<p>Would someone who has been through it provide a guideline of how best to schedule vocal auditions? We have six conservatories we will be applying to. I know that Oberlin has the opportunity for an early audition in December so you can get one out of the way. When I look at the schedule, it appears that everything happens between the end of January and the beginning of March. How do you logistically schedule all of that travel and how far ahead do you find out what date you are given?</p>
<p>POTO Mom, a couple of links here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/275794-voice-performance-auditions.html?highlight=auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/275794-voice-performance-auditions.html?highlight=auditions</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/696800-hard-lesson-re-auditions.html?highlight=auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/696800-hard-lesson-re-auditions.html?highlight=auditions</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/545248-vocal-performance-auditions.html?highlight=auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/545248-vocal-performance-auditions.html?highlight=auditions</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444056-headshots-music-college-auditions.html?highlight=auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444056-headshots-music-college-auditions.html?highlight=auditions</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/349459-vocal-auditions-accompanist.html?highlight=auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/349459-vocal-auditions-accompanist.html?highlight=auditions</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html</a></p>
<p>potomom it can be a real head ache and a scheduling nightmare! All schools are different as to when they make audition dates available, some you have to apply to before you can get an audition date, just haunt the websites. First thing we did was to decide what school to apply/audition for. Then I combed the websites and printed off all needed info, dates, audition requirements…
I used a binder to coral all of the data. Then I got a large desk blotter type calendar took it apart and tacked the months up on a wall in my kitchen, that way I could post of the HS activities along with important dates for the colleges, such as application dates, audition dates, etc. That way when schools were added for auditions I could see at a glance what dates would work best. I did some color coordination one color for HS stuff, one for college stuff, etc. I rather imagine someone could take the color coordination to an art form. Some people use a spread sheet, I know over in the MT forum there is one you can download. I liked my “wall” because I could see everything at a glance and I felt I had more control and illusion I know, but it made me feel better during an insane time. Good Luck!</p>
<p>If your goal schools require a prescreen CD/DVD, much of the planning is out of your control until the in person auditions are granted. What are the schools? If your singer is a soprano or mezzo, make your list longer, and have some safeties. </p>
<p>Map out the prescreen requirements and get that done by early-mid October. The repertory requirements of the schools should be known and in preparation NOW in consultation with current teacher. </p>
<p>Otherwise, chart the audition dates for each school. Start with the school which has a unique date (no other auditions), think geographically and logistically. It is a feat requiring great planning, but you will find a way. </p>
<p>If the applicant is a singer, do plan to make an official audition DVD as a back-up…singers get sick, and some schools will accept them as a back up/verification of healthy performer.</p>
<p>Potomom…we first narrowed down the schools she would audition at (your DD is very talented so don’t do what we did…DD auditioned at 8 …it was too many…not only logistically but expense and time away from school…I think DD missed about 13 days of school–so be careful not to let her get to overloaded spring semester with classes and EC)</p>
<p>After deciding which schools…then look at all the audition dates offered at each…then just start playing with the dates until you find a combination that will allow for each…then request these dates when you send in you applications/prescreenings. DD was fortunate and was granted her 1st choice date at each school she applied at</p>
<p>Glad it’s not me this year…will be sending good thoughts your way :)</p>
<p>We had 8 on our original list but eliminated one as the season started and she knew she did not want to try an ultra-conservatory. 7 was plenty. We also used a spreadsheet that had the audition requirements and any pre-screen requirements, due dates, etc for each school. DD ranked her choices so I could better prioritize, but the rankings changed as we went along. </p>
<p>I had 3 versions of the potential schedule developed based on the dates from the prior year. DD’s off limits times due to other commitments were blocked out. As each school announced their dates we signed up based on the priority and schedules. We then adjusted the schedules and narrowed it down. This was doubly impacted by having to cross the country to TX and CA and both of those shortened the available dates. She ended up flying to TX and CA on back to back weekends, not something I would normally recommend. We had to book flights based on some assumptions and fortunately one of the schools worked with us when those assumptions were not quite on target. We knew which week that one of the conservatory times would fall in so we blocked for that one. </p>
<p>She had to select one for an early audition and one for a late one. They were ones that were not originally high on her list, although both turned out to be a serious contenders in the end. An early one was her safety with a rolling admission. I know that no audition based program can truly be considered a safety but we had enough evaluations on her to be pretty sure that school was. There is nothing like having an early acceptance in your pocket before Christmas to lift the mood and reduce anxiety. Then try to schedule geographically so they can be combined in one trip. You will be missing quite a bit of school so make sure the school knows this. </p>
