I’ve been reading a lot of the posts here, and have learned so much–thanks to those who have shared their knowledge of the music school application process here. We’re very new to all of this. My son only started playing jazz (guitar) a little over a year and a half ago (he’d been playing rock, blues, etc., for a while)–a friend convinced him to attend a one-week jazz camp the summer before last, and he fell in love.
Since then he’s had very little formal training–a few lessons, another week of jazz camp, and a short stint playing with a short-term jazz ensemble at school (the school has jazz band, but not for guitarists). But he has worked his butt off practicing, learning theory, transcribing, composing, etc.–all on his own. He’s amazed me. I just hope that it’s been enough at this point to get him into a school where he can continue his studies in a more supportive atmosphere.
He passed pre-screen auditions for New School and SUNY Purchase, and just had his auditions on-site at both. I know that you all know how stressful it is to wonder how things went from the perspectives of the people doing the auditioning!
That was a long-winded intro to a very basic, and probably not terribly important question. At first, I assumed that pre-screens were just to weed out applicants who couldn’t get past a few chords of “Stairway to Heaven” :). But I’m seeing here that people who sound quite accomplished have been denied on the basis of pre-screen auditions. As a morale-booster, I’ve been telling my son that he should be very proud to have come far enough to even get those auditions after so little time playing jazz, when many applicants have been playing since they were kids. I’m just wondering how accurate that is. Does anyone have any idea roughly what percentage of applicants pass pre-screen auditions (I know that it varies greatly from school to school–he didn’t pass the one for MSM!)? I guess I’m also asking just to gauge what his actual chances might be (trying to calm my nerves a bit?).
I won’t go into numbers for two reasons. One, nobody really knows them. Two, if you do find out some, it really makes you nervous! They look daunting. But nevertheless people get accepted year after year.
What I will say is passing the prescreening indicates your son has talent and the school could see him fitting in. Not passing a pre screen or two or three is pretty common. I wouldn’t read too much into that. There may have been a big pool that year on his instrument so they had to cut some talented kids.
It also seems that your son is very passionate and dedicated. That will carry on. At this stressful time I would just wait for the results. If he’s accepted, yay! If not, maybe think of it as a bump in the road (albeit a big one) as opposed to the end of the road. There are other threads on gap years etc and I don’t want to get into that. But try to have faith that if he is talented, passionate and dedicated (and has supportive parents) he’ll find a way to make music in college and continue to grow. There’s not one path.
@bridgenail --Thank you so much for the kind and helpful reply! It’s SO hard not to lose sleep trying to figure every angle (even when you know perfectly well that it’s pointless ). Only another few weeks before we know, at least (I should put “only” in parentheses, I guess…).
We’re very proud of him–we’ve always told him to find his passion and then run with it, and that’s just what he has done. He just got kind of a late start on this one. He’s also applied to a great small liberal arts college where he could work on the jazz (albeit not quite as intensively at first) and also pursue acting (his other talent) and whatever else he’s drawn to. And we’ve talked about the Gap Year back-up plan, but of course that’s not what he’s focusing on right now.
But you’re right–I know he’ll find his way. As I’ve said to him, there are many paths to the place you want to get to. I would just love to see him happy ASAP, of course.
We might have seen you at Purchase yesterday! I really have no idea of the numbers, but wanted to say hi and hang in there! S is a latecomer to his instrument as well, switching from euphonium to jazz bass sophomore year, so I understand those additional anxieties related to relative inexperience. Your S passing his prescreens is an accomplishment, and a testament to his hard work and talent. Congratulations to him, and best of luck to both of you!
@indeestudios --Hi! That’s so cool! He was actually there with his father yesterday (I’m down in Florida, although I would have loved to be there). He felt pretty good about the audition, but who knows? I know that Purchase is quite competitive (and the tuition doesn’t hurt).
It’s nice to have someone else in the “late-start” boat! Pretty impressive to go from euphonium to jazz bass! All the best wishes to your son (and to you, too!). Does he have other auditions coming up? That was the last one for my son (kinda wishing he’d applied to a few more schools, but I’'ll stay optimistic).
At least the weather wasn’t too awful for them! I really like Purchase, and what a bargain! S is doing his New School audition tomorrow, MSM in early March, then he’s done. I’ve definitely had those second-guessing moments. Staying optimistic, (and busy/distracted), is my plan to get through the waiting!
@indeestudios – Wonderful! An audition at MSM sounds like a coup in itself (they rejected my son’s pre-screen, and at the time he thought that it must mean that he “sucks” at jazz, but at least now we get that you have to be seriously accomplished to even get an audition there!). I’ll be rooting for your son for both.
