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shennie · 03-21-2008, 02:13 PM

I see much of this from a different perspective. My son would have loved to "have it all". The thought of studying at Princeton and getting an academic degree while continuing to hone his skills as a cellist sounds great. But then you run into walls. How is a kid from the midwest who studies with an unknown teacher going to find a superior teacher on the east coast? How is son going to pay for college and then add the expense of an NYC teacher at $150 a week? How is son, who didn't start playing until 10 and never studied with a high level teacher going to have enough time to develop his skills as well as do another major? The answer for him was conservatory. He didn't have the advantage of a pre-college program or exceptionally skilled teachers while he was growing up. He made the best of what he had and was accepted into the studio of a highly sought after teacher - one who doesn't teach outside of the conservatory setting. He sometimes played his cello 8-10 hours a day between practicing and rehearsals. His skills increased dramatically in this environment. He is a excellent player and has no doubt about his ability to make a career in the classical world. He won't ever be a star or the principal player of a major orchestra, but he will be able to make a reasonable living doing something he loves.

Vieuxtemps - you have an incredible talent and have access to fabuluos ways to develop that. I hope you appreciate the advantages you have had and the innate talent you seem to have. You also are around lots of other kids similar to yourself so you don't always know the struggles of other students who may have your talent but not your advantages. Lots of kids come from different areas of the country and different backgrounds. I truly don't think son would have advanced nearly as much as he did outside of the conservatory environment. Until students have unfettered access to top teachers outside of the conservatory environment, it is going to be difficult for any but the tippy-top 18 year old players to not major in performance if they want a chance to have a career in classical music.

I would also like to say the above only applies to instrumentalists, NOT vocalists.

03-21-2008, 02:13 PM	#21
shennie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,477	I see much of this from a different perspective. My son would have loved to "have it all". The thought of studying at Princeton and getting an academic degree while continuing to hone his skills as a cellist sounds great. But then you run into walls. How is a kid from the midwest who studies with an unknown teacher going to find a superior teacher on the east coast? How is son going to pay for college and then add the expense of an NYC teacher at $150 a week? How is son, who didn't start playing until 10 and never studied with a high level teacher going to have enough time to develop his skills as well as do another major? The answer for him was conservatory. He didn't have the advantage of a pre-college program or exceptionally skilled teachers while he was growing up. He made the best of what he had and was accepted into the studio of a highly sought after teacher - one who doesn't teach outside of the conservatory setting. He sometimes played his cello 8-10 hours a day between practicing and rehearsals. His skills increased dramatically in this environment. He is a excellent player and has no doubt about his ability to make a career in the classical world. He won't ever be a star or the principal player of a major orchestra, but he will be able to make a reasonable living doing something he loves. Vieuxtemps - you have an incredible talent and have access to fabuluos ways to develop that. I hope you appreciate the advantages you have had and the innate talent you seem to have. You also are around lots of other kids similar to yourself so you don't always know the struggles of other students who may have your talent but not your advantages. Lots of kids come from different areas of the country and different backgrounds. I truly don't think son would have advanced nearly as much as he did outside of the conservatory environment. Until students have unfettered access to top teachers outside of the conservatory environment, it is going to be difficult for any but the tippy-top 18 year old players to not major in performance if they want a chance to have a career in classical music. I would also like to say the above only applies to instrumentalists, NOT vocalists.