<p>Well, I can't contribute much practical information, since my daughter is a year behind yours (current high school sophomore). But, in planning this out, I think you have to make 2 lists: one is going to be places with a huge performance component, with basically audition-driven entrance, and the other list will be academic-oriented places, where your daughters musical accomplishments might be a 'hook' but are unlikely to be the prime factor in getting her admitted. Sample lessons sound like more of a possibility (and more worth doing) at the performance-oriented places -- from your list that would be Peabody, CMU, Eastman, Oberlin (conservatory applicant), U of Michigan (perf. major), BU (perf. major), maybe others I'm not so familiar with.</p>
<p>At (most of) the other schools, I don't think you can be a music performance major. It's fair to ask what performance opportunities exist for a talented musician at those schools, but I can't see a sample piano lesson at Yale, for example, making much difference either to the Yale admissions committee, or to you. Why? Because the piano professor at Yale is not likely to 'reserve' space in her studio for your daughter in preference to School of Music students (all there for grad performance degrees). Once your daughter matriculates at a school like Tufts, Princeton, Yale, etc she is likely to have chamber music opportunities, and placement will depend on audition. All the schools will offer some kind of opportunity for lessons, and basically the quality (or at least the reputation) of the teacher will depend on her performance level. The schools do vary in how they deal with lesson cost. In the scheme of $45,000 for tuition+r+b, how much difference will that make in your decision? </p>
<p>It seems to me that the bottom line is that trial lessons are very important for conservatory and performance degree programs, and almost worthless (and likely hard to arrange) at schools where there is no performance major --- although I'm sure that quality of available musical performance opportunities at those schools vary GREATLY. You might ask how many students participate in chamber music, how competitive symphony auditions are, and of course questions about private lesson funding.</p>
<p>Another thing to think about is proximity to a major city: If your school is in or close to Boston, Phila, NY, Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco, LA, Chicago -- you will certainly be able to find a choice of excellent teachers. My husband travelled 2 hours by train once a month for lessons from a major symphony principal during his college years at Yale.</p>