If you have difficulty in concentrating at the level you are now won't you have a really bad time once you get into a good high school? I don't know anything about the American school system, does everyone go to High School? Or are there Technical Schools, things like that. Maybe you would be better with practical things, rather than academic ones.
Just a thought.

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Happy b-day!

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Tell me if you're a parent or a teenager and where you live (as vague or specific as you want) also if it's rural, urban or suburban.

I'm 15, and I get $30 a week. For that, I keep the kitchen clean, do the dinner dishes every night, keep the dining room clean, and do a major scrubbing job on the bathroom and kitchen each week. I also have to maintain good grades, and stay on top of stuff like piano. If I slack off on school stuff and piano, I lose money. If I do something really bad (which I haven't, for the record) I'll lose allowance completely and still have to do the jobs.

I have to pay for everything. Transportation not covered by my student Metrocard, music, games, movies (at $12 a ticket), clothes besides a twice-a-year setup, school supplies after the beginning of the year, cat litter, cat food…you get the idea.

I think it's a good system.

(I live in Manhattan.)
Oh, and for the record, I appreciate that I've really got it made.

It should be noted, however, that in New York City, the cost of living is 175% the national average. If I lived somewhere cheaper I'd expect my allowance to go down.

I'm 14, and I get a crummy 5 bucks a week. For everything I do in the house, like washing dishes daily, organizing everything, taking care of pets. My parents are pretty cheap. I need more, for clothes and stuff, but they won't raise the price. I have to pay for EVERYTHING, and 5 bucks a week isn't really cutting it for me. I always have to borrow money then take money out of my savings accounts to pay my parents back.

It's mostly my dad, but they're usually jerks with money. It sucks.

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Duration : 1 min 21 sec

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Technorati Tags: manhattan

So… what are my chances of getting into both schools?

WOW…overachiever might i say….

I think your chances of getting in are higher than most based on your EXTENSIVE list extra-curriculars.

You may have a slightly larger chance of getting in at Exeter based on your father, aunt, and uncle having been there but that is just a guess.

Please dont get your hopes up as these are both very prestigious schools and both have VERY low acceptance rates as well.

Hope i helped and GOOD LUCK!

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I've developed tone, a strong timbre, vibrato, and I make use of dynamics and proper breath support.

However, I'm not on that brink; you know, when you hear the ease of projection and the complete freedom of the voice, I haven't hit that yet.

It's awkward, because I already have my own technique and I like it much, but I'd like to expand my repertoire a little more for some classical pieces, maybe some arias.

I actually have a friend who just got accepted to Manhattan School of Music and has been singing opera/classical for a few years. She has a beautiful, effortless, golden spinto soprano voice and she's been so encouraging, but she is stubborn and will never, "bown down," to sing pop (she sings with the back space of an owl in chorus.) She's tried to help me learn for All-State, but I decided to not do it last year.

Is there anything I can do before lessons to help my voice develop?

First of all, there is nothing wrong with switching from that to classical singing. That's how I found classical music, since most of the time these other art forms are introduced to us before opera/classical singing. Learning how to sing classically will only enhance what you have. Many broadway singers trained through classical music.

Two things. I am not sure if you meant before your upcoming voice lesson or before taking voice lessons period. If you are lined up for voice lessons, I would tell you this. I usually tell my voice students who are just starting to do nothing. I would prefer a clean slate when they come in. That way, I can teach the correct techniques instead of something they "think' might help. Sometimes what they think sounds better is counteractive to what is best for them vocally. Its just best that you allow your voice teacher to "diagnose" your problems should you have any vocally.

If you aren't taking voice lessons and you would like help without the prospect of having them, I would say you are on the right track with chorus.It sounds like your chorus teacher has a grounded program being the fact she has a student going to Manhattan School of Music, and there are All State students in the making. Next year, I hope you audition! All State is such a wonderful experience. But back to the subject at hand, listen to the advice your chorus teacher gives you. I'm sure your teacher has sparked something in you that pulls you closer to new forms of music. I think that's great and you're off to a good start.

As far as technique, you already have diaphragmatic breathing down, which is a wonderful start. If you feel tightness (where you talk about freedom in your voice), try this before vocalization. Go in the mirror without any self conscious issues. Make your face look "dumb". Keep your posture erect, and make sure you have fully relaxed your body before trying the exercise (meaning do some stretching of the body to fully relax your body). Now slowly vocalize on 1-3-5-3-1 on the vowel Ah (for example if you are in the key of C, sing CEGEC on AH). Keep the dumb look the whole time. As you go up in range (this is usually when singers become tense), keep the feeling of "dumbness' as you go up, but give the sound more energy. You can also try pulling your hands towards the side of your face like a breeze to give you an impression of the voice coming to you, not so much out of you. Take your TIME. Don't rush the vocalization. If you feel yourself tightening up, stop. Try again. Don't think "this note is too high" or "OH NO! Its getting HIGHER!" If you think that way, you will automatically tighten up and lose freedom of the voice. If you think "More Energy" you will give the sound more energy instead of making your body resist the natural sound that's there.

