<p>Do any of you know anything about the Wheaton Conservatory in Illinois? My D was accepted there for violin and really wants to go. How would a program like that be for a budding musician vs. a small program where she could be the standout musician? We're new at this and could use some advice from those of you who are farther along in this journey!</p>
<p>A string player needs to have excellent role models around him/her. It is not helpful to be the standout musician, when one cannot gain perspective to guide ones goals. If she is ambitious, she needs to surround her herself with the best competition to be found in an environment which works for her. Good luck.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with lorelei. It is not a good idea to come into a school as the top banana. It helps greatly if you can learn not only from the teachers but from the other students as well. Playing with other talented musicians is a much more fulfilling experience for a serious student than being a medium-sized fish in a very small pond. </p>
<p>Unless your daughter is exclusively directed toward solo playing and chamber music, you want to look for a school with a good symphonic orchestra that rehearses more than a couple of hours per week and performs more than one program per semester. Otherwise, your daughter might feel that her high school orchestra or youth symphony was better than her college ensemble. Most small schools with average or below music departments find it hard to put together an orchestra that can handle challenging repertoire.</p>
<p>Wheaton has a solid reputation and several violin teachers with credentials from top schools. Where else has your daughter applied? Any other acceptances yet?</p>