<p>My purpose in creating this thread is to try and tie together information people ask routinely (at least from my reading of other threads) that might be helpful to people trying to navigate the music 'game'. I am not claiming any kind of expertise, just wanted to share what I have picked up so far, from my son's journey (he is still way away from issues of conservatories and so forth) and from the various musical kids/families we have been around. I also hope to pick up pointers from others, so of course it is selfish!</p>
<p>1)Does what instrument you play shape how your options/career unfolds? I have found it does (I know for some of you, this is obvious). Instruments are like anything else, they are a matter of supply and demand, as well as issues of quality. So, for example, someone decent on an instrument like the bassoon or the oboe/english horn or viola, for example, may not have to be as proficient as someone on other instruments, and because relatively few people end up on these instruments (in relative terms) it can make finding jobs later a bit easier in some ways (though, for example, there isn't a great deal of work for solo oboists or bassoonists, so your options are limited to chamber music and orchestra/band/wind ensemble for the most part, which cuts down the opportunities). A music program that needs bassoonists is going to be more favored towards a bassoonist as opposed to a violinist where there are 200 kids trying out for 10 spots, and especially where it comes to scholarships and such. (A friend of ours daughter is a bassoonist,a good one, and she got a 100% scholarship to a good music program on merit, while another famiy's son we heard through the girl's family, was a really talented violinist, didn't get any merit scholarship from the same school [he wasn't crying..I think he went to Curtis). </p>
<p>Obviously, it would be silly to play an instrument you don't love because it is 'easier', but it does make a difference. </p>
<p>2)How about music schools/conservatories/majoring in music, does that matter? Probably the question I am least qualified to answer, but what the heck (take it with a pound of salt). Most of my knowledge here comes from observing and talking to music students and some professional musicians at all levels I know.</p>
<p>The answer is yes and no (nice and clear, isn't it?). It really depends on what the student is focusing on, or expects to be doing. If they are a performance major, a lot of the time what seems to matter (hint; seems, not sure) is the teachers in the particular instrument more then the school itself. Obviously, school life, facilities and such make a difference, but you can go to a school with a shining auditorium and great practice rooms, but find the faculty is incompatible or so so. Getting to know the faculty is important, as is attending performances at the school if at all possible and talking to alumi as well. </p>
<p>And of course, the faculty and the schools reputation can help with certain things, like networking and getting jobs. Students coming out of Juiliard might be able to get a teaching position easier because that is on their cv, and by being at Juiliard they might be able to make contacts easier with a manager or find out of an opening in an orchestra more quickly then someone at another place. However, coming from a name school may help you find the audition, but if you are a so so player, it won't help you land the job, and if it is a blind audition, then where you went to school only might help if there is indecision between two players and the resume ends up being used (I have heard of that a few times in my talks with people). </p>
<p>Another point to consider is that great players have come our of relatively obscure conservatories or schools..and obviously, if someone is already a world class player like Yo Yo Ma as a teenager, then odds are it won't matter (Yo Yo ma went to Harvard, but didn't major in music at all). </p>
<p>And again, what instrument the person plays and what their intentions are matters and comes into play. If someone is playing an instrument that is on track for seeking an orchestra job, then being a decent player through high school and going to conservatory or college majoring in music is a sensible path (and I use orchestra as an example, same for Jazz musicians, pop musicians, etc).</p>
<p>If someone is talented in something like vocal music and aspires to an opera career, or something like wanting to be a violin or piano soloist, it becomes a different story. Like ballet, certain aspects of music seem to demand early dedication to get into the high level (the violin is a classic example)...the people who end up as soloists, or high level orchestra players in top orchestras, generally are not people who 'get serious' in college, it takes dedication much younger and working at a high level, whereas the same thing might not be true in other areas of music, someone might end up as a high level horn player or percussionist who 'got serious' in college. </p>
<p>And again, what school you choose will probably be related to the instrument and what you want to do with it. If you are planning to become a violin teacher at a high level, then a Juiliard or NEC might be a better option, but if you think you are good enough to be a soloist on the violin, a place like Curtis might be a better option, based on the program and what works for you (and I use those as hypothetical examples, I am not touting either Curtis or Juilliard as the best, just an example from the top of my head).</p>
<p>One thing I firmly have come to believe is that there is no one right path, there are a lot of kids who get into a 'premiere' conservatory like Juilliard and either never end up going into music, or end up with a fairly low level career, whereas someone else goes to a relatively no name school, or no conservatory at all, and ends up a premiere soloist or orchestra player. In the end, what someone is able to do with music from what I can gather comes down to a few things, dedication to the instrument or music itself (to the point of single mindedness in many cases), finding the right teachers and contacts, and in the end having that something that orchestras or audiences "want" (put it this way, being in the violin world, I have heard a ton of young violinists, who are probably as close to technical perfection as you could want to see, that would be as interesting to watch perform as watching the grass grow, because there was no musicality and no passion or stage presence). </p>
<p>And to really throw a monkey wrench in things, I will say that sometimes a high level program may be a detriment for some aspiring music students/musicians as opposed to perhaps a music program on a non conservatory basis. Based on the little bit I have seen, I have seen kids who were unsure of themselves, who were good enough to get into a high level place like Juilliard, and then because they weren't totally sure of themselves kind of got overwhelmed; in an atmosphere like Juilliard, where everyone is at a fairly high level, at least by reputation, there may not be as much room for someone to question themselves, whereas perhaps by going to a music program at a college, they find their footing and can shine (and if they are really good or really have the pull, go for grad work at a place like Juilliard)....</p>
<p>And even the great conservatories are not good in all things, and often have a reputation because they have been around a long time and have a ton of alumni out there they can point to, but may not necessarily be doing anything good in the area you are in.</p>
<p>And my opinion, like with regular college, is that someone who really loves music, has the talent and the determination, will find their path and their role, no matter what path they take, even if it isn't in 'one of the top conservatories' or whatever; it may be a different path, or more difficult, but I suspect with music that if the person really loves it, they will find their way:)</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, and what do others think? (and if this ends up on the bone pile, I can understand it...I don't post short)</p>