Urgent: College Music Tapes

<p>Hello... well, time is running out to record my college tape (for singing), and I'm pretty much on the edge of freaking out. I've asked my voice teacher and music teacher at school, and they're pretty clueless as to how to do it. Do colleges expect a professional- quality recording made in a studio, or will just a regular tape recording do? How did your kids go about making theirs? Thanks so much for any help.</p>

<p>Could you remind us what the purpose of the tape is? For instance, my son did a tape just to qualify for a music scholarship as a non-music major at a liberal arts college. We just did a home video! (I helped him.) And he did get the scholarship. But, if it's for something more important like an audition, then that might be a different recommendation...</p>

<p>Ahh, sorry... this is just a tape sent to the music faculty of Swarthmore or Wellesley (visiting this week to determine which is ED), not a music school audition tape.</p>

<p>ladylazarus - Are you talking about recording a prescreening tape/CD for college/conservatory voice auditions? Many places (Oberlin, McGill, CMU and others) do require a prescreening tape/CD be submitted (particularly for sopranos) before you can be invited to an audition. If this is what you mean, yes -- you better get cracking! Check carefully the repertoire requirements needed and record soon! No -- I don't think colleges expect a professional quality recording but you do need to find a quiet studio, a great accompaniest, and reasonably good recording equipment to produce an acceptable recording. My D is now a sophomore at Lawrence in their BM(voice)/BA double-degree program. We went through this process two years ago. We ended up using a studio at a local college (which was soundproof) and hiring a student in the sound program to record her. We didn't record all at once -- it got very tiring for her to do multiple 'retakes' so we broke up the sessions into parts. She ended up with a good CD that she used for prescreening as well as some scholarship competitions she entered. I know students who recorded in their voice teacher's studio using plain old tape recorders! However, with more students applying now, producing the best prescreening tape/CD is imperative -- just to get an audition! If you are using a tape/CD of your singing as your 'hook' in applying (perhaps in other subjects) to colleges -- yes, it has to be as good as you can do it -- but you have more time to do it with application deadlines not for a couple of months. The important thing in the whole process is to pick repertoire to sing that's appropriate for your voice at this point in time but which fits their requirements -- i.e. some ask for a piece in a language, or a certain timeframe, etc.. -- that is simple (no operatic arias, pieces out of range, etc.) -- perhaps in the old standup Schirmer's Art song book. Hope this helps and good luck!</p>

<p>Why not e-mail or call the colleges that you're considering sending the tape to? I'm sure they'll let you know what to do.</p>

<p>My son's band and music technology teachers had equipment to record CDs...maybe try your high school instrumental teachers. I will say, though, that the acoustics in the room were not the best. I do know that some musicians had CDs made professionally.</p>

<p>Even if the tape is not for a music school, I think it needs to be high quality or not submitted at all. Using a simple tape recorder will not be anywhere near the quality needed. </p>

<p>A recording made in a studio is best. You can also make a fairly decent cd using something like a Sony minidisc recorder. Due to copyright/software limitations, you cannot make a cd directly. You will need to re-record through a pc sound card using the appropriate recording software. In addition to the nuisance, the cost of the minidisc recorder and a decent mike will be about $400.</p>

<p>I don't think those tapes are expected to be "professional quality". If you can easily find a way to record a CD - great. If not, any tape that shows your ability should work. My son sent a tape that he made at home on a most primitive recorder, and it worked fine for Stanford.</p>

<p>LadyL: We're headed to a recording studio in 10 days to cut a CD for some of my daughter's pre-auditions and for some scholarship competitions. I googled recording studios+our state and was finally able to find a studio that specialized in audition CDs; this studio has a grand piano rather than a lot of electronic music equipment. When all is said and done, we'll be paying over $300, but we'll own the CD outright (so can burn additional copies later if necessary). That's one approach...</p>

<p>Last year, when my daughter just needed one song recorded for a camp audition, we just went to her boyfriend's house (his family has a grand piano) and recorded the song in his livingroom. Yes, he's a techy type so had better recording equipment than the average person, but even with lesser equipment, it would have worked out just fine.</p>

<p>Another possibility to consider...are there any churches in your area that have a recording set-up? Some churches record their sermon for shut-ins, so they have the equipment. If money is an issue, that might be a cheaper way to go, although you should check out the acoustics of the church before making a final commitment.</p>

<p>I think the bigger issue for a vocal CD is the acoustics of the area and the availability of a tuned piano, not how high-tech the recording equipment might be.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do colleges expect a professional- quality recording made in a studio....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Not the two colleges you are talking about, Swarthmore and Wellesley. They are just looking to get some idea of your level, just like a soccer coach would want to determine how you might contribute to the team.</p>

<p>If you are stumped, ask around your high school or your voice teacher (if you take lessons). It shouldn't have to be an expensive proposition.</p>

<p>Audition tape for a conservatory or pro-level music program is probably a different story.</p>