<p>And as lorelie said, we always traveled with the back up CD, now it would be a DVD.</p>
<p>I agree that scheduling an early audition with rolling admissions is a great idea. My D did that and had an acceptance in November. It really helped with nerves. This was also a school at which she sang 4 songs all the way through so that was great practice. The theory and sight singing tests counted towards admission so it was good to see that she had the requisite knowledge to get through those. There was another school on her list that fit that description too but she had to reschedule that audition due to illness and ended up doing it later than planned.</p>
<p>I had already started my excel spreadsheet with required audition pieces, dates, recommendations needed, essays, etc. We have a recording session booked in early September to get all of these CDs/DVDs done. A couple of people asked questions: my D is a rising senior, soprano and has already visited and had lessons at all but one of the schools on her list: Eastman, Oberlin, Cincinnati, San Fran, Curtis, NEC and Manhattan. Oberlin has a December audition date that we plan to take advantage of. Just FYI - we are in the South so all of the auditions will require a flight. Thanks violadad for the links. This is the greatest website and I don’t know how anyone can go through the process without reading all this great info. FYI: My D just got back this week from the Washington National Opera Institute after three weeks and I would recommend it. We flew up to watch her perform at the Kennedy Center and met her teachers. Quite an intense course.</p>
<p>DS applied to Oberlin Early Decision, as it was his first choice school. Based on guidance from our initial investigations and voice and music teachers, he also applied to Curtis, Julliard, Eastman and Peabody. Thankfully, he was admitted to Oberlin. He decided not to audition at Peabody and was rejected for audition at Julliard, leaving three auditions. While this may have seemed a bit “on the edge” we did have some feedback from a prior visit at Eastman with faculty that he was competitive. He was also accepted at Eastman, but did not make the cut at Curtis. In the end he decided to go to Oberlin in the fall. I think it is very important to try to keep several schools in the mix so you have some options to negotiate with. Good luck!</p>
<p>I know folks love using the computer…but we used an old fashioned PAPER calendar…the kind used on desks…very big. On it, we wrote ALL of the things happening during senior year…auditions for music festivals, festival dates, school concerts and rehearsals, SAT/ACT tests, midterm exams, school musical (kids were in the orchestra), AND audition dates. We wrote ALL commitments the kids and we had that might interfere with our ability to get the kid to an audition. We also used this same paper calendar for deadlines. We started using an EXCEL sheet but to be honest, it was easier to flip through the paper pages and SEE IT ALL than to flip through the computer pages.</p>
<p>AND we also posted this in a VERY prominent place in the house so that no one would miss it (we also put things like DHs business trips or things I couldn’t miss too). </p>
<p>You also need to talk to your high school. My kid missed over 20 days of school his senior year…auditions, music festivals, etc. They were all considered “excused absences” by our school (some schools are not that kind) but he DID still have to do the work.</p>
<p>Some schools have multiple auditions dates and some just do NOT. DS was actually asked to switch his audition date at one school about two weeks before the date (we lived more “locally” so it was very possible for us to do this…and that is why they asked us). </p>
<p>I will tell you…don’t plan a family vacation or any other discretionary activities during the audition “season”. You’ll be plenty busy. </p>
<p>And if you are going a distance…keep in mind, it’s winter during most of the audition time and weather CAN be an issue. As others who auditioned on President’s Day weekend at Peabody can attest…we were all stranded in the DC area (if you even go there at all) for an extra three days due to a 30 inch snowfall. So plan accordingly. Air travel can even be screwed up if you are flying to southern locales…due to northern weather issues.</p>
<p>AND agreed with others…if a school has an early audition date, ask for it. It is the ONLY request you are guaranteed to get if you ask. AND it’s nice to have some of the auditions done before January. DS did two early auditions (with two acceptances before Christmas from those) and one specially arranged audition done VERY early (also an acceptance). That made doing the other FOUR auditions doable.</p>
<p>There’s a lot of good advice on this page. I especially agree with lorelei2702’s suggested approach.</p>
<p>Here’s one tactical suggestion that worked in my kid’s case: My D did an Early Acceptance app and audition at a school she was pretty sure she could get into, but would be happy attending (since nothing is safe when auditions are involved, we avoided the term “safety school”). She was able to go to the other auditions with that one in her back pocket and it seemed to help take the pressure off for the subsequent auditions.</p>
<p>The only suggestion I could add is when my D went the audition rounds in the winter of 08, her teacher suggested a two week break period in the middle. Sure enough on the way back from one audition in Pittsburgh, my D and I became very ill. That was the year of the “flu vaccine that did nothing” It took about 10 days to recoup from that, which wound as perfect timing to get back on the road since this occured during that break. Taking the humidifier and the throat coat, entertainers secret, advil along etc etc was also a good move.
