Prep for conservatory on a budget?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Background: My son is in 7th grade, and in his 4th year of piano. Over the last year or so, he's increased his piano time to at least an hour a day. It started when he wanted to play music from Lord of the Rings - which he was able to figure out without having ever heard it, since he was too young to see the movies at that point. Now he is requesting classical music for Christmas and birthdays. His latest music, based on his teacher's recommendation, is Applause. It is quite challenging for him, but he has found one piece that he is able to work on! For the recent piano contests, he won the preliminaries in Junior B, and went last weekend to the finals (we haven't heard back yet). A couple of weeks ago, he mentioned that he is interested in continuing in piano (meaning beyond HS, since it's a given that we'll provide lessons through 12th grade).</p>

<p>I've been looking into conservatories and such, and reading through this forum, and I'm a little worried about the money side of it. We are probably going to move him to 45 minutes lessons next year, but with one younger sibling already taking piano, and another due to start in a year or two, I don't see how we can give him the opportunities that most conservatory hopefuls receive! </p>

<p>His current piano teacher said she won't be able to take him all the way through, so we'll probably be with her for another year or two. But then we'll be looking at moving on to a more expensive teacher. Summer programs are out of the question. Everything in piano costs money, and we feel it, even down to the cost of black pants, white shirts and nice shoes! We have managed so far, and I think we can handle the longer lesson time, but I just don't know if we are in the right income bracket to prepare him for conservatory! </p>

<p>So my main question is, is it possible to prepare with just the resources I've mentioned? I'm not expecting the VERY top schools like Julliard or Oberlin. We do like the look of Wheaton, since it's Christian. My next question would be, is there a list of second tier schools we could consider? We'd mostly be interested in the midwest, and a Christian school would be ideal. I just don't even know the music schools....I only heard of Oberlin since reading through this list!</p>

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<p>naturalmom:</p>

<p>It sounds as if you have researched this well and have reasonable expectations. Since you're preparing for this early, you will be able to find multiple ways to meet your goals. Here are some insights I can provide.</p>

<p>We have met a clarinet graduate of Wheaton. It seems like she got a great education and is happy teaching students in an area of New England that wouldn't have access to good teachers without the long ride to Boston. Therefore I wouldn't stress about "only considering schools like Wheaton."</p>

<p>As finances seem to be a consideration, you could use the strategy that "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree." What I'm saying is to find out the top teachers in your area, and then search for recent graduates or students of said teachers. They will not command as high a price, but may provide you a "good value" for your lessons. In addition, since they're "fresh out" of the system, they'll have insight into things to benefit you.</p>

<p>Finally, many summer programs do provide merit and need-based scholarships so don't rule them out right away. Give them a whirl. Besides the excellent music educational experience, summer programs provide valuable "real life" experience for your musician. How do you or they really know that they want to be a conservatory where it's nothing but music all day? Attendance at an intense summer program helps answer that question. Since you're talking midwest and a 7th grader, why not try for Interlochen on scholarship for the summer of 2008? </p>

<p>BTW, you will need to do a real soul search on your personal values and the different schools. I do know that their are major "climate" differences between schools like Wheaton (Conservative) and Oberlin (Extremely liberal). However, I wouldn't start that process now since you'll know your S's personality as a young adult much better during his junior and senior year and that is the person who's going off to college, not the 7th grader you have now.</p>

<p>Good luck! It will all work out for the best and, who's to say that when all is said and done, your S won't be attending one of the more well-known music schools on a scholarship?</p>

