U Miami Auditions

<p>My son auditioned at U Miami this past week. He was not asked to play any of his prepared pieces. The bass professor just had him do sight reading and talked to him. U Miami does a pre-screen, so, essentially, they've already seen the prepared pieces. Has anyone else had this experience there or elsewhere? My son was very disconcerted.</p>

<p>My S auditioned there for contemporary performance and played his prepared pieces. His friend/bandmate also played his pieces, too, with his audition. Maybe they were convinced of his abilities just based on his pre-screen and application and wanted to spend the time talking about his goals as a musician??? Otherwise, it makes no sense to me why they would have him spend the effort and money going there and not give him the opportunity to showcase himself.</p>

<p>Kind of sounds like they already knew they wanted him and just needed to confirm he could sight read? Post on this forum if he gets an acceptance in the next couple weeks - very interesting.</p>

<p>My son and a friend did a regional audition for Frost on jazz guitar and found it a bit odd. Just played for a video and that was it. A whole lot of fuss and travel for a videoed audition in front of a Frost admissions person, not faculty. If they had known they were only going to be video taped, they may have done things a little differently. Now waiting to hear from them.</p>

<p>On a different note, this pair is in Texas today auditioning for the UNT jazz studies program. They both report things went well, played for the jazz guitar head faculty member and played all of their material.</p>

<p>Best of luck to your bass player!</p>

<p>I think that regional auditions are often as described by @musictwins.I don’t think it’s unusual. I know that when my son did a regional for Northwestern it was just a videotaped performance for an admissions officer. This is one reason we always suggest a live audition, if possible - because there is so much more interaction (even if not always in the actual audition,) as well as opportunities to learn about the school.</p>

<p>They were surprised because the only other regional experience was with Berklee which sends out teams to all of their regional auditions. They audition the same way either on campus or off campus. The expectation was that a faculty member would be there at minimum. Our fault for not asking how the regional audition was done.</p>

<p>When S and I did a campus visit at CCM in March 2011, the admissions officer also described the regional audition arrangement as videorecorded by admissions personnel to take back to campus for the faculty to view. She also made it clear that the main reason they prefer on-campus auditions is to make sure that students see the facilities,etc. If a student has already visited CCM in person, she said a regional audition is fine, and that generally the acceptance rate for regional vs campus auditions is about the same.</p>

<p>D did a regional for undergrad. It was for a panel and it was taped.(no one on the panel was voice faculty) One week later we get a call explaining that not only was it taped, it was also erased. The gave her a “provisional” admission. IE…“they said you were great, but they are not voice faculty, so what do they know” We sent them an updated performance tape a week later just to cinch the deal.</p>

<p>Just back from a tour of B.U. – they also say regional auditions consist of playing in front of a video camera which they then bring back to B.U. for review.</p>

<p>DS just received his acceptance to U Miami/Frost School via e-mail this morning. Guess they did just want to see if he could sight read.</p>

<p>Congats electricbassmom!!! LOL…I remember your (and son’s) angst well. So happy for you both!</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>S and friend who were disappointed by their videoed audition mentioned in this thread were also accepted. Congratulations to ebass mom and son! What a process this has been…</p>