<p>Hi All: I'd like to get your input regarding strategy for helping my D build her college resume. </p>
<p>Last summer she applied to four summer music programs for high school students geared towards piano performance. She was accepted to 3 of the 4 she applied, one offered a partial scholarship (she declined). She ended up going to Eastman's Summer Horizons program, primarily because of the reputation that Eastman has for piano performance. She had a great experience overall. </p>
<p>As a junior this year, she will have another opportunity to participate in a summer program, firstly to learn, but secondly to build her college resume. Attending Eastman again in 2009 (assuming she was accepted again) is a viable option that is on the table, though I was wondering what you all thought about this. As a parent, I am of the mind that while Eastman is a very nice "feather" to have in one's college resume "cap", varying one's experience(s) is most beneficial to her in the long-run and will probably also be something that colleges/conservatories will value most. What do you think?</p>
<p>Also, I would appreciate some input/advice into what summer programs you might suggest in piano performance to consider building upon her Eastman experience. I am thinking that having another solid summer experience to be able to put on her college applications will be have a significant positive impact on what schools she ends up getting accepted at and attending in 2010.</p>
<p>Resume building for what? if for conservatories, it is the audition that will matter most; if for colleges, any program that shows a dedication and "passion" for music could be a positive for a resume. If to impress Harvard, maybe Aspen or being on From the Top is the level of musical ability that might -- and only might -- improve chances of admission.<br>
Your daughter might do best to find a program she enjoys and where she will have good performance experiences. There are many many programs that would fit that bill. You might look at Aspen, at Eastern Music Festival, at Bowdoin Music Festival -- they are great programs with excellent piano faculty.</p>
<p>I've got to agree with mamenyu, the resume is not a factor in audition based admits, and the comment on Harvard is applicable to just about all the Ivys, and a couple of "Ivy-like" institutions.</p>
<p>I also agree with the assessment a program should be chosen either for specific faculty, an enjoyable atmosphere, plenty of opportunity for performance, and quality of peer group. Most of the audition based programs, particularly those at the fellowship/free tuition offer these qualities.</p>
<p>A summer experience which will broaden her artistic and musical senses, if it allows time and energy to keep her playing at an optimum level, is the best choice. If she chooses to pursue her undergraduate education in a music school or conservatory, nothing will matter but her audition. If she hopes to attend a first tier academic institution, bringing a specialized strength and passion to her educational effort will be most helpful. Good luck to her!</p>
<p>I believe she'd be best served by attending a different program. </p>
<p>My D attended WCC's Vocal Institute between 9th and 10th grade and again on partial scholarship between 10th and 11th. While she still had fun and knew a number of the participants the second time around, she had a sort of "been there/done that" feeling about it and really didn't progress much as a singer. She would have done better to go to a different program at WCC or elsewhere.</p>
<p>The res is a sort of affirmation that she's done more that taken lessons for a few years and that it's something that's important to her life. As others have said, the audition is what will get her into the school. Do what expands her as an artist and the bullet points on the res will take care of themselves.</p>
<p>Wow---I guess I really am new to this. So much for putting together a <em>plan</em>! Why go through the effort then if it really only matters for the 20 minutes in 2010.</p>
<p>We were thinking conservatory/music school...but maybe one with a dual program (double degree) that would provide a slightly broader non-musical education.</p>
<p>re: music festivals... sounds like Eastern Music Festival, Aspen have a good reputation, no? Any particulars that you might share about one over the other (or others?)</p>
<p>I'd like to echo what others have already said about resume building and urge you to help your daughter find the program where she is most likely to grow and make real progress as a musician. This means taking a careful look at the kind of teaching she will get, performance opportunities, etc. Some festivals with great reputations (Aspen) are geared to older students, and some smaller programs dedicated to high school students can really help preparing for applications and auditions. There's a good thread here about summer programs that offers lots of ideas. Your daughter's teacher will hopefully have some suggestions as well.</p>
<p>You go through the effort and have a plan so that you can give it your best shot during those 20 (or perhaps only 10) minutes that account for nearly the entire admissions decision at several schools. The fact that you attended a specific workshop is much less important than what you learned there and bring to your music making from then on.</p>
<p>Just chiming in to say my son never did a summer festival and was accepted to several top music schools--he is a freshman at NEC. It was the audition and perhaps the seriousness toward music demonstrated by being in a precollege conservatory program as a high school student. He was told by many music teachers that he should enjoy his summers and be a kid if that's what made him happy. I do think that summer festivals are wonderful for students, though, if that's what they want to do, and they meet teachers from conservatories who can perhaps write their recommendations. But don't think a student MUST build an impressive resume in order to get accepted to a conservatory.</p>
<p>But, maybe---is it that much more competitve in the classical world? Maybe jazz is different.</p>
<p>jazzzmom, the classical world is no different in so far as the audition is the major deciding factor. In many cases, your competition has had years of high level intense summer immersion programs, "big name" teachers, but that is not always the case.</p>
<p>Those with the talent, drive, and potential tend to get accepted, regardless of where and if they spent their summers.</p>
<p>Just my observation here. Others may well have opposing views.</p>
<p>Although it may not be so important for resume value, a good summer program can be transformational -- meeting other really talented young performers, being challenged by a new and demanding teacher/performer, attending performances with world-class musicians -- it can really alter the way a teenage musician sees his or her future. Aspen is mostly "geared" to college students, but there are many high school age students -- it has no camp-like planned activities, but the area is safe and beautiful, with great recreational opportunities. Students can attend almost all performances in the incredible summer series at no cost. Eastern is for younger students (up to 19), but it also features a fantastic performance series. Bowdoin is both for high school and college age students. All three have strong piano programs, with opportunities for chamber music as well.</p>
<p>Tanglewood is like Aspen in that it is in a beautiful setting and it offers the students free admission to the festival concerts. It has programs that are geared specifically to high school students and they get kids from all over, many of whom are bound for top music schools. Check out Boston</a> University College of Fine Arts for more information. They should have applications and audition dates up within a few weeks.</p>
<p>Eastern, Tanglewood, & Brevard (any input on Brevard?) were all on the list to consider applying to this summer. Aspen might be farther for our D to travel and be a more mature crowd than we than we'd like. Are there others that are geared towards HS students, focus on performance, have a good rep, quality instructors, a place to network, where she should be challenged. Size might be an issue---rather it to be where she isn't overwhelmed as simply a number. We were focused on the NE/SE corridor for location. Those are the things we'd be looking for. I want her to focus on applying to 3-4 this year again so I want the list to be right along all the dimensions we are looking. Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Summer festivals can be a good way to find a good college teacher 'fit', so it doesn't hurt to look at where the teachers teach during the year...</p>
<p>Eastern and Brevard both feature college/conservatory admissions fairs and lots of advice, including how to prepare auditions. Both are outstanding for high school musicians. (maybe Tanglewood does this too? I just don't know).
