<p>Myau, it doesn't matter who sends the initial emails. I'm a music professor and I get many more emails from parents than from students and I don't hold it against the students one bit. In person, I'd rather meet with just the student, and talk to the parents separately (most kids are much more forthcoming when their parents are not around!). But for making the arrangements, it's a pleasure to deal with a well-organized, enthusiastic parent. </p>
<p>As a parent, I've set up all of my son's meetings and auditions as he's gone through the college process. I went with him during spring break of his junior year for preliminary visits but sent him on his own this fall as a senior. He's done his own thank you's and follow up emails and is expecting to organize his own visits to schools where he's accepted this April. We shall see!</p>
<p>My dd did all contacts by email, arranged lessons, got herself to them. The list of schools was developed by her along with her private teacher.<br>
I did the fafsa and all that. I got to read her college essay before she sent it in to the schools. Now of course dd2 is the opposite, but lucky for me not at all interested in a music major.
One thing I've tried to say to parents is that if your child's teacher does not have much to say about the child's college choices - I'd seriously consider finding another teacher. how can parents know who are the best teachers in the field if it's not what they're involved in? Who knew there was a great bassoonist at Temple, or an amazing trumpet teacher at Grand State? How can non-musician parents truely know the level of competition and the student's current level in relation to that?
Also, unless your child is being taught by a teacher who routinely sends students to conservatory, the teacher may or may not be able to bring your child up to the level they need in time.
Studio and teacher are the heart of the music experience. imho it is more important to know how student and teacher interact, and how the studio treats members, than anything else about the school. Without this fit, no other issues matter.</p>
<p>I wrote just about all of my son's emails from his computer. I went with him on all his auditions, although I stayed away from the teachers and staff. I researched schools and constantly nagged him to finish the online applications. I wrote his resumes, repertoire lists, etc. I also entered all the BS stuff. He did write his essays, with his older sister's help. If I had left it up to him, he would still be at home now, a year later, without having applied to any schools. But the best decision he made was going to a school far from home so I couldn't be there to help him and he'll have to grow up on his own. My daughter also picked a school just as far away. She needed to break the umbilical cord even more. Now she has graduated from college and moved even farther away. Next year my last child will be a high school senior and I'll have to go through everything again. But at least it gets easier each time. Although he is a talented musician (in some ways more so than his brother at Oberlin) I doubt if he will major in music. Of course, that means he'll probably be a highly successful songwriter someday and will hopefully find some work for his older brother.</p>