<p>:-< I started playing the piano in 11th grade around December, so about one year and a few months. During that time, I joined my schools orchestra class for piano accompaniment. I've only learned my major scales and spinets of music theory, but I can read music fairly easy. I'm completely at a loss with sight reading right now, but I've been told its take quite a while for you to get good at it. In April, I entered the NAACP ACT-SO music competition and placed a sliver. I expressed my feeling about going to college for music and she got a jazz piano teacher for me. The teacher told me that I needed to improve on technique and handed me a book Called: HANON Virtuoso Pianist to study. In the summer I'm also going to hire a classical piano teacher and continue to learn for both of them throughout my two year college plan (and while I'm in college, ill also be taking theory classes, music history, etc.). With these plans set in motion, do you think it is possible to get into a music school? I don't expect to get into Julliard, but a reputable school with a music program. (Manhattan School, Berklee, Arizona State, Stony Brook)</p>
<p>If you are talking Jazz, Both Berklee and MSM have excellent Jazz programs…but they also are very, very competitive, and I suspect starting as late as you have, it would be almost impossible to gain admission, and i suspect it will be tough to enter almost any competitive program(as opposed to classical, where it would be impossible to get into any kind of a decent piano program starting that late). I think you should talk to your jazz piano teacher about it first, then work form there. </p>
<p>musicprnt is correct. It’s clear that you love to play piano, but it’s too late in the game for you to get into the schools that you mentioned or any other really good program… Piano is extremely competitive and you’ll be up against kids who have been playing since they were little, study with top teachers, practice 5-7 hours each day and attend pre-college programs and summer sessions.The Hanon exercises are great and something that every piano student gets early in the game because they build speed and accuracy- by all means, work on them every day. You need to learn all the major and minor scales and arpeggios- a decent music store will have a manual that includes all of them- and sight reading is a must as are chords.</p>
<p>Taking music theory and music history at a community college is good, but you should be aware that most of those credits may not transfer into a college music degree program. What you learn in those classes can’t hurt you though so don’t lose any opportunity to learn.</p>
<p>Where do you want to go with the study of music? Talk with your jazz piano teacher and the two of you look for some BA Music Programs (courses are more spread out and not as intense a focus as a BM performing major) that have a jazz emphasis. BM (Bachelor of Music) Jazz Piano auditions usually require not only a full range of jazz tempo selections but also a classical piano audition. You are not at that level yet and even if you work hard for the next two years, it’s unlikely that you would be able to pull that off which is why I’ve suggested
checking out the Music BA with a Jazz Emphasis programs.</p>
<p>With some really intense effort it may be possible for you to get into a masters program after the BA, but as a jazz pianist, get out there and play as much as you can. Seek out opportunities to play with others who may have small ensembles and if you don’t know of any, get your friends together and form your own! It sounds like you have a supportive network of people around you- talk with them, get their advice and keep on working hard!</p>
<p>You can continue to study music at any college. It does not have to be a conservatory or music school. If you love music you can major in it as a general music major (BA), rather than performance (BM), and your piano skills will serve you well in theory and other classes. In addition, you can continue lessons and play in classes and extracurriculars.</p>
<p>In fact, you can major in almost anything and still take lessons and do music in extracurriculars, and take some music classes as electives.</p>
<p>Another option is a school like Bennington where you can do music and other things in an interdisciplinary way.Bennington is an artsy liberal arts college in Vermont. There are other schools along the same vein that you could look into. I also like the music at Clark University in Worcester Mass. as an example. Check out “Colleges that Change Lives”, a book by Loren Pope and a website too, for info on that and other schools.</p>
<p>Most of the options I have described do not involve auditions for admission but they will be glad to hear of what you have been doing, in your application.</p>
<p>Keep working. It is not too late to progress to the point where you can learn and enjoy piano and other aspects of music in ways that may lead you somewhere.</p>