We’re originally from NY/NJ, but my son and I have been living in FL for the past six years, so I’m pretty sure that the northern winters will take some re-adjusting for my son. I start piling on the sweaters when the temperature dips below 70.
@AsMother- We would love to be able to quantify things for you, but unfortunately, it can’t be done. The numbers vary from major to major and even from year to year. Some years, the applicant pool is very strong and a lot of good candidates might be turned away in favor of excellent ones, while other years, the students aren’t as good overall so it seems like almost everyone gets auditions. And let’s not forget that sometimes, it’s just a matter of space- students might have decided to stay on for a MM or additional certificates and there might not be room in the studio that year.
The kids just have to do the best that they can and wait to see what come of it. Wishing your son all the best!
@Mezzo’sMama–Thank you! I know (when I’m being rational) that there are innumerable factors over which we have zero control, and that there’s really no way to predict things in any reasonable way. I’m just not always being rational! But at least this point there’s really nothing else to be done except wait. I really appreciate the positive thoughts! Do you have a child who’s going through auditions, or have you already been through the process?
AsMother and Indeestudios don’t fear for your late-starter musicians. My own did not start until 8th grade. But more importantly he had a friend who did not start until high school (whose mom is on these boards). I saw how my son’s devotion and love of his instrument and hard work propelled him ahead of other students who had started earlier. And the same can be true for his friend. Both boys attended conservatories and are seniors and both are well on their way to being successful musicians and working in the field. Mezzo’s mom is right that it is hard to quantify the whole audition thing and I know how nerve wracking it can be for parents. Try to just enjoy this time with your son and remember that their future success depends less on where they go and more on how determined they are to work and improve and succeed as a Jazz musician.
@StacJip --Awesome advice and encouragement! That’s so wonderful about your son and his friend–it’s always great to hear about people who really do get to pursue their passions successfully (however one defines the latter).
S found a new and great jazz bass instructor, and the first lesson was yesterday. S said it went great and we will make him our regular instructor. All 3 of us talked afterwards. Instructor mentioned that S is doing great especially considering the short time on the upright, less than 1 year. Instructor also started “later”, as a sophomore, and he said that it can be fine, as the more mature student attacks the work with more focus and definition about how it will be part of the student’s life. Of course there was music and jazz theory studied beforehand, not like a totally fresh introduction to music, but definitely the first meeting with the instrument. We have yet to see how S stacks up outside of our region in college auditions, but he will try.
as @Mezzo’sMama said, there is really no way to quantify things. Getting a prescreen at a tough program is obviously a good sign (MSM has a great Jazz program from what I have seen of it), but there are so many factors, many of them not quantifiable. Among other things, it depends on how many kids are applying for that particular instrument, it depends on their typical level, it depends on how many open slots the department has (and I can’t speak for every school, but typically from what I have seen, grad and undergrad slots are not distinct). If you pick a year where they have few slots open and a lot of really top quality kids applying, it will be a lot more difficult then if the number of slots is higher and the number/level of applicants is down. Every instrument/area is different, too, voice has very different dynamics than a jazz instrument and that is different from strings or woodwinds or brass.
Likewise, the time playing and how it affects someone depends on the instrument, it will be very different with violin than it would with a brass instrument or a vocal student and so forth…
As others have said, having been there, the only thing you can do is try not to hold your breath, try not to panic or read signs into things that probably mean nothing, and as Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over” smile
Thank you, @musicprnt. Yeah, I’ve resigned myself to waiting it out as patiently as possible and hoping for the best. I just wish we’d had more of a clue going in, and that my son had applied to a few more schools. But things always turn out OK, one way or another, and you never know…
Ugh…maybe I’ll get “lucky” and my D will burn out after grad school…
I have often puzzled over this in the dark of the night. How would it feel for her to “fail” and then have to pursue a more lucrative and steady means of employment? Really who is the lucky one? Oh well…she has a college degree and she’ll figure something out. It’s really not my business anymore…but still you worry…
Thanks @AsMother . For singers auditions go on forever and throughout the year, so now I forget to even ask what the results were! 8-} At least she gets to travel.(she lives in Europe) It never ends so I have learned to not only roll with the punches but to forget about them altogether! If she (or I ) got worked up over every audition the way we got worked up over school auditions we would completely “lose it”. Enjoy the journey—you will be here where I am soon enough!
). Only another few weeks before we know, at least (I should put “only” in parentheses, I guess…).