<p>After CC parents of older kids gave me such great advice on summer classical music programs, D ultimately attended Tanglewood, and I wanted to pass along the favor to parents with younger kids. D was incredibly happy for six weeks, is in constant contact with her new friends, loved everything about the program (except the food). Inspiring voice teacher, coach, and choir conductor -- she even loved her music theory class. We went to Lenox to pick her up and hear the recitals in the final week and were blown away by the quality of the singers and the magnitude of D's improvement. Her love of music and sense of herself as a serious musician were nurtured throughout the program, and it was so good for her to have a peer group with which she shared so much. And she had so much fun! </p>
<p>Anyway, parents who aren't aware of the program, take a look at the Boston University website and go to BUTI (Boston University Tanglewood Institute.) I understand that it's better to audition in person, with different requirements of each instrument and for voice. Admission is competitive, but so worth the effort. By far the best summer program of any my kids have attended.</p>
<p>Our violinist son had a similarly terrific 6 week experience at the Encore School for Strings put on by the Cleveland Institute of Music. Just strings, though.</p>
<p>DS, who is now a Masters student at Peabody, had a similar experience at the Walden School in New Hampshire. Walden is a five-week summer camp for kids ages 9-18 who write music (or think they want to). It's a very small program, they only take about 45 kids, and they usually have a large number of returnees each year. The kids come from literally all over the world, and DS said that the two summers he spent there were possibly the happiest of his life. Because it's a small program, without the 'name' of a Tanglewood or the larger summer programs, it doesn't always get noticed. However, I can't recommend it highly enough for a kid who wants to write music.</p>
<p>For the new forum members- D did her last two years of high school at Interlochen (fabulous experience and worth the sacrifice our family made in sending her so far away) and a summer (before senior year) at Tanglewood. She also had a great experience at Tanglewood. She is a vocal performance major at Rice and is in her junior year. The twist is that she is now considering seminary with a sacred music concentration.</p>
<p>DS spent two great summers at Tanglewood and he loved it also. He just completed his second (and last) summer at Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro and that is also a very very good experience. EMF has both high school and college age students (up to age 20). DS would heartily recommend either program for the orchestral experience. His heart, however, would be with Tanglewood. He would LOVE to return to Tanglewood one day....I'm sure he'll audition for the fellowship program one day...which is VERY VERY competitive.</p>
<p>Driver- she's not the WildChild. That would be S, a high school senior and the reason I'm on this forum. He's the one who will be attaching some "additional explanations" to his college applications.</p>
<p>For next year's parents- my s also attended Tanglewood, for piano. He loved it too (ditto about the food though, Nester). Had to drag him away at the end. What an experience. The live auditions are worth it, as they carry more weight with the admissions committee. S went to every single concert they had, as the students get placed in any empty seats, or alongside on a designated bench. The dorms are within walking distance of Lenox, a cute small village, where they can hang out and get ice cream etc., while the Tanglewood campus is beautiful rolling hills. I'll never forget seeing a cluster of brass players practicing along the edge of the lawn with the Berkshire mountains in the background.</p>