The funny thing is, he doesn’t like the conservatories that don’t do any education outside of music, which is why he’s looking at some schools that are double-degree, whether they be BA/MA or BB/BM. He potentially could happily end up with a BA in music as long as he gets to continue to get significant performance experience and top-quality teachers.
His current exceptional cello teacher has explicitly stated that she thinks he should not go anywhere without knowing the teacher, and he’s inclined to agree.
@nyreader How serious/advanced is your Colby student with his instruments? Are the teachers fabulous pedagogues or just solid?
I don’t know of any conservatories or schools of music that don’t do any education outside of music. The difference is that a BM program will be 1/4-1/3 non-music classes and a BA program will be 2/3-3/4 non-music classes. Some BA programs with lessons and performance EC’s (for credit, often funded) are enough for kids with talent to progress to grad school, if they so choose. If he is applying to BA programs he can sometimes find his own teacher in the area. We did not expect to meet any teachers from BA programs.
One caution is to make sure that if he is a BA student at a school with a BM program, the best teachers and opportunities don’t go to only the BM students. With a double degree or a BA at a non-BM school that is not an issue.
Hi DD24 reached out for consultation lessons 6-8 weeks ago; a couple replied but a few have not replied at all. She is really not keen to nudge them; most were contacted via admissions as per that schools process but again she really doesn’t want to go back to admissions on it. these are busy people so any experience of the balance between nudging and just sitting it out welcomed! It’s not a relationship that she would want to start on the wrong tone obviously
S24 has had success so far with Williams and u Richmond. No answer from Brown teacher but department was very responsive. Going to reach out to middlebury, Skidmore and maybe Princeton in the fall.
Daughter will be applying upcoming cycle? If so, I think it’s probably too early for sample. My son had sample lessons in the fall as they were helping guide his choice in which places to apply. Some school, if you arrange a campus visit, will let you schedule a sample at the same day but then make sure to pick a day the professor will be around!
There was one prof that took forever to respond, with multiple nudges. Finally got a response explaining rate is $200, but if that’s a problem for our family could adjust. Son said would be okay.
Never had a lesson at the school in spite of more nudges. Got through pre-screening. Got wait-listed. Still no lesson.
Meanwhile, my son had gotten nowhere obtaining a lesson at Colby, but that might be because they are so swamped. I think if he asked for one now, he could get one.
He had no problems getting sample lessons at potted ivies, Gettysburg, Lawrence, Vanderbilt(which can be LAC-ish). Didn’t ask at Bard because he had previous experience with the prof. I’m sure Furman prof would do a sample. Yale doesn’t do sample lessons, at least not until perhaps after admission.
Brown professor took some time to respond to my daughter’s request, but she was great once the contact was established. Princeton professor is very responsive and enthusiastic, my daughter loved her lesson with her.
I think with recitals mostly done now, and admissions for this year done too, now is the perfect time to schedule those sample lessons! Good luck!
We were given the advice to reach out now for fall 2024 admission. Will arrange the lessons in the fall but to make first contact early. Not a lot of time before ED decisions need to be made and with complex early fall schedules it is good to be on their radar.
Many schools have even earlier deadlines for applications involving merit scholarships, even if your student is a Regular Decision applicant - things are due as early as October and November at some places.
My S22 did lessons at two schools in early August. Both profs were willing and available. The only drawback was visiting the schools when no students were around, but it was still very informative.
I just reread your post, S24 reached out directly to the music department and they connected him with the teacher. He has to do some more reaching out now also. I do think it is early for lessons for BM programs but not for LACs
The teachers she has heard back from are booking at least three months or more ahead - dd will try to some in person over the summer and fit around their schedules, but rest will be on line later if possible. This is for conservatoires as well as LACs. At least one teacher is pretty much on the road until end Dec now - and is pretty key to a number of possible choices. I have no musical knowledge/experience so i am very much in the background on this but i understand why she wants the lessons - such a key factor i guess and will also hopefully reduce the list so she can do in person auditions if she is lucky enough to get to that stage! In the UK the whole process of prescreens and finals is finished with offers made by all conservatoires by Dec. - so different
It really does seem key. S24 met with one teacher since she works at his current program and the fit was terrible. Crossed those schools off the list. There are some LACs and medium sized universities that he would attend even with a poor fit but this one does not work at all. It seems to work the other way too. He went to a conservatory program that also has a BA last summer and the teacher was wonderful but the school not a fit. So this is a lot more complex than one would think.
Fwiw, we were told by a music professor (instrumental) that it’s not a bad idea to do the sample lesson early if there will be significant improvement between the lesson and the audition. Essentially, the schools are looking for potential and teachability. And if you show that over the course of several months (sample lesson to audition), it might be beneficial. But, who knows!
This is a thread for BA programs at LACs. I always thought the lesson for these programs was more about fit on both sides and what the student could bring to the program. Are you referring to BM programs?
My younger kid was an engineering major who played in the college orchestra…and she also was given lessons at no cost as long as she played in the orchestra. Those lessons were a one credit graded class…and the applied teacher most definitely expected growth.