Monthly Action Plan

Here is the **05 Monthly Action Plan** section for Sophie Nakamura: ---

§05 · Monthly Action Plan

Sophie, the calendar below sequences every major deliverable between now and your final audition dates. Each month lists 2–3 priority actions with target outcomes. For the why and how behind each item, follow the cross-references to the relevant sections.

Month	Action Items	Target Outcome
April 2026	Lock in your private lesson schedule for intensive audition preparation — weekly sessions minimum, with a teacher experienced in conservatory admissions. Begin mock auditions immediately. (See §03 Major-Specific Prep) Finalize repertoire selection for all three prescreening recordings (Oberlin, NEC, USC). Confirm each school's specific repertoire requirements and time limits. Begin assembling your composition portfolio: catalog existing scores and recordings, identify pieces that best showcase range and voice. (See §03 Major-Specific Prep)	Repertoire list confirmed for each school. Private teacher engaged. Composition inventory complete with gaps identified.
May 2026	Run full mock auditions at least twice — record them for self-review and teacher feedback. Identify weak passages and drill them daily. Begin recording prescreening materials in a proper acoustic space. Plan at least two full recording sessions this month so you have time to re-record in June if needed. (See §04 Creative Projects for portfolio specs) Submit summer festival applications — Aspen, Tanglewood, and Meadowmount deadlines vary, so confirm each and submit before month's end. These strengthen your profile and provide audition-like experience.	First complete prescreening recording drafts in hand. All summer festival applications submitted. Mock audition feedback incorporated into daily practice.
June 2026	Finalize prescreening recordings — listen critically with your teacher, re-record any takes that don't represent your best work. Aim to have polished, submission-ready recordings by month's end. Submit your ASCAP composition work to the national round or additional composition competitions to build portfolio credibility. (See §04 Creative Projects) Make the pathway decision: Conservatory-only track vs. Oberlin's Double Degree program. This choice affects your essay framing, audition repertoire weight, and how you present your academic profile. (See §06 Essay Strategy)	Prescreening recordings finalized. Composition competition(s) submitted. Pathway decision made — all subsequent materials aligned to it.
July – August 2026	Draft essays for all three schools. Oberlin and USC will likely have supplemental prompts; NEC's application emphasizes artistic statement. Write first drafts in July, revise in August. (See §06 Essay Strategy for approach) Request recommendation letters — approach both music teachers and academic recommenders now so they have summer to write thoughtfully. Provide each recommender a brief sheet summarizing your goals and highlights. (See §07 Recommendation Strategy) If attending a summer festival, use performances as additional mock audition practice. Record any strong performances for potential portfolio use.	Complete essay drafts for Oberlin, NEC, and USC. All recommenders confirmed and briefed. Summer performances documented.
September 2026	Polish all essays through at least two revision rounds. Have a trusted reader outside music review them for clarity and narrative coherence. Finalize your composition portfolio — clean scores, high-quality recordings, brief program notes for each piece. (See §03 Major-Specific Prep) Confirm all prescreening recording technical specs (file format, upload platform, labeling) for each school. Do a test upload if platforms are open.	Essays in final-draft form. Composition portfolio ready to submit. Technical submission requirements verified for all three schools.
October 2026	Submit prescreening recordings by each school's deadline — do not wait until the last day. Oberlin, NEC, and USC each have different portals and deadlines; track them on a single spreadsheet. (See §08 Application Execution for submission logistics) Submit all application materials: transcripts, test scores (SAT 1490), essays, portfolio, and recommendations. Verify every component shows as received in each portal. Begin live audition preparation — schedule weekly performance run-throughs in front of an audience (friends, family, fellow musicians) to build stage comfort.	All applications and prescreenings submitted. Confirmation of receipt from every school. Live audition run-throughs underway.
November – December 2026	Intensify live audition preparation: full run-throughs weekly under performance conditions (formal dress, timed, in unfamiliar rooms if possible). (See §08 Application Execution) Research audition logistics for each campus — travel from Hawaiʻi requires advance planning for flights, lodging, and potential weather delays. Book travel early. If any school offers an Early Action or priority audition date, confirm your slot. Note: conservatory auditions typically fall January–March, so use this window to peak your preparation.	Audition travel booked. Performance stamina and confidence at peak level. All logistics confirmed.
January – February 2027	Live auditions — execute with confidence. Arrive a day early to each campus to acclimate. Warm up thoroughly and trust your preparation. Send brief thank-you notes to faculty you meet during audition visits. If Oberlin offers a campus visit day, attend to demonstrate genuine interest.	All auditions completed. Positive impressions left with faculty. Decision letters expected March–April.

Key Cross-References

• §03 Major-Specific Prep — repertoire selection criteria, composition portfolio standards, audition format details
• §04 Creative Projects — portfolio specs, competition submission guidelines
• §06 Essay Strategy — narrative framing for conservatory vs. double-degree path, artistic statement approach
• §07 Recommendation Strategy — whom to ask, recommender briefing sheet template
• §08 Application Execution — submission logistics, portal checklists, deadline tracker

Sophie, one scheduling note: because you are applying from Hawaiʻi, build in extra buffer days around every audition trip and every online submission deadline (time zone differences can cost you). Set personal deadlines 72 hours ahead of official ones. This plan is tight but achievable — the key is starting your audition prep and recording sessions this month so that every subsequent milestone has room to breathe.

--- That's the complete §05 Monthly Action Plan — a compact calendar from April 2026 through audition season, with cross-references to the detailed strategy sections. Each month has concrete deliverables so you can track progress at a glance.