<p>My daughter also started on her major instrument in eighth grade and did not follow quite as strict a regimen as the one team_mom set out, but “trying to practice for an hour each day” is not likely to get it done for someone looking to be a performance major in a good music department or conservatory. The key is getting the best teacher possible for the run-up to the auditions and those kind of teachers are not going to be interested in taking students who have not put in their practice hours.</p>
<p>Keeping up with classwork is always a challenge. Music students need to be really good about time management and using even short periods of down time to do homework. You do not have to sacrifice a social life entirely, but you do have to think in terms of going out less than most people your age and keeping the texting and IM traffic to a minimum, particularly when you should be working. You pretty much have to ignore the phone and computer completely during practice time.</p>