DD had a fantastic experience at a much smaller program (Kinhaven in Vermont) which she chose over some "better known" programs, and which served her really well as she prepared for senior year, and later for freshman year placement auditions. The nurturing evironment and fabulous instrumental teacher at Kinhaven gave her the skills and confidence that were just what she needed, and she had great summers, and made great friends.</p>
<p>operahorn---that is exactly what I was thinking regarding "networking", to find a teacher that might be a good fit for the next stage of her development. From everything that I've been able to to uncover about each, Brevard and Eastern, are really good at this (i.e., networking), besides being quality programs for development, inspiration, experience, etc.</p>
<p>One thing that I'm not certain about regarding Brevard and Eastern tho is the fact that our D does not do well in BIG environments (i.e. lots of kids, lots of action, lots of everything). This is not to say that she doesn't do well in stressful situations (auditions, performances, etc.)---in fact, she is alot more composed than either of us would ever have been at her age and is very "solid" in these performance situations. It is just hard for her to come "out" and be herself in the midst of the crowd. When in big crowds she becomes a wallflower.</p>
<p>I will check out the summer festival list some more, but does anyone have other "smaller" options (like Kinhaven) that might be a consideration?</p>
<p>Greenwood is a wonderful place, small, in Cummington, Mass., near Northhampton -- but only takes two or three pianists a year; Jr. Yellow Barn, also in Western Mass., is also small, but, again, only takes a couple of pianists. These summer programs have some cross-over with Kinhaven. High school kids love them.
The studios are small enough even at places like Aspen that you are not a "number" -- Aspen also holds a conservatory fair. But as mentioned, kids are pretty much on their own, so it takes a mature high school student. Although it is a good deal, considering the free concerts, it is fairly expensive and the piano program does not offer fellowships, though some individual teachers offer one or two each summer. Aspen is very selective, and many of the younger kids (as young as 11) are already studying with the faculty there (e.g., in the Juilliard prep program). But overall, the advantage to applying there is that there are a lot of piano students every summer -- more than most of the other programs mentioned.</p>
<p>Indiana University has an excellent summer program for high school students that focuses specifically on piano. I have known several high level pianists who have attended there year after year and love it. </p>
<p>Summer programs give students an opportunity to "check out" college faculty and give them some idea of who they might like to study with. This is an advantage to doing different programs each summer. However, the Eastman program is quite good and it would be fine if your daughter wanted to return there.</p>
<p>The Eastman summer jazz program which S2 participated in after his sophomore & junior years was transformational for him. The first year, it showed him that he was capable of playing with the best. For a kid from a small town with no hs music program to speak of although with excellent teachers at the local college, this was crucial to his development. From the time he returned from the first summer, his practicing doubled and he went only a handful of days in 2 years without playing his instrument. </p>
<p>The 2nd summer reinforced the first, although the experience was perhaps a bit of a letdown because it didn't have the newness of that first discovery. But it did show the seriousness of his interest in Eastman and how he had developed as a player over the intervening year. </p>
<p>In his audition, he knocked it out of the park. We had never heard him play like that. While we know that his participation in summer camps would not compensate if his audition was not up to snuff, it gave him a familiarity with the buildings, the faculty, and the whole atmosphere that, I think, allowed him to really show his stuff. And this despite having the fire alarm go off during his warm up time and having to race out in the snow, using his jacket to shield his instrument.</p>
<p>Although the Eastman summer program requires an audition CD, my son was expecting an altogether very high level of play. There were some very good musicians there, but I think he was expecting that "everyone" would be great. We heard this from kids in the voice department too. It wasn't disappointing, but he wouldn't have chosen to go a second summer either.</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, we even heard that from kids who did the piano program at BUTI. Even in audition summer programs, there can be a range of talent and ability. This is why it is neat for kids to have different music summer experiences, if at all possible. I think they learn from each, but perhaps gain different skills or experiences.</p>