JD</p>
<p>D did exactly as don9992’s D did- did one audition "early acceptance: which isn’t binding and had a “welcome” letter in her hand on 12/27. Not only does it lower the pressure but it builds confidence ( even in a kid who doesn’t need it, ego-wise!) just knowing that on audition was completed and things went well. I would advise paring the list of schools down as far as possible, but if it’s still a bit ungainly, get the paperwork in early so that you may be successful in choosing a date that fits best for your plans. Also, if a school musical is in the cards for senior year, consider carefully if it is truly practical. Schools here usually do them in February and March, the worst possible time for a kid auditioning for VP. As luck would have it, D’s school hired a new faculty member who rode roughshod over the others, even the Music Dept Chair, and who insisted upon doing a rock-type show as opposed to the much more classical MT piece that had been promised (the school had, arguably, the two best voices they would ever have at the same time, so they really goofed on this one!). D quickly figured out that doing the school musical would destroy her voice and completely ruin her auditions, so she bowed out. Others went ahead, with the result being that not a one was accepted into any of the VP or MT programs they applied to, while the two girls who demurred will be attending well-respected music schools in the fall. Remember, Hall’s Immunity Defense Drops, AirBorne and hand sanitizer are a singer’s best friends during audition season!</p>
<p>MezzosMama - Wow, what a timely post. D has been working toward the lead for her Senior Year (she was Lady Thiang this past year - Anna was a senior who was already accepted into a voice program for this September). However, the lead this year means playing the Witch in Into the Woods. Her voice teacher has said “absolutely not”, and it wasn’t until a discussion this morning that we understood why. She’s still a little sad, so I’ll share the results you discussed in your post! It should be a huge help.</p>
<p>BeezMom- I’m sorry about your D. I know she’ll be disappointed, but she has a wonderful voice teacher who obviously knows about vocal health and cares about her students. Oddly enough, my D played the Baker’s Wife as a junior, loved the role and it made a nice entry on her resume, but had she been offered the Witch, even then, she wouldn’t have taken the chance on it. " The Last Midnight" MUST be belted and to do that could damage a young voice who is going to also be singing auditions. Sure, there are some schools who send kids on to good MT programs, but some of the best singers in HS will be looking to VP programs. I wish that schools would understand the difference and give those kids the break in their junior year, so that they can settle down and get their voices back where they need to be, which is most assuredly, not on a month of vocal rest after a grueling rehearsal and performance schedule!
Your D has to focus on her upcoming auditions, sort of tunnel-vision, so to speak, and this is a rough lesson to be learned by these young kids. Their lives to come will be full of many such choices. She’ll do just fine.</p>
<p>MM - Your post did the trick. When I shared with her the results, she realized this was serious! She has a lesson today with her teacher’s teacher, so I think that will help getting her to the next level of focus - right now, it’s just not real enough!</p>
<p>But again - thank you, and thank all of you that are already at the next step. It’s such a help to have these voices of experience to tap into!</p>
<p>Apply early, and audition early. That way if something comes up, you can request a change to a later audition date. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get your requested audition date. New England Conservatory was the worst. They don’t let you know until a month in advance.</p>
<p>I put all the schools and dates on a spread sheet. I put schools near each other close to each other on the spread sheet. Then we picked dates that were close to each other. Some schools audition on Friday, and then another had one on Sunday. That gave enough time to get from one to another. Note: Although you may pick the day, you won’t know the time. So you have to block out the entire day (or two for some schools).</p>
<p>The High School’s musical (and also NATS competition) was on Oberlin’s early admission day, so Son couldn’t make it. I also didn’t want him auditioning around Semester Finals. Also take into account other things, like school dances, recitals, performances, scholarship competitions (classical singer 1st round), etc.</p>
<p>For about 2 months, it will seem like you are traveling every weekend.</p>
<p>Note: Now is not too early to start locking down the audition rep.</p>
<p>OperaDad – Northwestern was even worse. They wouldn’t provide confirmation of an audition date and time until two weeks before the audition weekend. Not only that, you couldn’t even apply for an audition date until November 2 last year. All of the other schools my daughter applied to were considerably more reasonable. OperaDad and MezzoMama are absolutely right. Do everything early so you can arrange your audition dates the way you want them. For the toughest schools and your highest priorities – schedule those schools early so you have the possibility of changing dates if something comes up (like illness or a scheduling conflict).</p>
<p>It is certainly not too early to lock audition rep! Muscle memory can be a life saver and has been known to save an audition that turned rocky. D went with pieces that she knew like the back of her hand- including one “money piece” that she had used for competition and in recital several times. She didn’t have to worry about words, timing, phrasing, it was all “part of her” by last winter. Also, we picked out the oufit she would be wearing for auditions and D “took it for a test drive” during a competition and studio recital before college auditions began; just another part of what goes into the package to make things run as smoothly as possible when it counts. Leave as little as possible to chance!</p>
<p>Some other tips. I agree with other posts about scheduling difficulties and conflicts with high school musicals. My D chose not to audition for her HS show of 42nd street, but instead did Les MIs elswhere after auditions were over. Another problem is timing of scheduled audition. My D’s audition at Peabody was scheduled for 6PM, making taking a train impossible, and requring a late night flight. In addition. we paid for an extra night in the hotel, so that they wouldn’t have to check out early prior to the audition and in the event of bad weather .These auditions are too important, but sqeezing them in between other obligations is difficult. advance planning is important.</p>