String Instruments - how best to play the card?

<p>Some background info:
S has been playing violin for close to 10 years now. He has graduated from the SUZUKI program (book 8 graduation piece is Veraccini's sonata) and is currently learning Mozart's Rondo (plus tons of other pieces :). He practices for about 8 hours/weekly plus private lesson/weekly, plus chamber group that plays for about 45 min /weekly . He plays first violin there(they are currently playing Mozart's Zweites Quartet, and Dvorak's "The American" - Quarted no.12). He also plays a duet in church every Sunday that practically carries the entire service.
His teacher has suggested a while ago that when S begins HS this fall he should consider picking up a viola. She thinks that it would be helpful for him as far as college scholarships go and might turn out to be more practical in the long run - looks like he will be a tall guy.
The teacher envisions teaching him viola along with violin . This is one of the best teachers in the state.
S absolutely enjoys playing his instrument but hates practicing, especially polishing the piece he already thinks he plays "well enough". He is not going to apply to any conservatories and I would really doubt he will consider music as his minor. His interest right now is math (about 8 hours of organized after school activity/weekly plus some time on his own at home) and moviemaking (every waking free moment :) ) As far as music goes he also plays the piano.
Now my question - how to play this whole music business to my son's advantage when it comes to admissions four years down the road? We have never looked at the music as something that will give our kid's a leg up in admissions, we simply consider it a part of a well balanced education and a skill that will stay with them forever. But, since S has invested so much time in this EC already - how to proceed further.
There is a renown Youth Symphony in our state but I doubt that S will be interested in joining due to the lack of time. He most likely won't play in his school's orchestra as it would be after hours and boring for him . He is really passionate about his math studies and is already talking about joing the robotics team at his future HS.
So againg question to parent's who are/were in the similar situation. How to play this ? Is adding a viola at his point something worth pursuing? S is very open to this, actually would like to try the viola.</p>

<p>If he is interested in learning the viola, let him. But only because he is interested, not because it will make any difference in applying to colleges. If he is not intending to major/minor in music, then violin/viola are just ECs. It is always good to show passion in your ECs, but the difference between learning viola and sticking exclusively with violin won't make any difference in the application process.</p>

<p>I don't know what state you are in - but in MA, we have the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYBSO). This is a fabulous orchestra to be playing in - but the time commitment is huge. I know of friends whose kids are in this - they are gone all day Sunday (every Sunday!!). Add to this the intense practice times that are needed and these kids have no time for any other activities. There would be no time for the Robotics team. </p>

<p>Not sure if the symphony you are talking of would have the same time commitments...</p>

<p>viola is good to know; it is sometimes more sought after for ensembles than violins because fewer play it.
For music to be a really significant EC for college application purposes, participation in a top-level youth orchestra would be important. Youth orchestras can be great experiences; many tour every few summers, which is exciting and educational. But, if your son is not interested and does not like to practice, that would not be a good option. There are lots of musicians who love what they are doing in music (even if not all of them love to practice! but they do it anyway); that's the kind of interest a college might be impressed by.</p>

<p>I suggest that you also post your question in the music major section of CC. Those people are very well informed! (Not to insult the parents here...we're pretty smart!) ;D</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>My son is a conservatory trained performing professional violist. An answer to your question will depend on a number of issues. Primary, it appears your son has more of a an avocational rather than vocational interest. If he is not intent on pursuing a music performance track as an undergrad, then I'd say let him try. If he is intent on a violin performance major, I would not consider it unless he is at very top of his game, already playing violin at a conservatory level. </p>

<p>Avocationally, it will not hurt him skill wise. Realize that he will be reading music in the alto clef, the instrument is larger (from 15 to 17 1/2 inches) as opposed to a standard violin of 14 inches. The viola bow is heavier, and the fingerings are not identical. Technique is similar, though not identical. These may or may not be issues. Some have problems switching between instruments, some don't. The larger size may be painful or uncomfortable to smaller frames, but this can be accommodated as the viola is not a standard size.</p>

<p>Many prefer viola over violin, and I've seen mediocre violinists become capable and proficient violists. Many are enthralled by the deeper, more mellow tones.</p>

<p>As far as a leg up in admissions, it will depend on the school. Smaller programs not known for their music programs may welcome and even offer scholarships to certain instrumentalists just for participation; no need to be a major.</p>

<p>More details in previous threads in cc's music major forum.</p>

<p>".......how to play this whole music business to my son's advantage when it comes to admissions four years down the road?"</p>

