<p>Hello, I am a pianist currently researching some music summer camps to attend and the ones that I am interested in so far are: Eastman Music Festival, Brevard, Southeastern Piano Festival (those are the ones that I would REALLY REALLY like to be accepted to) and also Indiana's Jacobs School of Music Piano Academy, NYU summer piano intensive, and Idyllwild Arts Summer Program. I was wondering how difficult is it to get into these respective programs? I really have no idea what my level is (I have won some state competitions but that's it) and I would really like to enhance my skill in piano. I know that the Southeastern Piano Festival is EXTREMELY hard to get in but I was wondering about the others and if there are any other music camps that would be fit for my level for learning to play more classical piano. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi unicorn,
Not sure whether you are looking into Eastman’s Music Horizons, or Eastern Music Festival. One is in Rochester, NY, and the other is in Greensboro, NC. My D attended both for classical piano and I can tell you a little about whichever is the one that you are interested in…
Are you in high school, or college, or younger? That could make a difference in which program you choose to apply to.</p>
<p>I am in high school, and I was looking at the one in Greensboro, NC although I would love to be informed about Eastman’s Music Horizons as well.</p>
<p>I am also not looking into chamber music camps since I’ve had no experience with chamber music so I feel like it would not benefit me much.</p>
<p>Eastern Music Festival is 5 weeks long and you can choose to participate in chamber music, play with the orchestra, or one or neither and just work on your own pieces. There is also a piano competition, and a concerto competition. If you are interested in chamber music this might be a nice way to get started, because you are placed with a group at the beginning of the session and receive bi-weekly coachings - then you perform towards the end of the five weeks. The piano population here is half college and half high school students, more or less. There are around 18 piano players in a group of about 200 students. The faculty here varies - some are performers, some are educators. There are master class opportunities with visiting pianists. For your five-week session, you get three lessons with your assigned faculty member, a lesson with two of the visiting pianists, and the bi-weekly chamber coachings if you choose that. There are weekly Sunday piano recitals and you can choose to participate or not.</p>
<p>Eastman Music Horizons is a 3-week program and is more like a conservatory setting and schedule. You have daily classes in theory, sight-singing/ear training class, and world music or musicology. All pianists take an accompanying class (which is quite good!). In the accompanying class you will accompany one or two other students doing voice or instrumental. The faculty are from the Eastman Community Music School. All students participate in the Chorale. When my D attended, almost all the students were going into their senior year of high school, although there were a couple of juniors and a sophomore. There is a series of recitals the last two days of the session.</p>
<p>Both experiences were wonderful and very different!</p>
<p>Thank you! Is it difficult to get into either summer camps? Also, for the Eastern Music Festival, is it possible to take more private lessons? Three lessons in a five week period does not seem like much.</p>
<p>In D’s experience it was more difficult to get into Eastern Music Festival, although I’m sure this varies year to year. And yes, I agree that 3 lessons from the primary teacher is not very much. There are two lessons from visiting pianists. I suggest calling the camp admissions to ask about more lessons – they are very friendly and helpful.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you!</p>
<p>Bump…I would love insight on any piano camps…</p>
<p>You could look into the Dakota Sky International Piano Festival Young Artists Program. I know a few really good pianists who went there, but don’t know much about the program. Here’s the link: [Young</a> Artist Program | Dakota Sky International Piano Festival](<a href=“http://www.dakotasky.org/young-artist-program/]Young”>http://www.dakotasky.org/young-artist-program/)</p>
<p>I hav various experiences that I will be happy to share - very busy at the moment!</p>
<p>Long story short: make the best recording you possibly can to send to Southeastern. I was there last summer, and it was a superlative musical experience. You won’t regret it!</p>
<p>Thank you SarahBassoon!
Rachnroll: Oh my gosh, you must be amazing at piano! Whenever you’re not busy I would love to hear your experiences. :)</p>