I’m 13, and I’ve been playing violin for 5 years. I want to go to Curtis Institute, but it is the most prestigious music school in the world and I am scared I won’t prepare well enough in 4 years.
What do I do?
you can improve a lot in four years. all you can really do is practice as much as you can (constantly push yourself to be more efficient and put in more time), work on your technique, make sure you’re playing at a high enough repertoire level, and try to get to know the teacher you want to study with, whether you just meet them at a competition (if that’s the case keep in touch with them), or you get a trial lesson, or you study with them at a summer festival. anyway, just work hard on your technique and your repertoire, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t get in. then, even if you don’t get in, you will have worked as hard as you could have, and you may end up at another conservatory that is just as good.
also, make sure the prestige isn’t the only/main reason you want to go to Curtis. make sure you like the teacher, program, and the environment as well!! there are a few other schools in the US that some would argue are better than Curtis.
best of luck 
Thank you so much! This was really helpful! 
@arielk555 : It’s a great goal to have, to get into Curtis. But remember, it’s not just the school that makes the musician. The school provides the environment, but you need to have the right match between teacher and student. You may find that combination in other places as well, and maybe not at Curtis, so leave yourself open to that.
Having said that, from experience, a very famous teacher said to someone I know, to get into Curtis, you need to have a hard enough repertoire, and then have the perfect audition. So, work on your repertoire, practice, practice, practice. Listen to the greats - there’s a lot of them on youtube/spotify, but try not to copy a style - try to develop your own.
You are way ahead of the game, with setting yourself that goal and you have 4 more years before you begin auditioning. But, a word of caution, try not to burn out… it can be pretty gruelling, so pace yourself. Good Luck !
This is like the threads on the Harvard forum by middle schoolers or early high schoolers who want to do everything they can to get in. Don’t get too fixed on any one school. In fact, in the next 4 years, you may change and want a different place.
What is it that draws you to Curtis in particular (besides its prestige of course)? There are many great schools to learn about. Ultimately you don’t want to try to fit a school but you want to find a school that fits you.
Work hard but enjoy music as well. And enjoy high school! Good luck.
You need to discuss this with your teacher. It will much more productive if you discuss your desires to become a fine violinist with the necessary skills and musicianship to audition at a number of “top” schools.
What is your current playing level? Major concerti, complete solo Bach Sonatas and Partitas, advanced etudes (past Kreutzer)? Are you competing or planning to compete in major violin competitions for players your age? (Menuhin, Stuhlberg, etc) This is not a “must” for Curtis and competitions are often not the best way to develop as a player, but if you are capable of making it into the initial rounds of a major competition, it is a good indication that you might be the level Curtis expects.
Curtis is not the only fine music school - and it is not the best for all. I know multiple Curtis attenders who are not now in the music field as as adults and others who had a year or two and transferred.
A violinist auditioning at Curtis is also likely to be auditioning for Colburn, Juilliard, and top studios at NEC and CIM. There are other terrific music schools as well if you get situated with the right teacher, for instance Jacobs at Indiana University.
Just adding that it is worrisome that you are stressed about this 4 years in advance. Don’t use admission to Curtis as a motivator for hard work. As @gram22 wrote, burnout is a possibility.
An external motivator like that can make you work hard in the short term but is ultimately destructive, whether you make it to Curtis or not. You need a more internal motivator for the long term- usually the love of playing and the felt benefits of improving.
There is a famous saying from top marathon runners: the desire to win is nothing compared to the desire to train.
I agree with the opinions to take your focus off Curtis. You can certainly ask about Curtis and what it takes for an admittance. But then you need to simply practice/train for the love of playing beautiful music and see where it takes you. If you do that, you’ll have much more happiness and success in your life.
My kid goes to Curtis. My only advise: don’t choose music school because of the school’s reputation or graduates, but do so because of the teacher you want to study with, i.e. what kind of a musician you would like to become. This is particularly important for music/ arts majors. My kid would go to anywhere to study with his current teacher, Curtis or not, and as a parent I would be very happy to support it.
Go to summer camps and master classes to find out with whom you want to study (e.g. playing / teaching style, etc.) then research where they teach and ask for a sample lesson if possible. Many wonderful teachers teach at multiple colleges/ conservatories.
Curtis or not, what you learned and how you grew as a musician and person during your college years is the most important in the long run, not where you spent the ~4 years of your life.
Good luck!