<p>Don't count on music as some sort of hook or special advantage for college admissions. 25% of HS kids play musical instruments and many play really well. Don't expect some special consideration or scholarship because the school "needs" a viola play for the orchestra. Those kids who are accomplished, dedicated and have strong interests are more like to be accepted that the average student, but musical interests are not likely to have any more importance in admission decisions than your son's interests in math or movie making.</p>

<p>Violadad is the expert. I will say that all my son's violin teachers have said that ALL violinists should play the viola.</p>

<p>My son took up the viola after 10+ years of violin (avocation, not at conservatory level, but maybe close.) After one summer he played the viola as well as the violin. Had no difficulties at all switching back and forth between instruments.</p>

<p>He went tapes of viola and violin playing to Williams. I don't know how instrumental (pun) this was in his admission, but admitted he was. </p>

<p>In the interests of full disclosure, he has played in the school orchestra each semester, and no one has asked him to play viola. He has played both first and second violin depending on piece. They seem to mix it up a bit.</p>

<p>So, we thought the viola would be in more demand. Not so.</p>

<p>However, I think he falls into the category violadad mentioned: a mediocre violinist who has excellent tone on the viola. He is small, but he has long, long fingers.</p>

<p>Still, even his better tone did not compensate for the orchestra's need of violinists.</p>

<p>Thanks to all. I am going to re-post this in the music forum as suggested.</p>

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<p>I am not counting on his musical abilities to be a hook, even though he is one of those really good players you mention. His passions are elsewhere. But he does want to continue playing for his own pleasure and benefit. At this tender age he has already played for $$, so he does see some immediate benefit/gratification for his effort.
I am trying to figure out how he can put all those years invested in music play to his advantage. His teacher will get him ready to apply as a music major, this is an ultimate goal for all of her students (teaches only advanced) but I am really doubtful he will chose to pursue this path.</p>

<p>If he is keen to try the viola then he should. I think the danger in trying to have the violin and the viola both as your primary instruments is that you have to be careful they don't just steal time from each other and you end up being OK at 2 instruments, rather than excellent at one. My mom teaches violin and viola and she insists that if someone wants to consider themselves a serious player of both instruments then they treat them as 2 instruments. You don't get to do half the violin practice time and half the viola practice time just because you choose to play both instruments. With the issues you son has balancing his time between all his different activities, it might be best to consider one more of a fun instrument and have the other as the serious one. I play the violin seriously and have the viola for fun, and I quite like having something that I don't feel I am cheating if I don't take it so seriously.</p>

<p>For other music activities, you might look at the different levels of orchestra offered in association with the youth symphony orchestra. BYSO, for example, has Junior Rep and YPSO which are lower level but also a bit less time committment, although you are still looking at 3 or so hours every Sunday plus practice and there are camps you are expected to attend. Also, I don't know how such a committed orchestra would take it if you placed into an advanced orchestra and then asked to go into an intermediate one because you didn't want to commit properly. Any kind of prestigious orchestra is going to demand a reasonably large time committment and a certain degree of perfectionism that maybe your son is not willing to give, and having no other full orchestra experience might also put him at a disadvantage.</p>

<p>If he isn't willing to play in his school orchestra, then he probably wont be eligible for states or regionals, so he wont be able to show his interest and aptitude in that way as a lot of serious musicians do. In the absence of those, if he wants some verifiable achievements to put in his college application he could look into entering competitions and festivals. There are many at all different levels for soloists, duets and chamber groups, but again, at higher levels they expect polished pieces and he would have to do the work. If he wants full orchestra experience, he might investigate community orchestras for adults, as some of them are more flexible. He could also go in more for composition if he has an aptitude for that. </p>

<p>There are scholarships for non-music minors/majors, but your son would still be competing against people who are talented and who also dedicated a lot of time to their instrument, especially if he wants the big money music scholarships. Also, music scholarships usually have some kind of participation requirement, and if your son has so many other interests he would rather pursue, would he really want to commit to something like that? For just a general boost to his application, I doubt the viola vs violin issue will make that much of a difference at most schools, since neither are very rare instruments. The boost, if there was one, would simply come from showing he is dedicated and good at something. He might also try to get some outside scholarships, either because he plays an instrument or through writing about music. Most of these scholarships are quite small, but they do add up.</p>

<p>Let him enjoy his instruments. They will add to his "brand" by adding to his total package. My son played viola, bass, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin when he applied to college -- with absolutely no intent to do anything but enjoy his music. And enjoy it he does.</p>

<p>He's studying in New Zealand right now and he "misses his banjo."</p>