Thanks, @jb1966 – I do understand. And I certainly agree with your explanation. However, I was originally asking a more pragmatic question about music lessons as a way for a prospective student to at least get a sense of potential teachers (and vice versa)—and since this is my first child to go through the process, my questions tend toward the pragmatic.
The above noted, it would be great if you would start a thread on this very subject. I think that parents (myself included) and students can get so hung up on the technicalities of the process, that we need reminders like yours that these are real young people whose passion is music, and that it is their job to be authentic in the process—and yes, to see all their hard work pay off.