<p>My daughter is a junior in in a magnet school for the arts with a prime in vocal music. We are visiting University of North Carolina/Greensboro, Elon and Appalachian State next week. She is doing the "student for a day" program at ASU and meeting with the department chairs and attending a few classes at the other two. Any tips on dos and don'ts for these meetings - they are not true interviews but she needs to be prepared to discuss her goals, etc. She had a migraine during her PSATs and scored miserably but is getting tutored and her practice tests are heads and tails better. She is not sure how to handle any questions about her scores. I assume it is appropriate to ask what she can do with regard to course work senior year to increase her chances of admission.</p>
<p>Music folks might ask about such things as scores and grades, but only to make certain there is a chance for admissions. She certainly can offer that her PSAT score was affected by a migraine, but she is tutoring for a subsequent SAT test, and the score seems to be an aberration. If her grades are good, that will be perfectly understood. Does she have a teacher in mind at ASU? They are all great folks, and they work well with each other. PM me if you want more detailed questions answered. Good luck.</p>
<p>We are not that far along in the process yet to know about the individual teachers. Her private voice teacher and her voice teacher at school are going to be taking a look at bios and giving her some imput as decision time about applications approaches. I have looked carefully at the bios and it looks to be a good group. Her cousin went there, for dance, and loved it. Dr. Porterfield is handling the scheduling. Thanks for the offer to answer questions - I'm sure she will have some. When she mentions Elon, everyone assumes she is talking about the MT program. She has to take piano lessons this summer and will be taking AP Music Theory as a senior. UNCG seems particularly concerned about freshman preparation for theory.</p>
<p>Every music program my son auditioned for was concerned about preparation for music theory. It is a required course for all music majors, and can be a challenge for some. I have to say...if your daughter does not yet take piano lessons, I would make an investment in those. DS still says that his piano foundation gave him an edge when it came to music theory. Schools deal with theory in many ways regarding admissions...some schools do placement tests only. Others have a theory test as part of their admissions process. Still others don't do anything until the students enroll...and then they take the placement test. FYI...if your daughter majors in music she will not get college credit for music theory...But both of my kids took the course and felt it was an excellent course and prepared them well for that first year of college theory.</p>
<p>What do you ask the Music professors or college reps when you go on your visits?</p>
<p>You must do your homework before you start asking questions, know what degrees are offered and differences between them...check the on-line catalogues and any written material. One question might be if there was a difference in performance level for different degree programs, for instance performance vs music education vs music therapy vs music industries, etc. Another question might be how are teachers assigned and how many semeseters of lessons are provided. What recital requirements are there for different degree programs? What ensemble opportunities work out for students in different majors? If you are a voice person, perhaps ask a question about opera opportunities as an undergrad. A big question to ask, and I think students miss this one going in: are there barrier exams in the applied area, when are they, and what are the consequences. Most schools require a special jury at the end of the sophmore year, and you may or may not be allowed to go on in your major. Sometimes you get another shot at it, but if you do not make it, you might have to move into a different curriculum in order to continue toward a degree at that school, it may not be a degree you want. For instance, you may not pass a performance level exam, but you might be allowed to stay at the school in music education. Meanwhile you will likely not have the basic courses for that major, and perhaps you do not want to teach. You might ask what performances major graduates from the school are doing now, ask for examples for last year's graduating class....that will give you an excellent idea of how the students are accomplishing. Does this help?</p>
<p>Well,I've done enough homework to know the answeres to all but one of those questions but thanks anyway</p>
<p>That is exactly right about theory. She had Theory I her freshman year of high school and Theory II is next year. Fortunately her voice teacher for all four years of high school is also the theory teacher so he works it into his voice classes as well. If he feels she is weak in it, we know she may have to get some tutoring this summer. The piano lessons start in May.</p>
<p>Good for you, nick. I hope you have some great experiences exploring your options. No doubt once you are there, questions will arise, and they will be impressed at the homework you have done. Preparation is all important for a musician, and you will have proven yourself already! Good luck.</p>
<p>Great advice lorelei - many of the websites are packed with info. I enjoyed hearing the clips of performances of the faculty at App State. They also have a link to some simple sight reading exercises. I had fun with those late last night - good thing no one was within earshot. App State in particularly has a good music ed program so she wants to know about that. She is realistic about the ability to make a living as a performer so teaching is on the radar.</p>
<p>Thank you lorelei</p>
<p>I hope I have good experineces and I hope I have prepared myself enough. I think I remember from earlier post you saying that you taught music at the college level, right?</p>
<p>Nick, Lorelei is much more even handed than I am going to be. Even IF you think you know it all, you still need to show some interest by asking some well informed questions. The websites give the basics, but both of my kiddos found that the answers to the questions weren't quite exactly the same as on the websites. They "did their homework" but more than anything else, they did NOT show that they knew it all. They were humble, and sought information, and showed genuine interest in the schools. I'm sure you are well prepared to do that as well.</p>
<p>I hope i didn't sound arrogant. That wasn't it at all. I was just hoping that I would find some questions I hadn't thought to look up for answers yet. I asked this same question on another forum and I got the answer that I should ask what I wanted to know. I don't know what I want to know!! I don't know what I am doing at all so I jumped in head first. I just don't want to go in in there with a blank stare, believe me it has happened before, so I tried to prepare myself. Then, by asking if lorelei taught at the college level I hoped to get to ask her what she looked for in an applicant. I'm very sorry if I showed any sign of arrogance at all, I'm just trying to figure out this whole thing! I guess I should have answered the question of does this help, differently.</p>
<p>I appreciate everything Lorelei had to say and I thank them for the time they spent, it's just that they asked if it help and I told them. I don't understand why it was so upsetting?</p>