Senior Trebles: Recital Rehearsals and Preparing for Post-Grad Life as a Music Major
- Francesca Hill
- Apr 6, 2022
- 2 min read
The countdown to graduation has begun. In the final month before seniors embark on their post-grad lives, art students must prepare for their final performances, portfolios, and recitals.
As vocal performance senior Jaylene Capinpin prepares for her final recital, she reflects on her time in CoPA, Chapman’s College of Performing Arts.
Finding Her Forte
From a young age, Jaylene has been fascinated by opera. When it came time for college, she chose Chapman's Vocal Performance major, which is essentially the study and performance of opera.
Each time Jaylene enters CoPA’s Hall-Musco Conservatory buildings, she knows she will be surrounded by passionate young artists.
Sophomore Year Falls Flat
In the midst of Jaylene's sophomore year, Covid-19 hit. But if anything, Covid made her realize just how much she loves singing.
"I think that throughout the 17 years that I've been singing, it's always been that constant in my life. But Covid was really hard for my major because I essentially couldn't do it. All of my performances were canceled. But I realized, outside of performances, I still had music and I still had the ability to sing. So it became a source of healing."
Taking a [Beat]
Despite Jaylene's dedication to her craft, not everyone knows the struggles that come with being a performing arts major.
In fact, a fall 2021 study found that music majors experience more symptoms of stress and burnout, on average, than students enrolled in other majors. Reasons cited include academic success or failure, finances, rehearsing, performing, practicing, lack of socialization and sleep, and perfectionism.
Spending 17 hours a week just in preparation for her recital, it's no wonder performing arts majors like Jaylene feel this pressure.
Jaylene's recital represents the culmination of her past four years at Chapman. She will be singing in five language: French, German, English, Italian, and Latin. With 15 pieces, the recital will be an hour long.
One Last Mic Check
In addition to her recital preparation, Jaylene has also confronted post-grad life.
Figuring out her post-grad plan has been one of her biggest stressors. Deciding whether to go to grad school, trying to work right out of school, or choosing an entirely alternative path altogether has been a difficult process.
"I think doubt is such a big part of this major and the field of music in general. I applied to grad school, as there was no harm in applying. I applied mostly in California, but as a wild card, I applied to Roosevelt University in Chicago..."
Jaylene is now happy to announce that she was accepted to Roosevelt University and has officially accepted her admission offer. She will be working towards her Masters in Vocal Performance, and hopes to work with the Chicago Lyric Opera.
While she knows she has made the right decision, she acknowledges the challenge for music majors.
Support Jaylene before she embarks on her post-grad journey this Saturday April 9 at 2 PM.
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