Am I too old to attend a conservatory?

<p>Firstly: hello, everyone! I'm new to posting here, but I have read a few posts about non-traditional music majors looking to enter master's programs. Unfortunately, that's probably not what I am best suited to do. </p>

<p>I'm a 23 year-old with a B.A. in English and Comparative Literature. My parents (who were financing my education at the time) would not support me at all (even as much as co-sign on loans) if I wanted to pursue music as a professional goal. Now that I can support myself somewhat independently, I'd very much like to pursue my dream of studying guitar. I've been playing for a decade, but my tastes have recently turned towards classical studies; I'm absolutely enchanted by the music of classical guitar. Luckily for me, the folk/fingerstyle pieces that I had been studying previously have given me some right and left hand speed and reasonably good technique. </p>

<p>I'm studying with a instructor and many, many books to catch up on what I've been missing out on all these years. My question, as the title implies, regards whether or not a conservatory admissions process/audition would look down on me because of my age, assuming that I'm 24/25 by the time I would be entering college again.</p>

<p>So, what do you think, college confidential? Is age going to be a factor here? Are conservatories comfortable with non-traditional students? Am I going to be overshadowed by a crowd of young Segovias and prodigies :P?</p>

<p>The key is knowing if and where you will be competitive in an audition based admit process. Your private instructor, assuming he/she is experienced with gauging you talent across a national/international pool of talent, is the best one to guide you as to where you stand. Alternative objective opinions from college faculty, professional musicians, and masters and beyond level students are also good indicators.</p>

<p>Realize also second Bachelor’s (or an performance certificate) will aided by federal loans or grants, as a student is ineligible after the first Bachelor is awarded. How you were planning on funding this? No need to answer, but something to ponder. Do not assume heavy debt for a music major. </p>

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<p>My personal observation is “probably not”. There may be some reticence, but I suggest it most likely could occur within an individual instructor’s personal bias,and not an institutional or departmental mindset.</p>

<p>This will give you a great deal of general background about the process in general, and the things to look for in a program.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Follow the story of bratsche beginning here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064279402-post488.html;[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064279402-post488.html;&lt;/a&gt; click on the user name and a drop down menu appears. Click on “Find more posts…”, and then read them in reverse order. Granted she was contemplating a Masters (and got great options, and was also active at a high level musically in the interim).</p>

<p>Some additional reading:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/854107-seeking-thoughts-older-students-going-conservatory.html?highlight=conservatory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/854107-seeking-thoughts-older-students-going-conservatory.html?highlight=conservatory&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/790165-making-into-conservatory.html?highlight=conservatory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/790165-making-into-conservatory.html?highlight=conservatory&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/918862-non-traditional-student-seeking-jazz-study.html?highlight=non+traditional[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/918862-non-traditional-student-seeking-jazz-study.html?highlight=non+traditional&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/463946-any-grad-schools-older-students.html?highlight=non+traditional[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/463946-any-grad-schools-older-students.html?highlight=non+traditional&lt;/a&gt; (grad study in a music academic discipline, not performance, but an older student nonetheless)</p>

<p>Fixing a bad link:</p>

<p>(bratsche reference paragraph)
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064279402-post488.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064279402-post488.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I just responded to a thread called “A few questions about college auditions/schools! (Flute)”. In it I shared my story of applying to conservatories- what I didn’t share was that when I applied to conservatory, I was 23. Throughout the process, I too was worried that the admissions committees would handle my case differently than the 18 year old applicants. No one ever said anything, and I have no reason to believe that I was treated any differently than anyone else. My applications were handled precisely the same as all the traditional/ just graduated High School applicants. I eventually got into a college with a music school and I love it there. Just wanted to share this. Sorry I don’t have more specifics, but just wanted to share that at 23, I was successful and have no reason to believe that anything at all was different for me than those 5 years younger.</p>

<p>astewa57</p>

<p>also, at my school’s orientation I met people who were in their 30’s, and even a man going to music school in jazz guitar probably in his 60’s. Very cool! You should be fine, and if anyone thinks otherwise, its not the school for you. </p>

<p>astewa57</p>

<p>my friend at my conservatory is studying voice. he’s 32 and fits in perfectly, so you’re fine. haha.</p>

<p>Why aren’t you going to go for a masters or other kind of certificate? There are a lot of requirements in a bachelors degree for other courses that you might not want to repeat, even at a conservatory. Check alternatives. You will find many people who are older going for the other kinds of degrees.</p>

<p>I would not be concerned with age, though I could be wrong… but wonder if you might think that you need a few more years of classical guitar study before applying. (Are you doing Carcassi, Guiliani, and Sor studies to begin with? What music are you playing now?)</p>