binx

That's the scariest part. I remember reading on the FAQs of Juilliard that someone asked if students needed to have had private lessons before applying. Yeah, that's probably a good idea.

Someone (BassDad, I think?) mentioned the ego-stroking in public school. Coupled with that is the idea that music is "easy" - at some schools band and orchestra kids get A's just for showing up. Ours is a little harder than that, but not much. And some parents, whose kids are getting C's in everything else, take it to mean their kid is excelling in music.

At one of D's auditions, as I sat in the "crying room" waiting for her, a couple teachers were talking with a clarinet player who had just auditioned. They were kind and polite, but were asking her in round-about ways if she'd considered music ed rather than performance, and what other schools she had on her list. I know that is a question everyone hates, but in this case, I got the impression they were trying to let her down gently, and point her in some directions she might be more successful at. She and her dad hung on every word, but I didn't think they were "getting" it.

My kids didn't play instruments that were pre-screened. (D had to make one tape, for a scholarship pre-screening.) But I did get the impression that the resumes they were asked to submit were used somewhat for the same purpose by some schools. I'm all in favor of anything that keeps me from wasting time or money.