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<p>First off, let me let you know Juilliard has a very large Christian community. By only looking at Christian oriented schools you may drastically reduce his options. <a href="http://www.jcfboom.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jcfboom.com/&lt;/a> there is also the Korean Campus Crusade for Christ, and there may be more.<br>
Second, I am going to be harsher than most. You've just about described my brother's experience on piano "back in the day". His piano teacher not only could not get him ready for even a state college music teacher degree, he did not admit that. I was a lot older, begged my parents to get a "real" teacher which they could have known about since my cousin was trained on piano. His teacher had him learning pop music, mostly music my parents would like - 40's tunes, show tunes. He was over 16 before they actually got semi-decent teacher and even he wasn't up to par.
He should be playing classical exericises and classical music if he wants to go to college for music. The piano teacher should know this. If he can't offer this, he should at least explain to you the pathway and start him on it, even if it means sending you to a new teacher.
To have his best shot you need to find a teacher that trained in the same way as the top teachers, or find a top teacher.
My DD didn't even have a regular weekly lesson til she went to pre-college in 8th grade. Long story but I traded babysitting for lessons, had back surgery (no lifting baby after that) and the teacher continued to work with her when he could. She auditioned for summer camp scholarships. I don't know where you live, and how hard a teacher would be to find. But here is what I'd do. If you cannot afford a great teacher, hire a student of a great teacher if the teacher recommends one.
I'd also check out every church AND temple in the area. Church music is actually a separate major in places. the organist or pianist if they have one may have a great music background and be able to give lessons.
Here is what the pre-college (kid's Sat. program) at Juilliard wants to see a child of his age playing <a href="http://www.juilliard.edu/precollege/admissions_requirements.html#13%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.juilliard.edu/precollege/admissions_requirements.html#13&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This doesn't not mean every music major played this at this age, but it does show what the kids who audition for college will be working on through the period. My brother needed this type of music to get into a state college to learn to teach music. His attitude helped him survive the 8-10 hr days of practice to catch up with the other students.
Obviously kids who go to Berklee type schools and play rock music, or who are jazz players go a different route.</p>

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<p>I agree with OldinJersey, and just in case your child is interested in jazz, let me add a jazz parent's perspective. My son finished the jazz program at MSM and is off to conservatory in the Fall to puruse jazz studies and contemporary composition. Classical training and exercises are important whether you go into jazz or not. My son had five years of classical training before he switched over to jazz. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>No matter what one does in music at a high level, whether it is contemporary, show music, liturgical or jazz, a strong basis in classical is imperative. </p>

<p>It isn't too late for the OP's son, but talented aspiring pianists are already taking hour lessons as 7th graders, and playing movements of sonatas. If he is serious, it will be important to keep that in mind. Good luck.</p>

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<p>First, I appreciate the brutal honesty - though it makes me realize I didn't explain things well. The Lord of the Rings music was something my son did outside of class one summer when he had a month break from lessons. His teacher wasn't so enthusiastic about it either. I, on the other hand, recognize that as being the spark that lit the fire.</p>

<p>These are some of his current pieces:
Tarantella by Pieczonka (spring recital)
Romantic Spirit and Baroque Spirit books from Nancy Bachus
The Blacksmith, Opus 8 by Samuel Maykapar
Mozart - First Book for Pianists (Willard A. Palmer, editor)
Minuet in G, Anna Magdalena Bach,
(from the book "More Easy Classics to Moderns compiled by Denes Agay)</p>

<p>Do those pieces look familiar? Is he in the right direction?</p>

<p>I will take a look at the Juilliard site, and see what I can figure out from it...it's harder for me because I don't automatically recognize pieces or the difficulty level. </p>

<p>His teacher was trained classically (B.Music), but I think she feels that he will need more advanced help to prepare for conservatory. I do have another recommended teacher from a friend, but there is a waiting list. I also am thinking his current teacher could take him for at least one more year, moving up to 45 minutes lessons. The other recommended teacher has his PhD, so our expenses will get pretty high then. </p>

<p>My earlier comment about Wheaton wasn't meant to lower Wheaton. I think it looks great - but I am wondering about schools that would be a little easier to get into than Wheaton, just in case.</p>

