors at the university programs think he isn’t ready. His top choice stayed in constant touch with him from the moment he auditioned and we actually really like the people at all 3 schools. He just thinks that one of the other programs (where he was turned down or didn’t even apply because he knew he wasn’t ready) would better position him for grad school and a career in what he wants. But I think he can’t count on getting into a conservatory because it’s so competitive and the $ would have to work out. That’s why I asked him if he would feel he had wasted a year if he ends up at one of these places one year from now and he said no. He wants to go in and be at the best level he can. </p>
<p>I don’t know that we could find ear training classes although there’s a conservatory prep program near here that could get us a private theory teacher. The private teacher we found will even help with recording a prescreen-- which was a NIGHTMARE for us. I think I am leaning toward letting him take this year off. I will ask about a deferral at the top school. The biggest risk is not getting accepted at the same school or not getting scholarship money.</p>
<p>2collegewego,
My musician is my youngest child so I have seen the changes that occur in teens as they grow into young adults. Because of that I am a HUGE fan of a gap year. In fact I wish my musician son would take one. The director of our HS Jazz program is well known throughout the Jazz world. He is also a HUGE fan of gap years for musicians. In his day he was able to graduate HS and play gigs. He said he got so much better by just being out there and playing with a wide variety of people and situations and different musical styles. He then went to Berklee and then on to Broadway where he became known as a great pit musician because he was very good at site reading. Eventually he found landed where he is today. My son’s private teacher just confessed to me that he also took 2 years off. He worked in a convenience store in his small midwestern hometown until he realized that all he wanted to do was play music. He went off to Berklee but then decided he belonged at NEC and transferred.</p>
<p>Oh with regard to just working with a private teacher. After attending Berklee’s 5 week this summer, my son had a class with Jim Stinnett. Jim (who has issues IMHO) mentioned all these famous musicians and then told our son…none of them went to Berklee they just studied with me. Obnoxious to say the least…I was pretty appalled that he was suggesting that our son not attend college but just study with him. And then he mentioned the cost…oiy. Insane. But the important part about this story and the reason I mention it is that there are many ways to get to where your son wants to be in his future. There are no right answers. </p>
<p>As for kmcmom’s comment about jeopardizing freshman status. That is not necessarily true. My middle son had accumulated quite a lot of college credit due to his having a rather unusual HS experience. But our son was somebody who was going to need four years of college to mature and grow, so we did not want any of that credit applied to his college degree. Almost all institutions were fine with that, including our state University system. Only one institution insisted on treating him like a transfer. And he did get merit money from both the state and from a small private liberal arts college. That merit money was NOT based on his HS transcript (I can promise you that…as his HS transcript was sparse and what grades there were, were not particularly good). So the merit money was based on the grades he got at our local universities extension school and our community college and through a gap year program that he did. I am pretty sure that you can easily say that any credit your son accrues is part of a post-bac year. Athletes take a fifth year of HS all the time.</p>
<p>You will need to check with the college at which he defers about taking college classes during his gap year. There are MANY colleges which specifically forbid that in the deferment contract. It is different than concurrent enrollment credits as a high schooler.</p>
<p>I think he should do the gap year. I am not an expert in music schools, BUT…when it comes to school in general, Jazz is completely not Chamber music. There is no point in going to a music school in Jazz if you are actually interested in Chamber music. You would probably be better off going to a secondary school with bigger scholarships than go to a Jazz school when you really want to do Chamber.</p>
<p>The son got into some really good schools (one in particular), including conservatory offering classical percussion. Others on this board, in various years, have been tremendously happy to have gotten into this school. The original poster never mentioned anything about jazz. </p>
<p>I don’t know what the decision was, but I hope the son went to the top school where he was admitted. No harm done if he waited a year, but clearly his playing was already pretty darn good, and he could grow as a musician if he goes in the fall.</p>