Granted it’s been over ten years here…but we had similar experiences. Our kid actually took lessons with a couple of different teachers at three schools. Yep…they encouraged that. It gave him a feel for the school, as well as the different teaching styles. Most of his trial lessons were well before his auditions. In one case, he had a trial lesson in the fall, and that teacher asked him to come for a lesson the day before his audition (this was at a conservatory). In another case, DS auditioned with one studio teacher at a school, and liked him a lot. That teacher wanted the other faculty on the instrument to also have a lesson with him.
We had a mixed bag in terms of payment…or not. We offered everywhere we went. Only one person took payment. But that lesson was also at his private studio.
My DD was not a music major, but did play her instrument in the college orchestra for all four years, and take private lessons. She also did trial lessons with the faculty on her instrument (she is an oboe/English horn player so it is not like they had a lot of requests). She only initially applied to three schools and had lessons with each of those private teachers. One invited her to play in an orchestral concert as well. Music was sent in advance. None of these teachers took payment for these trial lessons and all knew the kid was not going to be a music major. Fun Fact. One of the oboe teachers was a CC member and frequent poster at the time. Meeting her was fun. That’s actually where DD went to college, and this was her private teacher for two of the four years.
My son is a cello performance transfer applicant. So far, he’s scheduled to visit three colleges and all have offered 1/2 hour free trial lessons. They’re all within a 2 hour+ driving distance and I’ll go with him so we can talk with financial aid and admissions. He’ll also be taking lessons from a teacher at the local college where he’ll apply. It should be really interesting. There’s no way he’s doing any trial lessons at schools farther than that, though. I think it will come down to where he gets in and what f. aid/ scholarships he might get that will determine if he pursues lessons with any other teacher before deciding.
My son is a freshman ant a conservatory. We are lucky enough not to qualify for need based aid. While my son is a very good musician he is not the best. Yet at every school he received merit aid. It is my sense that virtually every kid applying can get aid. Eastman I think touts that every student gets some aid. Northwestern/Beinen points out it is the only school at NWU that gives merit aid.
The only school that did not give him aid is the one he is now attending. He was admitted off the wait list (Importantly wait lists are VERY different in conservatories. Very few students are waitlisted. He was one of 2 and the school only admitted 4). But when I asked for merit aid they gave it to him! Never accept the first offer btw. Conservatories and music schools know they will need to up their offer.
The upshot is do NOT let the cost deter you. If you qualify for need based aid you will get it. And some merit to boot in all likelihood!
Good luck!