Also remember, you've got a long ways before your voice completes maturation. This doesn't happen for most singers until their forties. So the best is yet to come. Since you are still in high school, your voice is going through growing pains, particularly in your teens. This too shall pass. Don't fret over it.

As far as classical music, I would say ask a professional vocalist who knows diction well (German, French, Italian particularly). Buy the standard 24 Italian Songs and Arias published by Schirmer. Almost every classical singer starts off with this book. They usually have phonetics that can help you with the Italian language, but have someone help you in addition to this. You can order this book anywhere. Amazon.com, Sheetmusicplus.com, etc.

I would encourage you to keep doing what you're doing. You are worthy just as your friend. Keep growing, increase your basic theory (nothing over the top, just basics), and keep singing. You never know where this genre may lead you!

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My nephew was just accepted at the Manhattan school of music and while we were there I realized something.. we have lost our way. the School is dominated by Chinese, Korean, Indian, Arab and Japanese students sent there on their countries Dime… I asked a few of the teachers if this was the trend and they all agreed that the foreign kids, mostly Asian although Some Europeans slipped in as well, were there becoming cultured and educated while fewer and fewer American kids attended.. they simply can't afford tuition one of the women told me. The ones that do attend are there mostly on scholarships..

have we lost our dream? Has work and Profit become the only thing of value?
isn't art and Culture what is really remembered about a society ? when we think of the greats.. do you think of leaders of industry ? I don't.. I think of the Beethovens and the Rembrandts.. not the Rockefeller's or the Duponts…

what happens when we all become worker bee's ?

do we go to work for the cultured Asians ?
yea concerned and they come here to study through their governments social programs.. very few are here on their private funds..as for people coming here to start business's … like Arabs in gas stations ? what business's are you talking about… no doom and gloom just a sad observation by someone that has traveled the world and seen where Democracy actually serves the people as opposed to a republic that serves only the slave masters..
some heart felt answers on this one.. thank you all.

Congrats on a well worded, thoughtful mini-treatise.

I agree 100%. I don't know what to add. It's very, very troubling.

The demographics of America are changing daily, it seems. Increased major crime/per capita, high school dropouts, divorce rate, credit woes, lower SAT scores, violence, social unrest, rising costs – where will it end.

When you find the asnwer, bottle it and sell it. Thanks for posting.

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SATS- Writing: 800 Critical Reading: 740 Math: 710 Total Score: 2250/2400

Highest Achievements:
Class Vice President (Soph-Senior)
President of Tri-M Music Honor Society (Junior-Senior) (60 Members)
President Theater Organization- (Lead in all shows)
Vice President Night Choir (80 Members)
Quizbowl
International Thespian Honor Society

Attend Manhattan School of Music Conservatory as a piano major all day on Saturdays.

Composer with extensive portfolio.

Awards, Recognitions, Accomplishments:
Winner of Young Prodigy Series NY (2x) for piano
Winner of 2 National Young Composers Competitions
One of 12 Young Composers in the country selected to attend a rigorous program in Cleveland for a week.
All-County Singer (3x)
All-State Singer (1x)
Deca Regional Winner (3x)
Bronze Medal National Spanish Exam (1x)
Gold Medal National Spanish Exam (1x)
National Merit Semifinalist

Oh, and as far as community service is concerned, I play piano at a nursing home once a week for an hour or two.

I wanted to second Ranto's post and just add that one additional factor is that you're also specifically being compared to

a) the opportunities available at your particular school. The kid who took 4 AP courses at a school that only offers 4 APs is looked at very differently than the one who took 4 AP courses at a school that offers 12. (The idea being that top schools want students that have taken advantage of every opportunity and challenge available to them.) Of course, if your school offers every single AP class possible and you took a full schedule of them (it being impossible to actually take every one offered), then you're fine.

b) the other applicants from your school, particularly those ranked higher than you. Of course, every applicant has their own strengths and weaknesses, and amazing ECs can balance a lower class ranking, but schools are conscious of how many students they are accepting from a particular school. There isn't a hand and fast quota, or anything (and clearly if a school produces a slew of amazing candidates one year they'll accept more), but schools tend to have an average number of students they'll accept from each school.

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