<p>Hello, am a violinist, junior in high school. I posted this under the summer camps forum but decided it would be more relevant here.</p>
<p>I have been admitted into both Eastern Music Festival and Interlochen for their 2013 summer orchestral programs, but I don't know which one I should go to.
Both gave me scholarships, and the total price I would have to pay for tuition/board is only different by approximately $1000, Interlochen being the more expensive one.
Would going to Interlochen be that much more different than EMF?
What are the pros and cons of each?</p>
<p>I’m not sure about EMF, but at Interlochen, you might feel as though you are being babied sometimes. There are a lot of unnecessary rules, and you need a lot of supervision. (Walking two by two with a counselor to go off campus when you’re 17 years old?) However, the musical experience is fantastic, and you’ll learn so much from your cabin mates in other disciplines. Also, this year, students are allowed to keep their cell phones if they want, so you have a little bit more freedom.</p>
<p>As a parent who has had kids at both, I will say that they are both very good. Our D (viola) went to EMF the summer before her senior year and had a good experience. Our S (trumpet) went to Interlochen before his senior year and had an amazing experience. Once he got there, he really never felt over-supervised. The rules were much worse on paper than in person. Great teachers. Very talented peers. </p>
<p>It’s probably too late, but I would recommend going to Interlochen now and EMF later. EMF is open to college-aged musicians. Interlochen is a special place.</p>
<p>D went to EMF and BUTI in high school. S went to Brevard, BUTI, and Interlochen. They were all positive, fun, and productive summers.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the high school program at Interlochen, but my daughter was miserable in the middle school program. It was far too restrictive for her (“babied” is a good term, or stifled), and they would not move her into a group where she belonged musically, even after she appealed and I appealed. She was very miserable for three weeks. So I would say they lack flexibility, or interest in insuring that each student has a positive learning experience.</p>
<p>Some of the “babying” at the summer camps is due to the state rules and regulations regarding summer camps. I spoke to an acquaintance who has been running a sleep over camp for the last 20 years and she is very frustrated with the rules. Even 18 yr olds at her camp have to walk around in pairs and are treated like minors because the state requires it. She said that another well known camp in an urban setting even the 18 year olds were not allowed to cross the street alone due to state rules. Son attended a music camp between senior year and college. He had to be in the dorm building by 11 pm… The following week he was a counselor at another camp and was classified as an adult since he was employed and not a camper. Some of the rules that are so annoying are not the camps fault.</p>
<p>Interlochen needs to lighten up. My D’s grandparents happen to live very close to Interlochen, we live across the country. It seemed like a fantastic idea for D to attend. Could the grand parents see her -certainly rarely- on a break during the day if they came to campus, maybe during a lunchtime - maybe once a week. Could they sign-her-out of campus a day or two during the summer? I called and was so saddened by my discussion with Interlochen. Every idea was met with great negativity. I just wanted to know what was possible. They kept coming back to the idea -almost bullying- that “maybe your daughter isn’t ready to be away from home” WHAT?!??! not it at all.</p>
<p>@OP: Interlochen’s span of abilities is quite a bit wider than EMF’s - while you do have those who are just “merely” very good at the back of IP (the lower orchestra) (think Bruch, Mendelssohn at the usual student level), you have a very high top end in WYSO (the higher orchestra), especially in the winds (many prodigies, Curtis, Colburn, Juilliard-admitted). Interlochen is a week longer, and don’t discount the teachers - Interlochen’s violin teachers are all top-notch, especially Ms. Anderegg. Overall, the other strings have stronger faculty, but you do get the benefit of coachings from different faculty if you take chamber music.</p>
<p>There’s a camaraderie at IAC that I’ve never felt before in a summer camp - you’ll make connections for life, even outside of your major. </p>
<p>EMF does have much better housing facilities, and the food’s better. I’m not entirely sure how the divvying up between orchestras works.</p>
<p>You’ll have so much fun at either place! :)</p>
<p>@woodwinds: Intermediates is a significantly different place from HSB/HSG - but of course you know that. It’s a lot more babying, and it’s definitely not for the benefit of the students, but it does get better the older you get!</p>
<p>@snugapug: That’s wholly outrageous that they decided to do that. I know many people that had their parents or other guardians visit, even take them out, especially after/before a concert! I would’ve filed a complaint with whoever told you that. I’m really sorry that you had such a bad experience!</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I DID end up committing to Interlochen, and I am very excited. I’m glad for all this feedback because I have an idea of what to expect now, especially for my first music camp!</p>
<p>Congrats on deciding! Make sure you try to connect with others planning on going - it’ll be way more fun knowing some people before you go, and then running around campus the first couple of days trying to find them. I don’t know if they’ve got the FB group set up or anything, but look around. Alumni groups are also good sources of uniforms. If you end up auditioning for Academy and then going, I’ll see you next year, haha!</p>