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Vieuxtemps5 · 03-21-2008, 02:52 PM

ok before people get too mad at me I'll just say this;

Conservatories are a tried and true method, I know that. If that's what you're into, being at music camp 24/7, then do it. However, there is a larger world out there, and you can accomplish just as much, and learn a lot more but just having a regular college experience. As I've found out, there are many types of college experiences, but I think it's important for a kid to not always be around people who practice, and it's important to have to deal with "the real world" rather than being insulated for 4 years.

So many great pedagogues and artists have told their pupils that they must be interested in things not music related (well, related in aesthetics). Sure a lot of places require you to take electives outside of music, but why not take it a step further and consider more normal options as a student. The reason I bring up great players going to regular universities is because these trends always start from the top down. If you read books by economists or sociologists, even like "Freakanomics" or "Millenials Rising", (the 2nd one touches on our generation), the way in which we think and do things are evolving considerably from the "tried and true" ways. People no longer go to law school to be a lawyer etc... start thinking outside the box, and to be honest, music is one of the smallest boxes available. Before, musicians would have private tuition with a great teacher, then spend a lot of time reading and being around other artists. It was more cosmopolitan. THAT is how you get broader concepts into people. Talk to the old school guys. They can discuss so much more than what 99% of conservatory kids can. Conservatories are factories, to many people. They don't encourage much independent thought. If that fits your personality, I apologize if I've offended you. However, I hope that one day a kid or a parent might read this, and think to themselves that yea, they love music and want to be in it, but they don't want to miss out on all the other stuff that one might miss out on by being in a conservatory.

Mam says this is a small trend. Well, just wait a few more years. It's getting bigger and bigger. Last time I was at these Aspen/Encore things, all the younger kids were eager to go to a great university, not to Juilliard. Times are changing... and with schools like Yale and Rice and USC having great faculty and good academics, not to mention the considerable social benefits, sports, activities etc... there isn't as much of a need for conservatories.

03-21-2008, 02:52 PM	#29
Vieuxtemps5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 112	ok before people get too mad at me I'll just say this; Conservatories are a tried and true method, I know that. If that's what you're into, being at music camp 24/7, then do it. However, there is a larger world out there, and you can accomplish just as much, and learn a lot more but just having a regular college experience. As I've found out, there are many types of college experiences, but I think it's important for a kid to not always be around people who practice, and it's important to have to deal with "the real world" rather than being insulated for 4 years. So many great pedagogues and artists have told their pupils that they must be interested in things not music related (well, related in aesthetics). Sure a lot of places require you to take electives outside of music, but why not take it a step further and consider more normal options as a student. The reason I bring up great players going to regular universities is because these trends always start from the top down. If you read books by economists or sociologists, even like "Freakanomics" or "Millenials Rising", (the 2nd one touches on our generation), the way in which we think and do things are evolving considerably from the "tried and true" ways. People no longer go to law school to be a lawyer etc... start thinking outside the box, and to be honest, music is one of the smallest boxes available. Before, musicians would have private tuition with a great teacher, then spend a lot of time reading and being around other artists. It was more cosmopolitan. THAT is how you get broader concepts into people. Talk to the old school guys. They can discuss so much more than what 99% of conservatory kids can. Conservatories are factories, to many people. They don't encourage much independent thought. If that fits your personality, I apologize if I've offended you. However, I hope that one day a kid or a parent might read this, and think to themselves that yea, they love music and want to be in it, but they don't want to miss out on all the other stuff that one might miss out on by being in a conservatory. Mam says this is a small trend. Well, just wait a few more years. It's getting bigger and bigger. Last time I was at these Aspen/Encore things, all the younger kids were eager to go to a great university, not to Juilliard. Times are changing... and with schools like Yale and Rice and USC having great faculty and good academics, not to mention the considerable social benefits, sports, activities etc... there isn't as much of a need for conservatories. Last edited by Vieuxtemps5; 03-21-2008 at 02:59 PM.