So, You're About to Major in Music (part two)

Ok, so....



 You've picked your school, applied, auditioned, and been accepted. YAY!

What now?

• Contact your soon to be major professor and ask if there's anything they would like for you to work on prior to arrival. In the meantime, work the heck out of fundamentals. Work lots of scale and scale patterns with a metronome, do a ton of long tones with a tuner, and sight read everything you can. Many incoming students think the expectations are simply an extension of high school and slacking during the summer is to be expected. I guarantee your professors would disagree. I don't mean practice several hours a day every day but keep yout chops up and keep trying to move forward.
• Get a head start on music theory. I know some high schools offer it. Most don't. Here's a great resource that's FREE and easy to understand. http://openmusictheory.com/basicNotation.html
• Many new music students envision being a music major like high school band....but all day long. Most last a semester, maybe two. Understand that this is a very demanding major and you have to learn to manage time really well. When other majors are playing Frisbee on campus you'll still be working. If it's worth it to you....then it's worth it to you.
• Unless you studied with your professor in high school, there's usually a 'feeling out' process between student and teacher. Totally ok. Totally normal.
• Be proud of your high school achievements but understand that your classmates, especially those above you year-wise, do NOT care what you did in high school. 
• See above and triple that for what your marching band did in high school. It means exactly Jack. You will be ridiculed for bragging about your high school marching band in college. They're fond memories. Keep them as that. 
• Yes, theory is important. Yes, ear training is important. Yes, piano class is important. If you're unsure as to why, go talk to your high school band director. I'll bet they can tell you stories of how they didn't THINK they'd need them either.
• If you enjoy performing, make yourself available to do so. More and more chamber groups are forming in music departments. Take advantage. They're usually an absolute blast!
• If you have severe stage fright or if you've never played solos in a public setting before, talk to your professor and juniors and seniors about how to handle it. It's a common thing and nothing to be ashamed of. It's something you'll have to get a handle on, though. If you are too scared to play in front of 30 people, how are you going to conduct 50?
• Remember when I said that what you did in high school doesn't matter? That holds true if you had bad auditions and didn't have much success in high school honor bands. It doesn't matter now. The college obviously believes in you and thinks you have what it takes. It's a clean slate!
• I know money is tight but get a professional instrument. Ask your professor's advice if need be. If you are a sax, clarinet, or double reed major then no.....two or three reeds isn't going to cut it anymore. You need a few boxes. Sorry. it's part of the expense of the degree.
• Find a good repair person. Your professor will expect you to keep your instrument well maintained.

I'll have more in part three. Music majors, music graduates, band directors, professors, please feel free to chime in!