<p>Very interesting, Operadad! On another subject, did Oberlin do an online theory test last year? My son received one by email last night that has to be completed online by Feb. 15. It can only be taken at one sitting and is given a set time to complete. Very interesting, this technology!</p>
<p>Oberlin has been doing an online test for at least four years, probably longer.</p>
<p>Lol, well, as my children would say, that just goes to show what a "noob" I am!</p>
<p>From the Oberlin briefing for the Early Review auditions, I don't think that the Music Theory test is much more than getting a sense of where the student is at in this area. Beware that you do get your score after you finish! In general, the audition is, of course, the important thing. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>OperaDad, you info is interesting and seems to make sense, but there is one thing that doesn't fit in and that is the fact that no one who lives in the immediate area of Eastman has heard anything about pre-screening results or audition dates! I know that they have an "overflow date" to be used in case they have more students who have passed the pre-screening; could it be that they are holding out to use that date for all of the "locals"?
My D is fine with waiting- I'M the one who is going crazy! She has other audition dates already scheduled and one acceptance in hand to a program she really likes, but I am one of those people who likes things written in ink, not pencil! Her academics are top notch in a very rigorous program,her test scores nearly perfect and her recommendations couldn't be better, but the missing piece in everything is that, especially with the voice majors, is that you have to "fill a need" in the school's program and if they have too many of your voice type, you can be fantastic and still not make the cut. We did our visit at Eastman when she was a junior and the group we were in was made up of 2 female and 2 male voice majors, a tuba player and one kid who wanted to double major in physics and "something with music" . The admission reps explained the double-major process with Eastman/ U of Rochester and the young man decided on the spot that he would stick with physics and forgo the music end of things while the tuba player was told that since his instrument was not very common, he stood a very good chance of being accepted. Then, the rep looked at the prospective voice majors,explained the various ensemble requirements and other performance opportunities; the 2 boys were told that they were in great demand simply because of the scarcity of boys in vocal programs while the 2 girls were told how difficult it would be for them! If they had only told the parents what this year would be like.....</p>
<p>Mezzo's Mama - I feel for you, truly. I think the audition scene is very difficult for the females. At Oberlin, female singers outnumbered the guys in the pool that was there for Early Review, and I can't imagine the number that were rejected from the ER applications. DS had one friend, a soprano, at Oberlin, and she was rejected, and he was admitted, a pretty tough thing. She has retrenched, making some more applications and plugging forward. What else can you do if this is what you really want to do?</p>
<p>The Eastman website indicates that they will send out notices no later than 21 days from the audition date. Clearly, the notices have been coming out sequentially by some method that may be along the lines of OperaDad's or maybe something else. </p>
<p>My son tells me to just chill out, and that it will all work out (I've been anxious about the date for the Eastman audition; he has been invited, but no date), so I suppose that is all I can do.</p>
<p>I became a little impatient (and slightly annoyed, sorry) that my S has not heard yet from NEC, and since their dates conflict with several other already scheduled auditions, we're at gridlock in committing to flights, etc., so I called. </p>
<p>The gentleman who answered said all notifications, pos. or neg., will be out no later than end of this week, but their goal is to have them out by end of Wednesday.</p>
<p>Thanks, mwparent. Now I know what NEC will say if they return the call I left for them about half an hour ago.</p>
<p>Thanks, Jugglingmom--it seemed as though the theory test was more about eventual class placement than expertise from the language in the email. Though theory is probably my drummer son's weakest point, he has been studying it for more than a year on another instrument and should be fine. I appreciate your insight!</p>
<p>^^ For those concerned, theory tests, aural skills and piano testing is standard procedure in music admissions. These are not used for admissions decisions in undergrad programs, but function as a skills assessment tool.</p>
<p>No need to develop angst over any of them.</p>
<p>S of Juggling mom here. (and first posting too! thought i'd make it an exciting one.)
Just got an invite to audition at Curtis.</p>
<p>Congrats juggleaddc!!! Very exciting!</p>
<p>Congrats indeed.</p>
<p>Congrats to all here!</p>
<p>It was a 'no' for Curtis for me, but it's okay, I am going to focus on my other upcoming auditions... </p>
<p>I am signed up to do both NEC & Boston on the same day right now... does anyone have any thoughts about this? Or did something like this or plan to? If it's feasible, I would do it, because then it would only be one trip out to Boston for me. I'm trying to think of all the downsides... oh, this is for BM voice...</p>
<p>Nightingale, check the schedules for your schools as the additional tests may make it impossible for you to do both in one day.There is the audition, interview, theory, aural skills.. all or some combination make for long hours and many of the schools say to plan on being available for the entire day. For instance, Hartt had my D there from 8:00 until 2:30 and that was only because she was there in time to snag the audition slot she wanted. I know that it's expensive and time consuming- all of the kids are in the same boat and non-refundable airline fees contribute to the nightmare. If you're still not sure whether the schedules will mesh, do call both places and see what they have planned...
By the way, it was a "no" for my D from Curtis too- I guess you girls have to look at this year as "Year of the Boy", as there are more than usual- at least you'll have someone to perform with later (let's hope they're tall!). Congrats to you, Juggleaddic! What is your voice type ( and yours, Nightingale?).</p>
<p>Nightingale, I would suggest rescheduling one of the two for the day before or the day after. Most schools will at least try to be accomodating. Good luck.</p>
<p>A very nice woman in the Admissions Office at Eastman just told me that the Director is working on notifications "as we speak" and that they hope to have everyone notified one way or the other by the end of this week.
Is anyone else heading to CIM this weekend?</p>
<p>I'm a high Baritone. And for the record, I'm nice and tall ;)</p>
<p>Nightingale, </p>
<p>I do not know how the vocal auditions are run, but when my daughter auditioned at NEC she had a 30-minute warmup slot then a 15-minute audition and we were done. In and out in under an hour. No theory test, no interview, nothing beyond the audition.</p>
<p>If by "Boston" you mean Boston University, that one was even quicker - 20 minute warmup and 10 minute audition. If you mean Boston Conservatory, I have no idea how they run their auditions.</p>
<p>You should definitely check with the voice department folks at the two schools to see how much of your time is going to be required. It may be a snap if the voice auditions are anything like the instrumental auditions that my daughter had at those two schools. It could also be very difficult if they are both scheduling tests and interviews to go with the auditions.</p>
<p>Mezzo'sMama,</p>
<p>It is always that way with voice departments. They get many more applications from young women than they get from young men, yet operas tend to have more male roles than female. The schools generally want to admit in roughly equal numbers, so that means that the young ladies always get a disproportionate share of rejection notices, particularly in the pre-screening rounds.</p>