Are the studios of the new violin professors at CIM hard to get into?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Are the studios of the new violin professors at CIM hard to get into?</p>

<p>My S had been out of touch with U.S. music schools for a couple of years. He always had Laredo on his mind as his top choice, which meant IU. Now that Laredo is moving to CIM, my S has no choice but to consider CIM. While researching stuff about CIM, it turns out that CIM added TWO new violin professors, not just one. I thought Kantor was the one who left, so why two new professors? Or is another violin professor planning to leave?(or retire?) They apparently also hired an unknown young German violinist named Zenati. In addition, Laredo's wife( famous cellist Sharon Robinson) is also going to start teaching at CIM. (but did CIM lose a cello professor first? or did they just decide to hire the couple together?)</p>

<p>Anyway... anybody know if Laredo's students at IU are moving to CIM with him? If so, how will this affect the chances of getting into his studio for 2013? Are there any downsides to studying with a professor who has just moved to a new school? </p>

<p>Since my S isn't applying until end of this year, I guess there's plenty of time to wait. </p>

<p>This forum sure is a great source of information. Just read that another violin professor that my S was interested in also has plans to move to another school.... and another one may possibly be planning to retire in a year and half.... talk about musical chairs! :)</p>

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<p>The departure of one prof does not automatically mean that only one will be hired (or than any will be hired), since so many studio instructors do not teach a full load of students at a school. </p>

<p>Kantor has taught at more than just CIM, and many instructors at the best schools teach at two or more schools. As well, even those who confine their teaching to a single school often have performing careers that prevent them from maintaining a full-time studio. </p>

<p>As well, sometimes schools decide to increase their enrollments on a certain instrument if the talent pool and demand exist; also, sometimes when a super-talent becomes available, schools snatch them up whether there is a direct need or not–it is easy for the best schools to find enough talented students to fill another studio. </p>

<p>The top schools tend to operate quite differently from most universities where most faculty are full-time. At my son’s school, one violin teacher is departing, but they have advertised two potential positions for next year–I wouldn’t be surprised if they choose to fill only one of them.</p>

<p>Most top teachers do tend to take some of their students with them when they move, but I do not know what Laredo will be doing. However, it is often somewhat easier to get into a new teacher’s studio in their first year or two at a school, since few of them bring their entire studios with them. Some teachers who make moves near the end of their careers may be cutting back on the size of their studio, so this would mean there would not necessarily be a lot of open spots.</p>

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<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Will Laredo be teaching full-time at CIM only?</p>

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<p>Probably the best answer you can get to your question is to call or e-mail CIM and ask the question directly, about how many spots Jamie Laredo is expected to have open (I am assuming he is starting at CIM full time the fall of 12). I would wait until June, when admissions for next year, wait lists, etc are prob done, to ask the question, they should be able to give you a ball park figure.</p>

<p>A couple of thoughts to throw your way, about the admissions process/selecting a teacher:</p>

<p>-CIM I believe operates as other music schools do, when you audition you indicate which teachers you think you want to study with and the teachers who have listened to you indicate a willingness (or not) to teach the auditionee. Assuming the auditionee meets the minimum level, they then try to match you to the teacher. If no teacher indicated a willingness to teach the student they don’t get in, and if, for example, you put down only Jaime Laredo and for whatever reason he didn’t indicate a willingness to teach you, that generally is that (I Believe if some teachers indicated they wanted to teach you, but it didn’t match your list of teachers, they might try and put something together between the applicant and one of the willing teachers; I can’t guarantee CIM does that, I know other schools do from what their admissions department told me). </p>

<p>-Even if the studio has open slots they may not fill them, for a variety of reasons. Jaime Laredo might be busy doing other things, performing, conducting, etc and may decide not to fill slots that otherwise were open to him, it can happen.</p>

<p>-As a result, trying to get to 1 particular teacher may be difficult, might be like trying to hit the bullseye of a dart board with your first throw.</p>

<p>-Has your S had any contact with Jaime Laredo through sample lessons, music festivals, etc? If not, it may be wise to try and find a way for him to play for him. First of all, it could be your S might find Mr. Laredo’s teaching style doesn’t fit him, even the best teachers don’t work with all students…plus, if your S does a lesson with Mr. Laredo and gets feedback it might tell him a)where he needs to work between now and his audition date and b)might even give something of an idea if Mr. Laredo seems interested in teaching him…no guarantees, but it might help.</p>

