totally off the wall question -- Juilliard

[zaichiki]

Let's just SAY your child was offered a full scholarship at a world-class conservatory (like Juilliard, Curtis, NEC, others...). It could be either their pre-college program or their college program, whatever... What would you do? Would you/they take it? If not, why not?

 

(This did not happen to us.)

[OrganicAnn]

My BIL went to Curtis I think for 2 years. He has had a very good career as a professional musician with several good orchestras.

 

I think if a kid had the talent, ability, personality and desire to go, then why not. Especially if you don't have to pay for it.

[Beth in OH]

My youngest dd has been traveling a path to attempt admission to this type of program. Our answer would have to be that she would not necessarily accept such an offer. It would depend on whose studio she was accepted into, and the fit with the teacher. Some of those schools are excellent, but she won't even audition, because they don't have a person she wants to study with.

 

Beth

[AngelaNYC]

Yes. My dd lives and breathes dance and I can't see her turning something like that down. She goes to school right down the block from Juilliard (and Lincoln Center) and would love to continue her training in that area.

[zaichiki]

It would depend on whose studio she was accepted into, and the fit with the teacher.

 

Good point.

[Aquinas Academy]

I live in a rural area where the nearest decent violin teacher is four hours away. Really good teachers and accompanists, youth orchestras, etc. are an eight hour drive. We go to the city four hours away for music lessons, but DD 15 is really pushing her teacher's limits. She needs a more advanced teacher, but the closest ones are eight hours away, a distance which isn't feasible for us on a regular basis. If DD was recieved a scholarship to a conservatory, I'd probably let her go. I would sob and moan and lament her moving so far from home, but in the end, if she wanted to go, I'd let her.

We have good friends who live even farther from musical activites than we do. Their 16yo has just started at Curtis and is loving it.

So I guess that's my long winded way of saying, "Yes, I think I'd let DC go".

[zaichiki]

We have good friends who live even farther from musical activites than we do. Their 16yo has just started at Curtis and is loving it.

 

 

Wow! Your friend lives more than 8 hours away from musical activities and yet has been able to connect with a strong enough teacher on a regular enough basis to get into Curtis?! What kind of Herculean effort must that have taken? I cannot imagine.

 

Did they *move* to Philly? Do they have friends or family in the area?

 

Sounds daunting.

[GinaPagnato]

Yes, definitely, with these stipulations:

 

1. he is firmly grounded emotionally and spiritually so as not to go off the deep end

2. he is mature enough and has a strong enough work ethic that even without mom around, the practicing happens

3. he has connected with a teacher who he likes and can learn from

[Aquinas Academy]

Wow! Your friend lives more than 8 hours away from musical activities and yet has been able to connect with a strong enough teacher on a regular enough basis to get into Curtis?! What kind of Herculean effort must that have taken? I cannot imagine.

 

Did they *move* to Philly? Do they have friends or family in the area?

 

Sounds daunting.

I cannot imagine either. Well, I see them doing it, but I would find it exhausting. It helps that their kids are geniuses, but still "Herculean effort" is the perfect term to describe all the lengths they go to for music lessons.

Just the daughter moved, but they do know people in Philadelphia. I think they went to a music camp there for several years, but it could have been somewhere else.