Monthly Action Plan

05 Monthly Action Plan

This calendar focuses on execution. Each month highlights the most time‑sensitive steps to ensure your applications, audition preparation, and portfolio materials are fully polished before conservatory and university deadlines.

Month Key Actions & Target Outcomes
August
  • Confirm audition repertoire plan. Finalize the concerto movement and contrasting pieces you will prepare for conservatory auditions. Begin structured weekly coaching or teacher feedback sessions so the repertoire is performance‑ready by late fall.
  • Outline composition portfolio. Start gathering every score, recording, and program note for your existing works. Create a master list of pieces and identify which ones should represent you in submissions.
  • Application infrastructure. Open Common Application and school portals for Oberlin College and USC; review portfolio and prescreen requirements for Oberlin, New England Conservatory, and USC.
September
  • Intensive repertoire development. Continue focused practice and coaching on the concerto movement and contrasting audition selections. Record practice run‑throughs to evaluate pacing, tone, and musical interpretation.
  • Draft program notes for compositions. Begin writing clear descriptions for each portfolio work (instrumentation, inspiration, structure). These will become part of the final submission package.
  • Early Decision / Early Action preparation. Decide whether to pursue an early plan at one of your target schools (see Admissions Strategy section). Prepare essays and portfolio logistics accordingly.
October
  • Refine audition repertoire. Work toward performance‑level polish on all selected pieces. Schedule mock auditions with your teacher or trusted musicians to simulate conservatory audition conditions.
  • Organize full composition catalog. Assemble scores, recordings, and finalized program notes into a clearly labeled digital folder so portfolio materials are submission‑ready.
  • Essay drafting and revisions. Complete strong drafts of your personal statement and any music‑specific supplements (see §06 Essay Strategy for approach).
November
  • Produce pre‑screen recordings. Record high‑quality performances of required repertoire following conservatory technical specifications (camera placement, audio clarity, continuous takes where required).
  • Finalize composition portfolio files. Export clean PDFs of scores and ensure recordings are clearly labeled and formatted according to each school's upload requirements.
  • Submit early applications if applicable. Complete any Early Decision or Early Action submissions and confirm that music portfolios and prescreen recordings upload correctly.
December
  • Complete regular decision submissions. Finalize applications for Oberlin College, New England Conservatory of Music, and the University of Southern California. Double‑check that music supplements and composition materials are attached.
  • Review prescreen results and next steps. As conservatories release prescreen decisions, begin preparing for live or virtual auditions where invited.
  • Continue repertoire refinement. Maintain daily practice with emphasis on musical nuance, memorization (if required), and stamina for audition‑length performances.
January
  • Prepare for audition invitations. Confirm travel plans or technology setup for scheduled auditions at Oberlin, NEC, or USC. Rehearse full audition sequences under timed conditions.
  • Mock audition sessions. Perform your complete program for teachers or mentors to receive final interpretive and technical feedback.
  • Portfolio presentation check. Reconfirm that your composition materials remain accessible through the submission portals in case schools review them during audition evaluation.
February
  • Execute live or virtual auditions. Perform prepared repertoire with the goal of demonstrating technical control, musicality, and interpretive clarity.
  • Professional follow‑up. Send brief thank‑you notes to audition panels or faculty contacts when appropriate.
  • Maintain performance readiness. Continue practicing in case additional audition rounds or faculty meetings occur.
March
  • Track admissions decisions. Monitor portals for decisions and scholarship notifications from Oberlin, New England Conservatory, and USC.
  • Compare program fit. Evaluate offers based on teacher fit, ensemble opportunities, composition resources, and financial packages.
  • Prepare for final commitment. If admitted to multiple programs, consider scheduling conversations with faculty or current students before making your enrollment decision.

Because you have not yet provided details about your extracurricular activities, music awards, ensemble participation, or composition achievements, make sure those elements are clearly documented in your applications if they exist. Admissions committees will rely heavily on the artistic evidence in your recordings and composition portfolio, so maintaining high production quality and organized materials throughout the fall is essential.

Testing Strategy →