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<blockquote> <p>I’m coming to the conclusion if your child does not choose to attend the top colleges or conservatories, then he/she should find another profession. >></p> </blockquote>
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<p>I will piggy back Bassdad's comments. First, I agree with everything he has said. It doesn't matter WHERE you go for a music performance degree...your odds of full time employment with a symphony (or pay that will support you without another side job) are not promising. HOWEVER, having said that...let's get back to the original question. There are some programs that are not well known outside of regional areas. Anyone ever hear of Grand Valley State? My guess is that if you are a trumpet player, you have. Otherwise, this is an almost unknown school in Michigan. However it routinely turns out some of the finest trumpet players in the country who then DO go on to conservatory programs for grad school. Their trumpet studio has won significant solo and ensemble awards for years at the National Trumpet Competition. I don't think there are many folks who would view this as a "top tier" music performance school and it certainly is NOT a household name like Juilliard or Curtis are to most musicians. And there is another part to my response. My son is a music performance major. His goal is to earn a living playing his instrument. He KNOWS he will be cobbling together many smaller jobs to make ends meet, and he will do that. He also knows that regional orchestras do not pay particularly well, and that he would be a much better second trumpet player than the principal. That doesn't mean he shouldn't continue to pursue his musical studies, and we fully support his decision to do so (as we have since he began at age 8).</p>