<p>I'm a violin performance major and I have narrowed my choices to two equally well-known conservatories (rather not say which ones, but they are very well-known). One gave a full scholarship with a famous teacher's studio and seems very welcoming, while the other gave a half scholarship (also with a famous teacher) but the living costs there will be much cheaper (will be living off-campus).</p>
<p>Suggestions? I am at a standstill here...thanks~ :)</p>
<p>Congrats - I remember earlier postings, from your dad.</p>
<p>Have you had lessons or meetings with either teacher? While it is nice that they are famous, you need to evaluate how you feel about being their student.</p>
<p>IIRC, you or your daughter (not sure who is posting) are very young. If the off-campus situation is at home with parents, that might be a healthier situation for you. Your father indicated in earlier posts that you were well under 18, although he did not say how young. Sometimes the pressures of living in a dorm among students 18 and over can be difficult for younger students-- really, it varies case to case. We don’t know if you’re 13 or 16 1/2. </p>
<p>As for the fame, etc. of the teachers, that matters less than how well you feel you can work with them.</p>
<p>I agree with glassharmonica, you need to look at the whole picture (I don’t recall the earlier thread, so this is all based on these couple of posts). </p>
<p>-If you are young, like significantly younger then 18, you may want to think about living off campus, assuming it would be with parents (?). It can be hard living in dorms at a much younger age, I know someone whose child got admitted to a program young, and they decided against the child living in the dorms. It is a consideration I think you may want to make.</p>
<p>-Have you done lessons with the teachers in question at both schools? Is there one you like better then the other, can work with better? Fame as a teacher doesn’t mean much, there are many successful musicians who studied with a ‘famous teacher’ initially, and switched, and many who studied with a ‘non famous’ teacher who did well…it is about fit. </p>
<p>One thing about music is, the key to success is in the training, the name of the school, the fame of the teacher once you get out there means very little with some exceptions (possibly it might get you in the door to see an agent at a management firm), but in the end it is going to be about how well you were prepared, and among other things it is going to be about how well you were able to work with the teacher and how well you yourself worked…</p>
<p>The introductory post <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1040209-getting-admitted-music-conservatory.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1040209-getting-admitted-music-conservatory.html</a>, and a subsequent post indicates the three schools that were yet to be heard from.</p>
<p>The three schools are very different. Beyond the teacher that you feel most comfortable with, what about the size, locales, and environments? </p>
<p>Teacher fame does not equate to student success.</p>
<p>What about teacher track record?
It’s always worth asking what, exactly, the teacher is famous for. Robert Lipsett is emphatically not a famous player, but he’s one of the most successful pedagogues in the world. Jaime Laredo is a very famous player, and is great for students at the Curtis sort of level, but is perhaps less helpful to those who are less developed. And so forth. Some teachers have remarkably consistent records of placing students in jobs, having students win competitions, etc; you want those teachers! And they aren’t always the ones you recognize from the record labels.</p>
<p>I would agree with fiddlefrog.</p>
<p>I have a good friend/colleague who attended MSM for graduate work some years ago. I sought her counsel when my sons were researching schools. Her advice? Find a teacher you can work with AND who can find you work. Thats more important than the name of the school. She said to take the long view the goal is to make a living as a professional musician, not be part of an exclusive alumni association. The latter does not necessarily guarantee the former. </p>
<p>Our family’s experience has borne this out.</p>