<p>FluteMom - I agree that there are 100's of schools and teachers out there. It is a pretty daunting prospect. You have to narrow things down at some point. We did a lot of research. Son ended up playing for about 10 different teachers either at their schools or through summer programs. He ended up finding 4 that he wanted to work with. Some had excellent reputations that he didn't like at all. I am sure there were plenty of teachers that he would have done just fine with, but again, you have to set some limits somewhere. Ultimately, it was his decision about who he was going to study with.</p>
<p>This is not a process with any guarantees. We all do the best we can and hope we have good outcomes. I think that you can be comforted in the fact that because there are so many teachers and programs out there, there is a good likelihood that your daughter will find someone she wants to study with at a school she would like to attend.</p>
<p>My violist daughter (a senior) and I just got back from a lesson/visit trip. It was a great experience. We were able to take one school off the list and two others said that because of the visit, there was no reason not to do a regional audition. </p>
<p>We have never been down this road and werent sure how to proceed. We emailed people well in advance. Two of the teachers were a little slow on the reply, which is totally understandable, but it can dramatically change airfare. I gave them a few days and emailed again, as deferentially as possible. Most people gave us two options. Once I had dates penciled in I made plane reservations.</p>
<p>Our trip involved five lessons at four schools in two states. They all allowed us to sit in on lessons and/or studio class. I offered to pay for the lessons and they all refused. One teacher told us upfront what the fee is for this type of lesson. At the end of the lesson, he wouldnt accept payment. When we could, we did the official campus tours.</p>
<p>It was a great trip. We got information and a sense of the places that we otherwise couldnt get. Also, getting away with just my daughter was a lot of fun. Trips of this duration are pretty much family trips for us. Different dynamic with just the two of us. Highly recommended.</p>
<p>I am glad to hear that you had good experience. I really enjoyed the trips I took with my son as well. Some folks may tell you that you should skip the regional audition in spite of the advise you got from the teachers. However, we visited a school in the fall and had an hour lesson from the teacher he was interested in. Because of that, son did the regional audition for that school, was admitted with merit aid and ended up attending there, so that strategy worked well for him. It cut down on the expenses for us and the stress level for him.</p>
<p>From reading some of the posts, it appears that parents have gone to the lessons with their kids, and then asked questions of the teachers afterwards.</p>
<p>We have done two trips thus far, and aside from saying hello to the teacher or whomever, I have made myself very scarce, and let DS do the rest on his own, including sitting in on ensembles, classes,e tc. He prefers it that way, but I am wondering, for the upcoming spring trip, if it is expected that I come in and make some chatter. I am good at that (;)), but son has handled all letters and such so far, and I don't know what the expectation of parents is...are we in the way or do department chairs or teachers actually like to get a look at us?</p>
<p>I know I would ask different or more questions, but do the teachers just want the kids and their questions?</p>
<p>I feel strongly that parental participation at lessons and visits should be at an absolute minimum. We never sat in on a lesson, although teachers have asked us if we would like to. IMHO your young adult needs to determine if they like working with this teacher and will be able to work and learn with this person for the next 4 years of their lives. At the end of each lesson, the teacher has always invited us in to see if we had any questions and that's where we had our chance to ask questions, but that's what we limited our involvement to, along with any parents programs a school may have had organized during visits or auditions. </p>
<p>I would probably make the same argument about attending ensemble practices, especially if the parent, like me, is not very musical (I do play a wicked kazoo, however!). This is a decision that your young adult needs to make also.</p>
<p>I only stop in if there is an issue that needs my input(or money) and then it is taken care of at the beginning or end of a lesson and I am not present for the rest. </p>
<p>I have sat in on an orchestra rehearsal and maybe a rehearsal with accompaniest or two over the years, but quietly and as out of sight as possible.</p>
<p>When we did visits to teachers, the teacher always invited me to sit in and I usually did because I found it very interesting. I always kept my mouth shut and let son form his own opinions. But I have really enjoyed watching different teachers approaches over the years.</p>
<p>I just returned from a visit to Furman today with my D. I'd never sat in on any lessons with S, but I did sit in today with D. The meeting was more informational in nature, rather than a lesson, so it made sense for me to be there. She played briefly, but no teaching went on. She doesn't want to major; just participate in the music, and we were getting info on the options. </p>
<p>But the main difference, I guess, (between D and S) is that D started with Suzuki lessons - and this teacher also teaches Suzuki - and therefore, everyone involved is used to a parent sitting in! Felt very normal.</p>