Percussion Instructor Theresa Dimond stated in her workshop titled “So You Want To Study at a Four Year Music School-The Audition” that Julliard is considered the best music school in the United States, maybe the world

Dimond handed out the actual audition application from Julliard to attendees of the workshop. She used it as an example of what music schools expect of students who audition.

The first thing she touched on was the process of picking a school, and also to make sure you have multiple back up plans.

“You must know what it is you want, and you must know how you can go about getting it,

Pick your schools knowing what you want to do,” she said.

This saves the student time and money, because application fees are non-refundable.

She said the reason for picking your dream school should not be because it’s close to your house.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” she said, meaning that students should have alternative plans if for any reason they cannot attend the school they choose.

The school you choose should have the specific program you’re interested in, and instructors who you can view as role models.

The person you choose as your instructor should be someone you want to sound like, she said.

For example, if you don’t like the way they play piano, don’t choose them. Pick a different school, because you will end up sounding like them.

As for the audition, she said to “treat it like the Olympics.”

She also mentioned that preperation is key, it will make the student look professional and mature during the audition.

Exploring the campus is a good thing to do after the audition, according to Dimond.

Finally, the student needs to be patient. Even if he doesn’t get in, he must stay positive and remain persistent.

“There is nothing like persistence, If you’re not persistent, nothing is ever going to happen to you,

“Auditioning is a skill, you get better at it the more you do it,” she said.