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<p>The Juilliard pieces for a 7th grade-age kid are much more advanced than the ones you list:
1. A three-part invention by Bach (or another work containing a fugue) or 2 or 3 contrasting movements from a suite.
2. A complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven (excluding Op. 49).
3. A Romantic piece by Schubert, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, or Liszt.
4. A piece by a 20th-century composer.</p>

<p>If you can afford to do so, he should have at least 45 minute lessons -- an hour would be better. If you live near a conservatory where there is a prep program, see if you can find a teacher there. Also, an hour practicing should be more of a minimum. And he should start doing theory if he hasn't begun already -- along the lines of Certificate of Merit programs, which have annual theory tests, performance evaluations, and recitals. If this sounds like a lot, don't worry: he has many years to go before he would be applying to conservatories!</p>

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<p>Naturalmom,</p>

<p>Don't panic. Not every piano player has been practicing diligently since he was four.</p>

<p>Your son is playing beginner piano music. That doesn't mean he can't improve. He should continue practicing daily and try to add more challenging music to his repertoire. If he works hard and has an aptitude for music he will have a good chance at a conservatory.</p>

<p>That being said, a conservatory is not necessarily the best place for a budding musician. Look at small private or state schools as well.</p>

<p>There are often amazing teachers at smaller private or state universities. These schools may have more financial aid than a conservatory could (or is willing to) provide. The U of Maryland, for example, has what I consider an extremely strong piano department, less competition, and great financial aid. Conservatories are generally not very good with financial aid.</p>

<p>It may help if you told us what state you live in.</p>

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<p>naturalmom - Good for you for thinking so far ahead. In this way, you're way ahead of the pack. It's impossible for us to all give advice for a 7th grader - we can only point you in certain directions. Here are my thoughts - worth what you paid for them! :)</p>

<p>My biggest concern would be <em>the balance</em> between doing all you can to help your son, while at the same time, letting him take the lead. If you pour the next five years into helping him prepare for conservatory, and he decides instead to major in psychology - will you be okay with that? I'm not looking for an answer - just offering something to think about. We think about that occasionally here - and my kid is gung ho full steam ahead in his junior year of college, with no intention of switching. But kids can and do change interests, and that needs to be okay. If music becomes forced, he looses that spark you write about.</p>

<p>A good teacher is everything. (Okay, maybe not EVERYTHING - but A LOT.) Not just technically good, but able to inspire. I forced my child to switch from a piano teacher he liked and respected, because I saw the teacher's criticism and negativity start to affect my son. I have three kids - each plays two instruments - so I have seen multiple teaching situations with multiple kids. There's just no substitute for the right teacher.</p>

<p>Another thing to know - for the future - is that many schools, and even conservatories - don't necessarily look at how hard the pieces are that your child plays. They are looking for evidence of talent, of musicality, of teachability and potential for growth. If they just want technical accuracy, they can buy player pianos. I've heard plenty of kids play very difficult pieces - and play them badly. You can almost guess that the kid or the parent - or even the teacher - pushed for harder pieces, and the kid wasn't ready. There is a sad joke (sad because it's so true) about how musicians greet each other -- "I played that last year." Don't get caught up in it.</p>

<p>Many summer camps and programs offer scholarships. The advantages to these programs in terms of getting to learn from other teachers, getting various opinions about your kid's abilities, and getting leads for schools, teachers, competitions, etc - all of that is just too valuable to say "too expensive" without even trying. There were years when I thought we'd go nuts. But in the end, it has paid off. Not only is my kid in a conservatory, but he has quite a large non-need scholarship. Not having money to throw around meant we did a lot of research, and chose our expenses carefully, but every penny has been worth it. </p>

<p>And one more thought - There will be plenty of schools when the time comes, especially since you are starting to look so early. One of the schools my d has applied to is Furman, in SC. I have no idea about the piano program there. But they have a church music program and a Christian background (although it is not in your face). Another, Allegheny, has a piano teacher who is a Juilliard grad. It doesn't make a lot of sense to find out where the great piano programs are now for a kid who won't be going there for another 6 years. Programs and teachers change.</p>