Seeking information about Aspen

<p>My son is interested in Aspen for next summer. I've heard very conflicting reports about people's experiences there. Everyone seems to love it, but not everyone gets a lot out of it musically. Is there a way to guarantee a good musical experience? How do you go about getting a teacher there? Orchestra? Chamber music. I'd be grateful for information from kids who've gone or their parents. Thanks!</p>

<p>Off the top of my head, thumper1’s S, Vieuxremps5 have attended. Maybe check the Summer '08 & '09 threads for others. Some background threads. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/640114-how-hard-get-summer-festivals.html?highlight=aspen#post1061691142[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/640114-how-hard-get-summer-festivals.html?highlight=aspen#post1061691142&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>an intermittent exchange here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/423339-summer-programs-2008-a-22.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/423339-summer-programs-2008-a-22.html&lt;/a&gt; betwixt posts 316 & 350</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/403335-aspen.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/403335-aspen.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You’re so good at linking! Thanks, Violadad. Very useful information in those threads.</p>

<p>I can only tell DS’s experience at Aspen. He did love it there. The teachers are assigned to the students. My son did not get to give a preference but he actually was assigned lessons with all three of the trumpet teachers. He liked that very much. He found that the weeks he was playing in a performance, he actually WAS quite busy. Other weeks, he wasn’t so busy. BUT he used the time to practice a lot…and prepare for his lessons. He was in a chamber music group and enjoyed that a lot. They played a number of small performances around Aspen. My son did say…the musicians had to have a lot of their own motivation and discipline to practice and work. Every minute was NOT assigned time (as had been the case at previous music festivals he had attended). DS said it was a great summer experience and he is glad he had the opportunity to attend.</p>

<p>Stringfollies,</p>

<p>Violin perspective here! Much of the basic info is on the Aspen School website -the students audition and request a particular studio at that time, there are orchestral auditions upon arriving, chamber music is assigned from audition.</p>

<p>I have also heard various reports about student’s experiences. Many of the violins I’ve heard from think there is too much orchestral playing. If not assigned to the “top” orchestras, much of the day is spent in rehearsal. Students had hoped to complete work on solo literature that didn’t get done. All this is anecdotal and different students will have different levels of tolerance and desire for orchestra rehearsal. Wind parents - the above probably does not apply - violinists frequently complain about too much orchestra rehearsal because they are in large sections, it is sometimes difficult to see, sitting in the section can be awkward with little bowing room and forced poor posture, they are continually asked to play softer, etc. Wind players get to work on their orchestral solos and sound - a real plus! </p>

<p>I’ll send a PM also!</p>

<p>The orchestra experience for strings at Aspen does require a lot of rehearsals, but Aspen is, after all, an orchestra program for the most part. The repertoire is exciting; there is a hierarchy in the students’ minds regarding placement, but having heard all the orchestras there, I’d say they are all quite good. There are also private lessons and there is a chamber program. The quality of the Aspen experience outside of orchestra depends on the motivation of the student; the chamber program, for example, is only as good as the student makes it - which means it can be great or…fizzle out. They can get great coachings, for example, but only if they arrange for them and show up. There are lots of performance opportunities, but for the most part students must audition for them. Putting together your own group can work better than being assigned to one.<br>
This summer, Aspen management announced that they are making cuts to the faculty and to the length of the program (about 10 percent of faculty were cut; the program will be a week or so shorter), so it will probably be more competitive.
For violin, there are some wonderful faculty. I don’t know that Lipsett takes any students who aren’t from Colburn, but Paul Kantor does (I don’t know, though, if either will be there next summer…they have been there in recent years).</p>

<p>In the chamber program, students can audition with a group they put together, and can pick their own repertoire; it is a pretty free-form program, which has its plusses and minuses; students are on their own to arrange rehearsals and coachings. The performance opportunities include weekly “spotlight” concerts in local venues, “open door” recitals on the campus, and “house concerts” which take place in local mansions; the house concerts are for a paying audience, the others are free to the public. There are also master classes for the chamber groups. Outside the chamber program, a string student could also find a pianist (or other ensemble player) and play a sonata, etc., find a coach as desired, and audition to perform or request to be in a master class. There is also a concerto competition.</p>