Full update :-)

So, now I can finally RELAX! I don't know yet whether I'll get in...I'll hopefully know sometime next week. Here's a rundown of the happenings so far...

Our drive up Tuesday night was pretty uneventful, although I found out that my jeans had ripped at the pockets (so NOT what I needed!!) and I needed to get a new pair. The good news is that I found a nice pair for only $10 at Ross... So, yes, I went shopping before our trip, LOL

Wednesday we slept in since we got here (Alameda, which is in the East Bay area near Oakland) at 2am, then we headed over to San Francisco, Nathan dropped me off at the school, and he went to go check into our hotel.

That's where I listened in on the chamber choir rehearsal from outside and then did some practicing in a practice room across the hall (Dr. Habermann had invited me to sit in on the rehearsal, but I didn't get the email in time to get over there by the time it started).

After choir was over, I popped in and introduced myself and then Dr. Habermann invited me to have lunch with him, so we went over to the food court/cafeteria and grabbed some burritos (pretty good ones, too!) and he asked me about my goals, why I want to be at SFSU, etc, then asked if I had any questions and I asked about the placement tests. He explained to me that the main thing is that I place out of the "remedial" ear training and theory class. The further along I placed, the better, but that was the main issue...that if I don't place out of that class, then the liklihood of getting an exception is pretty much none.

After that I did some more practicing, then had Nathan pick me up and we went back to the hotel where I studied some more until dinnertime.

Thursday was the big day! It was grueling. The ear training placement test (recognizing intervals between notes, writing out a melody that is played, writing out two lines of music being played at the same time, rhythm, etc) was at 9am and I thought I would do pretty well, but I'm not so sure how I did on it. It's kinda hard to study for that stuff especially on short notice...I had some recordings from my old musicianship book so I could listen and write them down, but it's not the same as in a classroom. I just hope I got enough right to pass out of the basic class!! :-/

Then the theory test was at 10am. This one I think I actually did pretty well on. I am confident I definitely placed out of the remedial class, and *hopefully* the first semester theory class also.

What was confusing about all these is that the school's "system" of music major classes is different than what I'm familiar with...and even some of the terminology is different, and the emphasis they place on certain things is different. Thankfully I had a guide prior that helped me a bit. The theory test it what will take longer to "grade".

After that test, I was WIPED OUT, so I went and got something to eat, then practiced a little for the piano placement. This was both good and bad, haha

In the piano class I took at SBCC, I think the teacher was a little lax, especially with scales. The regular piano teacher at my current school is much more on top of things and really drills the scales, but I couldn't ever fit her class into my schedule.

So anyway, I go in for my placement, and the gal asks me to do a scale that I'm not familiar with AT ALL. I don't think my old teacher ever even went over it. So, I explained my situation to her and realized that I wasn't really taught what I should have been. Then she just asked me what I needed...where I should be placed so that it will "look good". I told her that I should at least place out of the first two semesters since I already took those classes. So she just basically gave it to me!! I asked her to write down what I needed to know by the time I go into the next class and that was that! I only played one scale, one octave (should have been two, apparently), and I even missed a note since I was a little nervous. That was a huge blessing!!

I was glad to have that behind me...the last thing I had left was the actual singing!

I practiced for a few hours, then changed into my nice clothes, ran through the songs one more time, and then waited till they called me in.

My performances went well, although the accompanist played the first song a little too slowly. I tried to speed up, since he should follow me, but he didn't... So I had to take breaths where I really shouldn't have, but oh well. The second song went really well. I screwed up a little on the words, but I didn't let on, so I don't think they would notice unless they are really familiar with French! LOL

THEN, they asked me to sight sing a line! *gulp* I wasn't expecting that and hadn't really prepared. I was SOOO tired by this point (my audition was at 4:10pm) that my brain was totally not working. I didn't sing it right at all (actually, I have no clue how well I sang it), and after I was done, Dr. Habermann asked me "What can you tell me about that last note?"

I said "That it was wrong" and they laughed (in a good way). They asked me to sing it, and thankfully I was able to correct myself and got it right. *whew*

What's frustrating about everything is that I KNOW I can do better on all the placements, etc. I just am out of practice and didn't have enough time. But, I did what I could and hopefully God will give me favor with the decision-makers.

If I don't get in fro some reason, I did find out about a community college that has a decent music program. Dr. Habermann mentioned it, and another student's mom confirmed that they have a pretty good music program, so I think that will be my fall-back plan. It's in the East Bay area, too, though it's still about 1/2 hour away.

Okay, time to go get something to eat!