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<p>I’m not sure of what you’re trying to say here, so let me ramble.</p>
<p>If you’ve read through the links I posted above, you’ll have a pretty good overview of the backgrounds of some of the posters within this forum. It runs the gamut from kids whose parents are pro/semi-pro musicians to parents like myself who couldn’t carry a note if it was in a paper bag. The students experiences range from formal instruction beginning at an early age, through lessons only within a public school system, maybe a few with little or no real formal instruction. Some have attended performing arts high schools, “big name” pre-conservatory programs, summer immersion programs; participatory experiences run the gamut from nationally acclaimed intense youth orchestras through barely marginal high school ensembles. Some have national level competition experience, others never made All-state.</p>
<p>What does this tell you? Frankly, not a helluva a lot. Perhaps it hints on it’s not so much the quantity of the experience, but the quality. Perhaps it suggests that self direction and motivation, and encompassing passion plays a role as well.</p>
<p>For additional background, some past theory (and a music history) threads.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668490-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668490-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/145947-has-anybody-taken-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/145947-has-anybody-taken-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/418384-transfering-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/418384-transfering-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/446621-music-history-test-audition.html?highlight=history[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/446621-music-history-test-audition.html?highlight=history</a></p>
<p>Just to touch on the diploma type option, it’s called different things at different schools. Performer’s Certificate or diploma, undergrad performance certificate, among others. It’s an audition based admit, requiring no non-music academics, a two or three year program of serious high level music study. Typically it’s a bachelor’s level type of program, in lieu of a four year degree, as prep for entry into a BM, or as a continuation/refinement of skills attained through a BM for additional training/skill refinement prior to a more advanced degree. There are varying levels of audition standard as well. There’s a thread here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/642217-declined-conservatories-devestated.html?highlight=diploma[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/642217-declined-conservatories-devestated.html?highlight=diploma</a> that does a fairly decent job of explaining the nuances. </p>
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<p>If you haven’t already done so, read <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html</a> The thoughts, insights, experiences may help you in formulating a plan. There is no right answer. The answer is yours.</p>
<p>There’s no one road to get you to your goal. Nothing is cast in stone. The more info you can amass, the clearer the process might become.</p>