<p>i am going of to chicago in the fall and i was wondering what people have needed in the past to help keep them moving/healthy/etc... this list is to help people like myself know what products and items will keep us in tip top shape for the school year.</p>
<p>pillows, bedclothes, etc
clothes
personal steamer
shower tablets (the sudacare that have menthol in them that fizz in the shower)
ricola/vitamin c/cough drops
bath towels etc.</p>
<p>High on your list should be these items: a healthy diet, regular exercise (shouldn't be a problem if you're taking dance classes) and plenty of sleep. Many, many students throw common sense to the wind when they move away from home for the first time -- drinking, smoking, partying, eating the wrong foods, and just plain not getting enough sleep. This plus the stress of being in a highly competitive environment is a recipe for disaster -- not only for your health, but for your success at school.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that if you bring an electronic scale for your dorm room, it substantially decreases your likeliness of gaining the Freshman 15 because you become more conscious about your weight.</p>
<p>I'd add a NetiPot/SinuCleanse to that list. (For those of you are aren't familiar with the NetiPot, it's a little blue plastic pot like you'd use for watering plants that you fill with water and a little packet of medicine powder and then pour into one nostril, letting the liquid run through your sinuses and drain out the other nostril). Best thing EVER for getting rid of unwanted gunk/germs and avoiding allergies and colds. I'd also second the personal steamer - I used one when I got laryngitis earlier this year and it really saved my voice.</p>
<p>Also check out the vocal health tips thread - it's mammoth but fantastic and has great pointers as far as remedies for being sick while having to perform.</p>
<p>On most campuses you will be walking to classes in all kinds of weather. Don't forget raingear and an umbrella.</p>
<p>Over on the Parent's Cafe area, there are huge discussions about what to take and what not to take. I think for MT students, I would add: vocal care items, maybe an ice pack or two, for cold climates a hat and scarf, sheet music and a keyboard. Oh and proper shoes for performances.</p>
<p>Do most MT students really take a keyboard? My S has one, but dorm rooms are so small...Also, he has tons of music, so do we pack it all up and send it with him?</p>
<p>Also, I have a question concerning dance classes. Other than a few workshops, my S has never really had a dance class, and he will be starting them this fall. Do we go ahead and buy shoes and stuff, or do we wait till he meets with the instructor to know what he needs?</p>
<p>Even though his school has tons of practice rooms with pianos, there were lots of times he didn't want to go out. When he was a freshman he didn't have his keyboard for the first semester, but took it back after winter break. A keyboard can be upended in the closet or against a wall or put under the bed for storage, I think my S just leaned it up against the wall. As far as dance attire, he just took his basics and was prepared to pick up what ever he would need. I think there may be threads on this subject.</p>
<p>Not MT but VP, DD took her keyboard and headphones. Helpful when working out music and not having to go to a practice room to do it. Headphones for when anyone was studying.</p>
<p>Some of hte dorm rooms are rather small. If one does not have space for a key board an alternative is a online program called "smart music" It will play the accompaniment for the selected song. It has a variety of options and works well on a laptop and headphones.</p>
<p>In addition, there are microphones that can attach to full size Ipods (but not IPhones or ITouches) so that you can record accompaniments from voice lessons. Connect head phones or feed into auxillary speakers and you're set.</p>
<p>Georgia -- regarding the dance wear, many teacher require specific attire. You may get a letter from the department detailing what is required. If not, better to wait till he gets there and find out exactly what they want. You can order easily through dance catalogs if there aren't any dance stores near the school.</p>
<p>Georgia,
Another option would be to email the dance teacher(s) for fall and ask in advance what shoes and clothes will be required. That way you can purchase them before he goes. I know in my D's case the town is very small and inadequate when it comes to dance shoes and supplies- I am forever sending more tights to her!!!!</p>
<p>He's going to be at Elon, so I am assuming the larger cities close by have places to buy dancewear. We don't have his schedule yet, so I don't know who his instructors will be. He may just have to deal with it after he gets there.</p>
<p>You might want to PM or email Ericsmom. She has a son at Elon, so he should know exactly what the guys need for dance class.</p>
<p>Ericsmom wouldn't know a thing about it, but my son would certainly know. He's busy off at summerstock. If I can pin him down, I'll ask him to write you. I know the kids sometimes travel to Greensboro for dance wear.</p>
<p>PS - My son has a keyboard, but the performing arts building where the practice rooms are is quite convenient. I don't think that most kids have keyboards at Elon - probably the exception more than the rule.</p>
<p>Just popping in with Elon information. Daughter just finished her freshman year. She received a letter last summer which told the dance clothes requirements, so I imagine they will do the same this year and you will receive something this month. It is also easy to order online from places like discount dance and have items shipped directly to your son at Elon if he needs anything else later.
About keyboards. We bought one for our daughter at a wholesale club for about $100 including the stand and a microphone. She keeps it on top of a small armoire type of thing that we bought her and which fit easily into her dorm room. She has found it invaluable. Although there are plenty of practice rooms on campus, often she was so busy or had only little chunks of time, so that she really wanted to be able to fit in practice for her piano class right in her dorm room. She also used it for practicing new voice material, picking out notes in new songs that she might be unsure of, goofing around with friends, and even practicing with groups of friends for various auditions such as Grand Night or Broadway Cares which your son will be involved in.
She did bring a lot of her sheet music with her. We bought a collapsible bookcase at Walmart, narrow but fairly tall, which also fit in her room and holds her printer, sheet music, textbooks, some favorite books from home, etc. We are from out of state, so waited to buy furniture, bins, etc. until we got to Elon to help her move in. Then we set the basic furniture up in the room, and measured empty wall space and figured out what else would fit in her room. There are Walmart, Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, KMart, etc. all within a mile of campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. And thanks Michelle for giving me a call. We're still learning the ropes.</p>
<p>I'm thinking we'll wait on bringing his keyboard up first thing. We can get it to him later if he decides he needs it. The music is another matter. I had to buy a separate cabinet a few years ago just to house all the music books, so he's going to have to choose what he thinks he'll really need. </p>
<p>For Christmas we gave him one of those recorders you attach to an ipod and also an air purifier with a Hepa filter. I've also had someone recommend those anti-allergy covers for the mattress and pillows. Anybody else do that?</p>
<p>DD had the anti-allergy covers for the pillows and the mattress. She is allergic to dust mites so they are an important part of what she needed at school. She also uses the recorder attached to the ipod to record lessons. And of course since she had to pick the music to take with her, I had to scan and email one of the ones she left at home.</p>