<p>1896 Motel in Williamstown is nice too.</p>
<p>We are packing for the Young Artists Vocal Program, and the handbook says to bring a sleeping bag in addition to sheets, pillow and blanket. Why do they need a sleeping bag?</p>
<p>I've been wondering the same thing. I don't think s is planning on bringing one. I can't imagine that they camp out because it says that you have to check into your dorm at night.</p>
<p>Hi, Andi!</p>
<p>I called Tanglewood Housing. The sleeping bag/comforter options are to let us know that students can bring what they need to be comfortable on the beds in the dorms. We can bring (or buy at the WalMart in Pittsfield) eggcrates also. I would like to know from former participants what the beds are like and what they recommend. We leave from Southern California on a red-eye flight tonight :) :)</p>
<p>Do they work? Which is better: Sprint or TMobile?</p>
<p>Reception at Twood is spotty regardless of provider. I have T-Mobile and had great reception in one spot and move five feet can lose the connection. Lesson: don't move once you find the right place!</p>
<p>The beds at Tanglewood are adequate. The furniture in general is old and somewhat shabby. All of the mattresses are covered in plastic so a mattress PAD is very important or your kid's bed will be very sticky and noisy. Cell reception is spotty but improving...</p>
<p>Thanks for your helpful information! We can pack now! See you at Tanglewood! :):):)</p>
<p>Thanks Thumper1. I wasn't going to get the mattress pad...but better get one!</p>
<p>Anyone going to be at the Sunday barbeque?</p>
<p>OK, having just helped stuff the last item into the suitcase, I'm wondering why, given that kids fly in from all over, the students have to bring their own desk lamps and 15" fans for heaven sakes. 15" fans! Perhaps this works well if one is coming from, say, Boston in dad's SUV, but the reality of modern air travel is such that having to cart household electrical appliances along with the linens and the music stand and the airtight tupperware for snack food, seems more than slightly cumbersome. Is it crass to suggest that if fans and lamps are necessary, perhaps the tuition might cover the program acquiring these items in bulk and distributing them? But then, I was annoyed a few years ago when camp demanded that campers bring their own seven foot paddles. Oh well.</p>
<p>Nester:
S left 2 weeks ago for a workshop prior to orchestra. Although, I did squeeze in a music stand, he did not attempt to fly with a desk lamp, fan, or airtight containers for snacks. We've spoken to him several times, and he hasn't asked us to send any of the above - only snacks, which probably don't last long enough to need airtight containers!</p>
<p>Left S happily adjusting to Tanglewood. The dorms, even in a triple, are much better than AIMS. (And AIMS is better than NEC!) I agree with the comments about the stuff needed at Tanglewood. S brought one large suitcase, and I rented a car and went to Wal-Mart (East Pittsfield), the Prime Outlet Shopping Center (Lee by Mass Pike) and Marshalls (North Lenox) to name a few to get the rest of the items on the list and a duffle bag on wheels to bring it all back to use at college. S packed a cylindrical table fan (Costco) which with the lamp and his music stand and all of his clothes caused his suitcase to be 15 pounds over limit for free check through at the airport. </p>
<p>I had hoped to see some of you at the barbecue, but all the smoke got to us so I took S to dinner in Lenox, said goodby in the parking lot and sent him off to his meetings. On July 4th before I had to drive back to Albany, I visited the Edith Wharton estate--a lot of fun. Now I just hope we hear from him before we pick him up at the airport in August:)</p>
<p>Now that we have put D's cellphone in the roamning mode, she is calling to report how happy she is at BUTI so far, great kids/roommate/teachers/choir director. Bad food and mosquitos the size of condors, but this doesn't seem to phase her. Is worried about her audition, though. Do any of you veteran parents know if everyone is cast in the opera scenes or can the audition actually rule out participation? </p>
<p>Meanwhile, many thanks to all of the parents who have offered so much helpful Tanglewood advice.</p>
<p>When my D went to vocal program at Tanglewood 3 years ago I seem to recall that everyone was cast in an opera scene. There was competition for choir solos, however, as well as singing for master classes. Also -- if Tanglewood is putting on a main stage opera -- sometimes vocal students are cast in it (didn't have one the year my D was there). I also remember that students who were cast in opera scenes and did not prepare them to the teachers' liking were not allowed to do them (i.e. slacking, not showing up, poor attitude, etc.).</p>
<p>They may have fixed this problem, but three years ago we had a problem with getting D back to the Albany airport on the last day of Tanglewood. The program did not provide transportation, and the last flight she could take was cutting it close from the end of the last performance. The program was almost NO help- most of the kids had parents there to get them. We wound up having to hire a shuttle service (there is one that Tanglewood recommends) and the driver was used to this problem. He met the kids at the performance, let them change out of their white dresses in the van, and rushed them to the airport. Just a warning....</p>
<p>H, D, and I just returned from a wonderful visit to Tanglewood. We were there last Tuesday for Tanglewood on Parade, an all-day picnic on the grounds where we saw/heard all the BUTI large ensembles, chamber groups, TMC orchestra, Boston Pops and BSO. The finale was 1812 Overture with real cannons and fireworks! We spent a couple days in Boston later in the week and returned to Lenox for the BUTI orchestra concert Saturday afternoon before heading home.</p>
<p>For those of you with kids at Tanglewood, we saw lots of happy-looking young musicians at rehearsals, performances, and all around the town of Lenox. My son is having a wonderful time. He's made lots of new friends, is very satisfied with the quality of the orchestra program (quite demanding re repertoire and expectations of conductors) and was glad he didn't have to leave when we did. Hope all of you are getting glowing reports from your kids, too.</p>
<p>You may appreciate this info. I was a spectator at Tanglewood Sat night. After the intermission, and subsequent to a lovely basson (I believe) solo, gasps and shouts arose from the lawn, and people began rushing into the ampitheater. The commotion stopped the orchestra for about 10 minutes while the crowd calmed down. The sprinklers (actually rotating spouts of water) had turned on, drenching many on the lawn. Eventually the water was turned off, and the symphony continued.</p>
<p>I guess that wasn't another special effect as I don't recall seeing Handel's Water Music on the program for Sat. night :)</p>
<p>Does anyone know if college students can attend Tanglewood Institute in the summers? Is there a program for the college age singer?
Thanks!</p>
<p>See <a href="http://www.bso.org/genC/genCfour.jhtml?id=cat50096&area=tgl%5B/url%5D">http://www.bso.org/genC/genCfour.jhtml?id=cat50096&area=tgl</a> for information on the TMC Fellowship program. </p>
<p>If you click on the word "More" under the Instrumental Fellowship paragraph, you will get a picture of my daughter's double bass teacher, taken several summers ago when he was a TMC Fellow.</p>