<p>Amen StacJip.</p>
<p>Steinhardt audition for my S. Upon arrival, once we went through building security they allowed us up to the 9th floor to the practice rooms on his own. They facilities seemed a little worn. Guess I was expecting it to look more polished since it is NYU? Auditions were on a different floor. There was some paperwork to fill out. They were auditioning Classic Voice and Music Theater Voice at the same time. We could hear the students, Of the 3 prepared pieces,he was allowed first choice and they chose the second. He said they looked a bit bored but I believe he was the last audition of the day. Sight reading was relatively easy. Accompanist was very good. He spent about 10 minutes in audition. Afterwards, as we were packing up to leave, the ajudicator happened to come out and when she spotted us, she paid my son a compliment on his performance. Then she engaged him in a brief discussion about attending their Vocal Intensive summer program. She was clear to say that participation does not necessarily lead to admission but she seemed interested in him. The positive audition feedback was a good sign but weāre not sure how to read the interaction. Was it a recruitment push or general interest?</p>
<p>Indiana - Jacobs School of Music. Audition for S was on Friday. Registration on Friday was well organized (no waits). Package included parking pass, discount for opera (Fri and Sat nights), practice room information, and information regarding classes and rehearsals that people could attend. There were also information tables set up for IU admissions, Jacobs admissions, and current music students. Coffee, tea, bagels, pastries and granola bars available at registration (all day).Good signage in all buildings and lots of student ambassadors around to help. </p>
<p>Practice rooms designated for those auditioning. Practice rooms were very busy but student ambassadors made sure that everyone that needed a room found one (even by asking current students to leave - which they did without question). S was also able to use the practice rooms on Thursday. </p>
<p>Undergraduate and graduate information sessions held on both days. Tours of the Jacobs School and IU were also held a number of times over the 2 days.</p>
<p>Auditions for violin ran like clockwork. They had a green room where you could practice just prior to auditioning. Audition was held in one of the recital halls. S said there were about 6-8 faculty members in attendance. Each audition was 10 minutes. S asked to play a portion of each of the 3 pieces (concerto and 2 Bachās).</p>
<p>S had 2 lessons with faculty members which he arranged prior to the trip (both no charge although this likely varies).</p>
<p>Brand new East Studio Building just opened in September. Over 80 teaching studios and each studio is set up with videoconferencing technology. Beautiful building.</p>
<p>IU has a rolling admissions process and students were told that they would receive notification about their status in the next few weeks (they basically just work as fast as possible to get the results out). Notification would come by regular mail. Financial aid and merit scholarship information would be emailed but that wouldnāt be until closer to April as they have one more audition weekend at the beginning of March.</p>
<p>Stayed at Comfort Inn. Nothing fancy but clean, quiet and had free hot and cold breakfast. Best part was that S was able to practice in hotel room on Thursday and Friday (without mute) and no one cared.</p>
<p>Getting ready to travel from la to New England on Thursday and feeling extremely fortunate that when making the plane reservations I took the northern route instead of a southern connection. Believe me I had a moment of panic thinking I should have selected a southern connection. But as of now, the fates are in my favor. Of course we will be there for 10 days and thereās another storm brewing off the west coast so letās see we can get back to laā¦but you guys in the south, be safe! And best wishes to everyone!</p>
<p>@sguti40, best of luck! We are heading to NEC from mid-Atlantic on Friday. They are calling for heavy snow here tomorrow, so things can be really tricky. Since NEC never cancels audition (in their email), I guess we will shovel throughout the day/night. No matter what happens, we will get S in Boston on time for his audition. I read somewhere on CC that parents are the most diligent and hardworking folks and I will remember that when I work through the night. Best of luck everyone!</p>
<p>Iāve been a lurker on here for quite a long time, only posted twice I think.</p>
<p>But, my audition for Carnegie Mellon for viola is on Sunday, Feb 16! Iām so excited 
But I live in Georgia haha. And with all this ice and snow I have no clue if my flight tomorrow is going to be canceled or not. Weather.com says itāll be sunny around 8 or 9 am, and my flight is at 3:10 pm, but Iām not sure if the ice will have melted.</p>
<p>Gaaaah. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I should do? Should I email the music admissions people at CMU and let them know about the situation? I heard that some people arrived late because of inclement weather and they were able to still audition.</p>
<p>I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. My daughter is a junior and wonāt be auditioning until next year at this time, itās good that I will be able to share this with her so she can be prepared. She is getting some audition practice this year, though, she is auditioning for a scholarship to the Berklee 5 week program and her voice teacher has a Vocal Intensive summer program that he would like her to audition for (although he did say that they only rarely take high school students). </p>
<p>Nerdy violist, the good news is that your audition isnāt until Sunday! Go ahead and plan on making your flight tomorrow. If your flight is cancelled or delayed due to weather, the airline should reschedule you on the next available flight. At this point, I would not contact the school if you arenāt sure there is a problem. </p>
<p>However, if you do run into major flight problems and donāt anticipate arriving sometime on Friday or Saturday, I would definitely contact CM before the end of the business day on Friday. I have found that some schools are extremely accommodating when it comes to weather issues while others are not. </p>
