<p>Our son will be a senior this Fall and recently told us he'd like to major in music (he had been thinking about a health profession, maybe pharmacy). So, I'we have been reading threads here and trying to figure out how to begin. Most people suggest talking with his music teacher (piano), so I'd like suggestions on what specifically we should ask him. Any input? We have lesson time set aside this Thurs, so would like to prepare. BTW his piano teacher went to Julliard if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>We think we're leaning toward a university with a good music dept. rather than a conservatory. Should we still visit a conservatory?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of the aspiring musician! The first thing you need to know is that music deadlines are earlier than normal college admissions deadlines, usually December 1.</p>
<p>If you already have some schools in mind, you should go to their websites and get a list of piano teachers and also audition requirements. Most schools will have a set of similar requirements but there may be significant differences, and your son will want to get working on audition rep right away.</p>
<p>Is he still interested enough in science that he’s thinking about double majoring? Or is he (and you) committed to music as a single major? That, plus geographic preferences, might shape your final list of schools.</p>
<p>You’ll want to ask the teacher to recommend schools, and perhaps even recommend teachers based on the list you’ll bring along. Then your son can contact those teachers and set up sample lessons, possibly in the fall. </p>
<p>It’s late in the process to suddenly decide on music but it can be done. Some of the kids with multiple interests around here have done “double” applications - one set for music and the other for their other interest, which might be something to think about.</p>
<p>Thanks stradmom…we realize it’s late to get started but I feel like our son was trying to make the decision that was expected of him and realized he just can’t live without music. My husband is a veterinarian, our oldest son just graduated with a business degree, so I think this son felt like he should go into a more “concrete” field - like where a job is almost guaranteed (like pharmacy).
He is thinking performance…do we ask his teacher if he thinks he’s good enough? We live in a rural area and he’s very good, but I’m concerned that when he sees the competition out there he may change his mind.</p>
<p>We live in MA but he would really like to go somewhere warm - Florida, California, etc. So I’m not sure if we should visit schools around here (there are so many - Tufts/NE Conservatory, Berklee, Hartt School of Music, BU, etc.) as summer day trips or not. We also have ties to western NY (Eastman) and Ohio (Oberlein, etc) but don’t think he’d be happy staying in cold winters.</p>
<p>This is our third son going to college, but it’s so totally different! Thanks for any help you can give us!</p>
<p>Piano is very, very competitive and deciding to major in that now is extremely late in the game. The fact that your son’s piano teacher went to Julliard is nice, but unless he/she is under 30 it probably has no bearing on anything- the process of application and admissions to such conservatories has changed radically and the level of the students has improved just as much. Kids auditioning on piano for Julliard today play at the level of their graduates 15 years ago.
By all means, talk to the teacher- that should have been done when your S had the first inkling that he was considering music. I wouldn’t even wait until Thursday- call or e-mail the teacher and ask her to get back to you at her earliest convenience when she has time to talk. But as soon as possible your son’s abilities should be evaluated by a teacher/prof at a good music school in your area to find out if he is of a level that would be considered for admission. School is out for the term and a lot of teachers decamp to other places for summer festivals, so do get on this as soon as possible. You can call the piano dept at one of the Boston or CT schools and ask how you set up a meeting and evaluation; maybe you can do a campus tour the same day?
Is your son considering a performance degree or an education degree? If he is not at the level to gain acceptance on his instrument would be consider taking a gap year to work with a good teacher on technique and audition repertoire? There are ways to do it if he wants it badly enough and is willing to work for it. Good luck and let us know!</p>
<p>Is your son interested in classical music, Jazz or pop? That also will make a difference. </p>
<p>If you live in MA can you get to Boston? If you you might want to think about NEC Preparatory school. Taking preparatory classes will give your son a good idea of what it is like to study music at a higher level, something that is often not possible in your typical public high school. Also your son could participate in ensembles and meet other children who are as serious about music as he is. It might not be too late to join a NEC summer Jazz ensemble if your son has an interest in Jazz. The guy who runs that program is an incredibly talented pianist and is an amazing educator/role model so he would be somebody who could assist you if your son got to know him.</p>
<p>Another option is to have your son attend Berklee’s 5 week (there probably are still openings as long as your son doesn’t need housing) for the summer. That will also give your son an idea about whether going to a conservatory is right for him or not. I had one son who after attending Berklee’s 5 week decided that he did not want to major in music, although music has remained a part of his life. I have another son who after attending Berklee’s 5 week became even more determined to attend a top conservatory. </p>
<p>University of Rochester has scholarships for kids who are not attending the Conservatory but who are interested in continuing their musical studies. </p>
<p>Finally one advice that my youngest son got over and over and over again from every musician he talked to was “Think about what else you want to do with music besides performance, because you will never make a living just as a performer.” For some that might be teaching. For others that might be composing. For others that might mean sound engineering or production. One of my son’s college essays was what would you do if you suddenly found you could no longer play your instrument. That was a good question because it made our son think hard about the role music is going to play in his life as he moves into adulthood.</p>