<p>Plus another point is Jamie Laredo is well known enough that especially with his move to CIM being publicized, it might increase the number of candidates applying to CIM to study with him which can mean more competition. It is really important IMO to have backup plans, other potential teachers in mind, because not only are admissions something of a mystery, getting a particular teacher can be tricky as well. Students don’t choose the teacher per se, in effect the teacher chooses the student and hopefully there is a match.</p>

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<p>yes Jaime Laredo will be teaching at CIM only. Paul Kantor had a HUGE studio at CIM- thats why they decided to hire 2 new violin professors. Californiaharp, do you mind telling us where your S went for undergrad?</p>

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<p>dominant7,</p>

<p>S got his bachelor’s degree from BU.(dual violin and French majors
completed in 5 years)</p>

<p>Any chance that CIM will hire additional violin faculty after the
two new guys settle in? S knows a lot about Laredo and has
older friends who studied with him many years ago. There’s
not much he could find out about Zenati. There’s also Preucil
who is also a big name at CIM. Can you comment on these
three teachers? Thanks!</p>

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<p>Californiaharp, I am going to ask you to please use some care for the manner in which you ask questions; the music world is very small and you might well do your son a disservice, which I am sure is not what you wish.
First, when inquiring about a professor, do your research and spell his/her name correctly. Ivan ZENATY is the new teacher and he is Czech. He is also far from “unknown” in Europe, serving on the faculty at the Dresden Hochschule for the past 15 years in addition to a full performance schedule and judging international competitions. His teacher was the excellent Josef Suk. If your son used the right search engines, he could find out a great deal about Mr.Zenaty.
Some of the questions you pose can not be accurately answered by anyone here. The number of students following Mr Laredo is unknown right now- still time for final decisions- but I would expect that he will have openings in his studio for the 2013-2014. I doubt the school would give out an exact number though because they don’t know for sure who will return in a given year until the deposits are in.
It is not all that unusual for a school to hire both members of a couple, especially if they are well known in their field of expertise, as is the case with Ms. Robinson; but no, CIM did not “lose” a cello prof. The school’s reputation supports the expansion. Again, no one here knows if or when CIM would look to add more members to the violin faculty. If your son reads any of the violin/string publications, he would see the advertisements at the same time as everyone else.
Nothing is a sure bet, least of all studying with the same teacher for multiple years. While many “put down roots” and intend to stay, others might choose to leave for warmer climates, more money, gaining a chair in an orchestra, etc. They could even, heaven forbid, get hit by a product of the Acme Anvil Company and vanish into nothing more than a silhouette! Things happen, and students learn to role with the punches.
William Preucil is the concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra, and thus enjoys the renown and prestige that comes with that position. He is an excellent musician and his students follow that path and do very well for themselves. He and Joel Smirnoff are very, very selective in who they take on.
I cannot stress enough the importance of your son making the contacts with the various schools. He is an adult, even older than the typical first year graduate student and any dealings with schools and potential teachers needs to come from him. I wish him success and that’s why I’ve said what I did here. Artists are temperamental and teachers have been known to turn down students for all kinds of reasons, real and imagined. They do read boards like this, as do their students and members of the administrations and it is very easy to have things be taken out of context or misunderstood .Thus, you need to be very careful of what you say and to whom you say it, so as not to have your son starting out behind the curve from the beginning.</p>

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<p>VERY well said Mezzo’sMama. </p>

<p>Thats great your S went to BU for a double major. I would suggest having him ask his old teacher from undergrad about their suggestions regarding grad schools. Also, seeing as your S was accepted to Juilliard and NEC for undergrad- I would suggest applying to both for grad school. They both have fantastic teachers on faculty.</p>

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<p>Hi everybody as for Ivan Zenaty, I was just accepted into studio as a undergraduate BM student. Also, I know another girl who was accepted as well. At the same time, there are current students from CIM who are auditioning for his studio so I guess he still has room:]</p>

<p>However, the thing is, just like musicprint said, I actually put Jaime Laredo as my first choice, but instead CIM gave me Mr. Zenaty. In fact I am not entirely sure I put Mr. Zenaty on the list since I did not know much about him (even though I’m really grateful to have this opportunity). </p>

<p>Anyways, goodluck to all!</p>

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<p>beviolins, congratulations on that acceptance. I have added it to the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1260441-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2012-a-61.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1260441-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2012-a-61.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your post seems to indicate that you plan to attend CIM. If that is so, I will also include you on the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1260860-master-list-final-decisions-fall-2012-a-4.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1260860-master-list-final-decisions-fall-2012-a-4.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Please let me know about any other acceptances, even for schools you have decided not to attend, so I can add them to the acceptance list.</p>