<p>S will be a hs sophmore this fall and plays flute & piccolo. We have an opportunity this summer after he finishes at music camp to visit some of the schools he has interest in upon graduation. I am curious if you could share in this thread when you started casually looking at schools?</p>
<p>We are not requesting any sample lessons at this time, just thinking about starting campus tours.</p>
<p>thank you
patient p</p>
<p>The two most pertinent prior threads:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/288266-preliminary-visits-junior.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/288266-preliminary-visits-junior.html?highlight=visits</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/877987-timing-all.html?highlight=timing[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/877987-timing-all.html?highlight=timing</a></p>
<p>The majority of the visit discussions:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html?highlight=visits</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/865050-questions-ask-campus-visits.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/865050-questions-ask-campus-visits.html?highlight=visits</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668806-college-visits-summer.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668806-college-visits-summer.html?highlight=visits</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/666769-visits-sample-lesson-parent-student.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/666769-visits-sample-lesson-parent-student.html?highlight=visits</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/242501-visits-lessons.html?highlight=visits[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/242501-visits-lessons.html?highlight=visits</a></p>
<p>Probably anything I can add is already there. At this point, I would tend to be more focused on atmosphere and facilities, as alot can change in two plus years.</p>
<p>thank you - The camp he is at this summer is on a college campus , so that certainly will get his feet wet for the future. I agree that the visits at this time are just to “kick the tires”, nothing more.</p>
<p>patientpoppa, we did some college visits when my D was a rising sophomore. DH and I had an interesting time but she was just not into it. I think if you have a mature-for-age kid then it’s a reasonable use of time but if their maturity is typical for that age, they will not get too much out of it. Also, being just barely in high school, I don’t think they can relate much to the college scene and it can be overwhelming. The problem is that as they get older, it gets even harder to fit in visits! I guess bottom line: if your student wants to go and seems excited about it and it is convenient/affordable, then go. If not, you might still go, but keep in mind that you might be the only one forming an impression.</p>
<p>What does your son think? Does HE want to tour colleges now…or not? We started the spring break of DS’s sophomore year of high school at HIS request.</p>
<p>Agree with CLRN8MOM and thumper regarding the sophomore interest/maturity points. </p>
<p>I’ll add that my D, a rising junior at a conservatory, has invited a family friend rising high school junior who’s thinking about music school to visit her for a couple of days this fall. We were talking about how to handle the visit, and she mentioned that she remembers how she felt about our visit to the conservatory she’s studying at now the fall of her sophomore year. It was the first time, she said, that she realized that music school was a possibility for her. “I didn’t know that I could study at a place like this until I visited here,” she said. “I didn’t even know they existed.”</p>
<p>It certainly would not be forced upon our S. He’s very mature for his age & we’ll give him the option of it when we return from visiting friends in Boston, along with visiting some flute shops, which is one of his big desires after camp and then head back West in August. From what I have seen, some of the schools have summer tours and an appointment could always be cancelled. I do want to hold off on Fall /Spring tours at this time when the campuses are in full swing and I agree that I can sure see where it can get tougher to do these visits as time goes on. thank you.</p>
<p>Just an FYI…if you are looking at music programs within universities…the regular campus tour probably won’t even go INTO the music building. You might want to contact the music department directly. In our experience, they had music adcom folks who would arrange tours of the music facilities, and such. Keep in mind…in the summer, not only will you not see a lot of students, but you won’t see a lot of faculty around either…many go off to music festivals or camps for the summer.</p>
<p>thumper1 speaks the truth – a lot of the fun from visiting music schools is witnessing the verve and excitement palpable during the regular school year. Visiting in the summer may actually do fine schools a dis-diservice. I know it’s tempting to visit during the summer when schedules are tough – but I would hold off. The other advice is good as well – only if your son wants to go and is interested.</p>
<p>I might suggest a stop at Burkart flutes in Shirley MA. It is about 50 minutes outside Boston.</p>
<p>Also, I agree with thumper, we have recently completed 4 college tours (universities with great music schools) and none of the tours included the music school. In each case, we sent an email to the music school and arranged a private tour. It made a huge difference in my D’s feelings about BU and some of the others.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestion on Burkhart. I will call them this week. Brannen turned my request down due to a large convention in California late that week which they are attending; Nagahara is making time for us before they head there as well. I may just hold off on the visits until the future, given these opinions that we value, though the clocks hands will be spinning faster then.</p>
<p>We started the spring break of our D’s sophomore year in HS. I’m not sure I would recommend starting the process this early, simply because faculty can change, and with the budgetary situation being where it is right now, entire departments can be lopped into oblivion by the time you’re ready to make your decision,</p>
<p>What WAS good about starting the process this early was we were able to winnow down what sort of musical studies suited our daughter best. After visiting a few musical theater programs, we knew that wouldn’t be for her. We thought it would be smart for her to go for a double major in vocal performance AND music ed, but were convincingly dissuaded from that by the admissions officers at virtually all the schools we visited. You may also be able to get a sense of how well your student will fit in with the various campus/regional cultures.</p>
<p>We started with my D (non music kid starting Soph yr of college next month) in sophomore year HS due to rowing travel with her school. She actually didn’t find the school she is attending until fall of Senior year in HS! (again on a rowing tour back east). With S (music kid) she said to go easy as it is pretty intense and confusing while trying to sort through the whole thing. So we did two this summer (he will be a Jr in HS). One conservatory tour and one university (met w/music dept). He also attended/attending programs at another conservatory and university. So it will be interesting to hear his thoughts when he returns.</p>
<p>I think this is really what is beneficial about starting out early - so they can see the differences between the programs before they actually have to start picturing themselves there. Just make sure it is done with the idea of “lets go look” as they do change by fall of senior year!</p>
<p>The one piece advice that would always drive me nuts is the notion “You’ll feel the right place for you the minute you step on the campus.” Grrrrr! Do make time to meet with faculty and observe classes/performances/rehearsals – that kind of stuff is so much more important.</p>