Hoggirl

My ds attended IUPA last year and absolutely loved it. I think he would be perfectly happy returning there for this summer, but we are just looking at other possibilities. Several of the students at IUPA mentioned Brevard last summer. Has anyone attended Brevard for piano during high school?

In looking at their website I am a bit confused - it lists both a high school and college piano program, but it appears the application is the same for both? We haven't set up an account or anything, but at the bottom of the first registration page it asks if the person applying will have completed a year of college by mid-June. Does this just determine which category one is in? The information seems to indicate they take approximgely 70 pianists. Is this high school and college combined? Any idea how many in each group they take?

Thoughts on practice facilities, lodging, food?

Last any other thoughts on any other summer piano programs (yes, I asked this last year - just throwing it out again!). Any knowledge of New Paltz?

Thanks so much for any and all info about any and all summer piano programs anyone wants to throw out at me!

scmom12

My husband attended Brevard summer music camp when in HS as a piano student (long time ago) and they do a wonderful summer concert series. Can't tell you much about the program now except that D1 is counselor at girls camp in Brevard and she considers the area heaven on earth

Hoggirl

^I grew up going to summer camp in Brevard (Kahdalea). It is a lovely place.

Hoggirl

bump 10char

wundone1

My daughter attended Eastman Summer Music Horizons for piano last summer and she is now a junior. She also looked at IUPA last summer. I have an older daughter in a conservatory now who spent several summers at BU Tanglewood. I can't speak to the piano faculty at Brevard, but I do recommend considering a festival-based experience. It's a very different feel than a college-based summer program and gives kids a chance to experience a broader range of music and students than when just working on their own instruments. You can PM me -- but this function seems to be somewhat limited now.

CLRN8MOM

We have some experience with Brevard from a few years ago. (I’m sorry I don’t know any piano details). The accommodations were in cabins. They were plain structures with Dorm-style bathrooms. Chores are done every morning before breakfast. Food was average with always a “home-style” option or the hamburger/pizza line for dinner. Practice rooms for instrumentalists were generally little practice huts (similar to Interlocken likely). I’m sure the pianists had actual buildings to practice in! There was no Laundromat on the campus. Closest ones were in town, one mile away. However, there was a laundry service available on campus which came out to something like $8-10 for a large bag of laundry. It rains torrentially every afternoon about 2 pm for about an hour.

OK those are the negatives. On the plus side, the place is extremely well run. Everyone from office staff to medical personnel are on the ball and know what they are doing. They are genuinely kind and sincere. Almost all of the faculty have been there for years, and are dedicated to teaching. Our student returned home much improved and made many new friends from all over the country and world, all of which have since gone on to well-known music programs. She still reminisces about how great the experience was. Scholarships are available. The day to day schedule is set up similar to a college schedule with 1-2 hours of classes in the morning and then rehearsals later on. The music festival there is quite good and well attended by the local community. (Frederica von Stade=life-changing experience!) Students get in free, and there are events almost every night. Even the free concerts put on by students are well attended. Located just a few miles from the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the area surrounding Brevard is beautiful and makes for a lovely vacation. Asheville NC is about 30 minutes away and is a “foodie” destination. You can get great meals for about 1/3 the cost of those in a major metropolitan area.

When my daughter was applying to summer programs she had some great options. She turned down a more famous program to attend Brevard because of the faculty. It proved to be a wise move.

I would encourage you to call the staff there if you have any questions. They are very patient.

Hoggirl

Thank you both.

Ds is not sure what he wants to do this summer, so we are trying to learn as much as possible.