<p>I hope that all you wonderful music folk here will tolerate a bit of celebration on my part.....son checked his Fall 08 grades online and confirmed that he just 'graduated'!</p>
<p>His father and I weren't really sure that all those pesky details, like having enough credits in all the correct categories, would actually work out. He spent two years at one school, transferred to another for the next two. Needed that 9th semester (fall 08) to finish up a few credits and complete his student teaching requirement. Just learned he passed the required Praxis exam needed for his teaching certificate in NJ. Finished with a 3.8 GPA.</p>
<p>We think he's missing the graduation hoopla his friends experienced last Spring. He's been entrenched at the computer submitting online applications to 4 schools for Music Performance Masters for Fall 09 and scheduling the required auditions. Picking up a bunch of days subbing in our public schools. Playing Playstation games and practicing long, long hours for his auditions. </p>
<p>It's nice to have him around and I know it won't last! Enjoying his success and hoping he'll find a place for the fall.</p>
<p>Thank you to all here who have shared and wishing good things for your kids as well!</p>
<p>Congratulations to him, musicmom. Going by my own experience from long ago, most young men of that age would just as soon skip the graduation ceremonies and head straight to the parties. The cap and gown stuff seems to be more for the proud parents than the graduates. Best of luck to him going forward.</p>
<p>BassDad, I agree. I believe he asked the Dean's office to just throw his diploma in the mail.</p>
<p>It is VERY enjoyable being a spectator in the grad school application process, rather than an active participant as for undergrad. I've heard other parents mention this and it's quite wonderful to actually witness your young adult rather confidently manage a complex process. He knows that it's the audition that matters and I couldn't help with that if I wanted to! </p>
<p>Congrats indeed.Feels good doesnt it? D graduated in Dec (and yah the grad ceremony was for mom and dad). She has heard positive results from all the prescreens for the grad auditions and I just helped her out 30 minutes ago making travel arrangements. Its the only input I was afforded and she graciously allowed me to gift her my frequent flyer miles as her one and only Christmas gift. Dont you wish you could tag along again?</p>
<p>So nice to hear from all the 'regulars' here in the music forum! Thanks for your kind thoughts. Our family has learned so much about the whole music college process here.</p>
<p>I second thumper's request for a graduation announcement sticky. I would love to hear other's stories.</p>
<p>My D is a violist (JR in HS) and wants to be Music Teacher Ed major. looking for schools, live in NY. your son’s experiences with schools? advice on schools?</p>
<p>car-
Good luck to you and D as she begins her journey!</p>
<p>If you saw my earlier post, you’ll see our son did NOT take the straight path. He started as a performance applicant, wasn’t offered a spot at his first choice school (conservatory), enrolled in a small NJ public and switched to music ed. Reapplied for junior year and had several nice offers, including that old ‘dream school’. Chose to finish last two years at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers U here in NJ. His education advisor was excellent and he had a very challenging yet rewarding student teaching semester. I think son was surprised to discover the depth of his interest and facility in the classroom!
An in-state public U can be the most cost effective for a teaching degree, and will automatically help the student to satisfy the teaching certificate requirements for that state. Even with the offered scholarships, his private school options were expensive for us.</p>
<p>Now, he has two acceptances (waiting on other two) for a music performance Masters.
He has relatively low student loan balances (Staffords only) and we hope he’ll end up with a few possibilities.</p>
<p>If you are in NY, are you considering the NY public schools? Several of son’s teachers suggested Purchase though he didn’t end up applying there. Hartt in Connecticut is still a favorite of mine.</p>
<p>musicmom, SUNY Purchase does not have a music ed component. It’s a performance centered conservatory focus. SUNY Fredonia and Potsdam and Buffalo are the music ed centers.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction, violadad.
Yes, now I remember that son was prompted to consider Purchase when he originally applied for performance out of HS. </p>
<p>Maybe that’s one of the reasons I like Hartt so much. I remember seeing a viewbook that described the range of programs they had for both performance and education, at both undergrad and grad levels. Very impressive. Some kids start on a particular path and stick to it, happily. Others, like mine, take a turn (or two). It’s nice to have choices without having to necessarily change schools.</p>
<p>Mine took the turn as well. Started as perf/ed at Hartt, and pulled out of the ed at the very last moment, and ended up with just the performance BM. About 12 credits shy of the ed part, but he could not see himself teaching in a public school setting. He loves teaching, and does it privately, in studio and on a contract basis.</p>
<p>But he is a performer at heart, and at least he’s got a tenured chair. Albeit, a small one.</p>