New And Updated! Apartment Hunting in Boston, Volume I: Finding A Place To Sleep At Night

Boston is a great city, and a great place to live. One of the things that makes it so amazing is all the people who move to Boston because it's such a great place to live. The downside to this wondrous bank of shiny new friends is that moving to Boston can be a nightmare. While one blog post can't totally alleviate the difficulties, we have tried to provide some useful tips to help ease the process. Welcome to Volume I of Apartment Hunting in Boston: Finding A Place To Sleep At Night.

Hunting for an apartment in Boston is tough. If you are a musician, your livelihood can add another layer of complexity to the search. For the student new to Boston, here are a few stories (and lessons!) to help with your apartment search.


STORY 1: DON'T BANK ON IT
There once was a bright and beautiful apartment with two (TWO!) living rooms. The owners seemed a little cagey about the cost of utilities, though, and when you mention bank account numbers for your security deposit, they comment that "we don't really do that. We'll just keep the deposit and return it to you when you move out."

Lesson: Know your legal rights. Boston landlords are required by law to put your security deposit into a savings account which accrues interest. That way, your deposit can be returned to you along with the interest if the apartment is in good shape when you move out. This is for the protection of the tenant. If the landlord will not be putting your security deposit into a separate, interest-accruing account, this is a definite red flag. Massachusetts has different rental laws than other parts of the country. Read up on your legalities to help you as you apartment hunt, and watch out for people who might not be renting legally.

STORY 2: FEE FI FO FUM
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful apartment with a lakeview, and it didn't even smell weird. There were no clumps of dog hair under the radiator, and no Insane Clown Posse blaring from next door. The Realtor says, with a twinkle in his eye, "this apartment is full-fee."

Lesson: What even IS a fee?! In Boston, if you use a Realtor to hunt for your new apartment, you may be charged a fee. The fee essentially pays the Realtor for the work that she/he does for you, and is usually equal to one month's rent. Sometimes the landlord will cover half (or even three-quarters!) of the fee, particularly if the rental date is quickly approaching, or if the apartment is in less-than-ideal shape. The best way to pay no fee is to look for an apartment rented by the landlord her/himself. This makes the search much more difficult, but it might be preferable to paying the fee. You can use Craigslist to filter out search results. If you want to avoid paying a fee, you will likely need to look every day (multiple times) and email or call right away if you see something you love.

STORY 3: I'M ON FIRE (Not really)
In a faraway land (Brookline), in a faraway time (last week), a beautiful apartment was rented to a magical prince. Even though the apartment had major benefits, like windows, floors, and a working refrigerator, there was one thing that made the apartment better and more wonderful than every other apartment the magical prince had ever seen: Heat Included.

Lesson: Some apartments in Boston, especially if they are managed by a large company or are in a large building, include heat and/or hot water in the rent. This seems completely useless as you are moving your sweaty self into the place in August, but in February, when there are icicles forming on your fingertips, you will love it! Be sure to check which utilities are included before you sign a lease to avoid any surprises.

Music Music All The Time: Summer Music Festivals All In One Not-Boring List!

Okay, we know that it's only Autumn, that wondrous season where the trees are naked, drizzly and depressing days become the norm, and Daylight Savings ensures that we are suddenly catapulted into complete darkness at 4:00 PM.

Well, good news! It's time to think about summer music festivals! Now you can bask in the thoughts of warm, music-ey comfort that a gorgeous summer festival affords, the hours of peaceful practice while a gentle breeze wafts the edges of the delicate pages of your Khachaturian concerto. And you can think all these thoughts while you make your audition recordings in the dark.

The University of Houston's Texas Music Festival provides all applicants with a scholarship covering tuition, room, and board (valued at $4,000)... so... that's awesome. This festival is open to ages 18-30.

Domaine Forget in Quebec has a number of sessions throughout the summer. Information will be up on their website by the end of November.

The Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina offers a number of programs for college and high-school. The age limit is 29, and specific programs include Orchestral Studies, Collaborative Piano, and Composition.

But what about those of us who are, shall we say, more seasoned? More life-experienced? Old?

This wine tastes like musical
maturity, with slight notes
of a mix CD from 2001.

Dig, if you will, Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont. With no upward age limit, this small festival is open to individuals and pre-formed ensembles; So Percussion and eighth blackbird are alumni ensembles. Boston auditions are January 28-30.

Round Top is another option with only a minimum age limit: participants must be born before December 31, 1997. This orchestrally-based festival also provides full-tuition scholarships to all participants, so the fee is minimal.

The Aspen Music Festival in Colorado only has minimum age limits as well. This large program offers chamber music, orchestra, and opera theater.

Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine has 6-week and 3-week sessions, and no upper age limit. Pre-formed chamber ensembles are also invited to apply.

You mean... I GET money
to take lessons?!

"Okay," we hear you say. "What about those of us who are legit broke and cannot handle any fees of any kind?"

Might we suggest working for, rather than attending, a festival? Here is a short list of festivals that hire staff:

Interlochen Arts Camp in northern Michigan hires a full staff, from waterfront, counselors, production, front-of-house, and box office, to more specialized positions like collaborative piano, instructor of yoga, and kiln technician. Summer employees can study with faculty and perform on staff recitals.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, also in Michigan, hires staff for the summer. They also have a number of advanced graduate students serving as faculty. Staff and faculty play in a number of large, small, and jazz ensembles.

Boston University's own Tanglewood Institute has not only a number of RA positions open to college students who have finished their sophomore year (and older!), but institutes that are open to students until age 20. There are also paid internships available. Students can study with faculty, time permitting, and enjoy the Berkshires (a significant perk!).

Anybody out there enjoyed any of these festivals? Any that we should add to the list?

Getting Involved With The Community: BU ArtsOutreach!

Performance anxiety
and wobbly notes.
#woodwindproblems

We all know that music has the power to elevate us out of our current situations, change our mindsets, and lift our spirits. It can also move us profoundly and deeply. That's why we became musicians. Sharing the gift, however, is another story- if you're like we are, you sometimes feel that you perform only for people who are silently judging you, or who wish they could be at home watching Orange Is The New Black instead of listening to your Mozart concerto. You worked hard on that concerto. They could at least show a little enthusiasm for your historically accurate interpretation.

But sometimes playing out in the community can be the answer to these dreadful woes. Sometimes it's a relief to play for people who aren't also extremely high-level on your instrument, or who aren't musicians at all. Sometimes it's nice to get your feet on the ground and play for the audience music was meant for: human beings.

BU ArtsOutreach is a great program in which you can play music for patients in lobbies, foyers, pediatrics, geriatrics, surgical ward, adult outpatient, and trauma units at the BU Medical Campus. In other words, this program connects musicians with those who might need us the most: those under tremendous amounts of stress. 

YAY! EXTRA PERFORMANCE
OPPORTUNITIES!!

Do you wish you had more performing opportunities? Do you struggle with performance anxiety? Do you love to play Yanni music but your teacher won't let you put it on your recital? BU ArtsOutreach can help with these issues as well! Think of it as an extra opportunity to perform for people who are excited about hearing you play.

Who can play? Solo instruments or chamber groups. 

How do I get there? The B.U.S. will drive you to the Medical Campus FOR FREE. 

How do I sign up? Email Courtney Miller at BuArtsoutreach@gmail.com. 

Do I have to lug my music stand across town? No. You'll be provided with one there.

If you've already wondered how to get started performing in the community, and especially if Boston is new to you, this is an easy and wonderful way to get integrated into your new hometown. Not only will you be providing patients and staff at the BU Medical Campus with a sonic experience and good memories, but you'll also be giving yourself the gift of performing for people who need your music.