<p>Good luck - and try to relax a bit. Things will probably work out just fine if you are patient!</p>
<p>Snow!! Really??? Ugh!!! Our flight from la into New York is cancelled! Nerdy violist call your airline. I signed up for notifications and received a text about it. Good news is that we were able to rebook into Pittsburg and are driving from there so I think youāll be okā¦but check it out if you have a connecting flight. In other good news Iām previously from the east coast, am renting a 4wd SUV and know how to drive in the snow. Hopefully my next post wonāt be from a ditch:)</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>Good luck and safe travels to everyone this weekend!</p>
<p>Sadly, my DS canāt get to Rochester to audition for piano at Eastman. Both flights were cancelled and we are way too far to drive. </p>
<p>mahq6q, call ESM and talk to them about rescheduling or sending a DVD;and thatās my advice to most of you who are having trouble. Yes, some schools āinsistā that they donāt cancel auditions, but this yearās weather is extreme and even the airlines are being co-operative. Sometimes, things are just not within your control. Stay safe everyone!</p>
<p>I agree that you should call the school if weather makes it hard to get to a scheduled audition. NEC says they donāt cancel but they have been forced to close at various times simply because the mayor of Boston has asked everyone to stay off the roads. For those coming to Boston the storm does not look like it will be bad here. </p>
<p>Mahq6q, Eastman surely will understand. I live in roc and next week is our feb break in high schools. So many flights cancelled; school trips to France cancelled, peopleās vacations etc. surely they will work w you. </p>
<p>Havenāt reported in in awhile. My DS is also supposed to leave for Rochester this afternoon. We will see what happens.<br>
We did Oberlin last weekend and son fell in love with the school but I had no idea that the competition to get into Oberlin Conservatory was so fierce! There were also a number of students who had flown in from China to audition. We found ourselves wondering if that was merely a formality, and if places were perhaps already being held for those students. The numbers of places are just so small! There were also a number of kids who had parents who were well-known music professors, music pedagogues, etc. and we couldnāt help but wonder if those kids didnāt also have an āinā that our child will not have. When the professors at Oberlin single out those kids and specifically welcome them and their parents, it does make you wonder . ā¦ . .And then there were the kids who had taken a gap year to practice for the auditions, while my kid is still trying to juggle school and AP classes and all the rest . . . </p>
<p>Iām feeling kind of down about the whole process at the moment. Child didnāt pass several prescreens that he had expected he would, and the choices left are probably out of reach financially. He had said clearly that if he couldnāt get into a top program, he didnāt want to do music ā but I think he assumed he would get into a top program, and now thatās really in doubt. it feels a bit like the kids who will ultimately succeed are more like professionals, and my kid is still an amateur ā we didnāt homeschool him so he could practice seven hours a day, have him take a gap year, etc. etc. etc. </p>
<p>We have also had several conversations in our house about the fact that so many of these kids are only children where two working professionals are pouring all their resources into the one perfect child. it feels like itās hard to compete with that when I have two other kids who need help with homework, rides to practices, and money to participate in their events as well. Feeling kinda discouraged . ā¦ </p>
<p>Oh Momzie, this is so difficult. I remember clearly how intimidated I personally felt at some auditions when I saw the overwhelming number of other applicants, many of whom had gone to obviously great expense to fly here from abroad. And nothing is worse than sitting mutely on a bench when the teacher comes out and embraces the kid sitting next to yours. Iām sure most of the parents and students reading what you wrote can relate. </p>
<p>I donāt think the audition at Oberlin is a mere formality (although in the past those accusations have been made for other conservatories I can think of, and in at least one case it seems to be true.) You have to also remember that everyone you saw at the audition was (like your son) applying to multiple programs. You also donāt know what exactly the panel is looking for. Iāve been observing this process for a while an I can say, just anecdotally, that kids do make it in who come with no āinā, who come from regular public school backgrounds and whose parents did not lavish time and money on their pre-college prep.</p>
<p>Even so, it is a grueling, unequal process. </p>
<p>(Donāt discount the possibility of financial or merit aid at schools that appear too expensive according to sticker price.)</p>
<p>Iām sorry . . . DS is still a junior but I know how you feel RE second 2 paragraphs - no advice but lots of empathy :-< deep breathing and maybe try to separate reality from natural mom-guilt. He will have some results soon enough then work with what the actual facts are. In the mean time vent away here for your own sanity.</p>
<p>Momzie, Oh, so toughā¦ Just remember that not everyone has Oberlin as their first choice so even if they are accepted they may not attend. Son and a classmate both auditioned at another school and were outside the audition room and could hear this amazing performance. The studio teacher actually came out and told them, āI know what you are thinking, but that student was applying for graduate school and Iām not expecting that level of playing from you.ā Iām sure your son will get to go to school that is perfect for him.</p>
<p>I personally know at least 10 kids auditioning for Oberlin. Only 2 have it as the top choice. So donāt get too discouraged. Oberlin also has summer camps, so some of the students are known to the faculty due to that. But that is true at many of the top schools. However, camp does not equal acceptance. Donāt let your son give up music if he does not get a ātopā school. There are plenty of great teachers at state schools looking for talent and they have money.</p>