<p>Hi! </p>
<p>I haven't been on here for a while now...</p>
<p>Does anyone have recommendations for summer music programs (for piano) for me? My teacher suggested I do this next summer because I will be a senior next fall applying to grad schools for piano performance. I'm looking for a program that's about 4-8 weeks long where I can work with a great teacher on my audition repertoire mainly. For the rest of the time at the program, it's fine if it's piano lit/history/theory classes or chamber music, but I want the focus to be on my solo stuff to prepare for fall.</p>
<p>The problem with getting into a summer program is the “great teacher” part of the equation. It seems to me that many programs for piano fill up immediately. And the better the teacher’s reputation, the more likely he or she will have no openings, right from the start. Is there a way that you can work through your current professor to contact a potential teacher and find a program that is right for your goals? This will be an important summer for you.</p>
<p>Also, is considering European programs a possibility?</p>
<p>Piano Texas is a great program, challenging to get in though. Also many well-known teachers spend time at Bowdoin International Music Festival, which is a 6-week program, and starts after Piano Texas.</p>
<p>Interlochen has an excellent one and so does the school in North Carolina (forgot its name). Those are probably the two best. There’s also Bowdoin and Aspen if you don’t want to be in a high school camp. There’s Verbier in Switzerland but it’s only 2 weeks and probably only for superstars. I think you can still make the deadlines for some of these, but it’s actually getting late.</p>
<p>If you’re 22 or under, the Eastern Music Festival is still left but honestly I can’t think of programs that are still available. Piano Texas is super difficult to get into but has a great faculty this year (I’ve worked with three of them), but the focus this year will be on Mozart so I don’t know about audition stuff. Bowdoin is still open for a late fee if you want to apply. Great teachers there too. I think Brevard is still open. For European programs there’s Saarburg, Viandan, Mozarteum, etc… but those mainly focus on chamber music. You better apply quickly too if you want financial aid because that goes fast!</p>