cello performance thoughts...BU, Ithaca, SUNY Purchase

soccercellomom
Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:30:04 +0000

I think money is always an issue for the parent of a music student (unless you are in the top .5%) We have saved since she was born, and still are coming up short for full tuition.
We another kid and retirement around the corner.
Not only will Graduate School likely be necessary, but she may need a little help with living expenses in order to take her dream starter job, and I know a new cello and bow will probably be necessary in the next few years as well.
It looks like Purchase sends kids to Amsterdam. We will talk to the cello prof. about this Wednesday.
D started cello lessons through school, and then started private lessons in middle school with one of the elementary school music teachers. She was doing well, however was playing piano, violin, on the varsity swim team, in clubs etc. Finally, we found her a good cello teacher (was on staff at MSM pre-college) after her Freshman year.
Only last year did she think she’d like to major in music in college and quit some of her other activities to focus on practicing., She that felt she wanted to go to a liberal arts school with options should she change her mind. She worked very hard this year for auditions, and did well. I think she’s still happy that she will go to a liberal arts school, even though the reality at every school is that the music kids hang out with only music kids.
We did many of the same things in our search, woodwinds, but time, and cost prevented a wider search. Finding the right combination of teacher, school, location, other students play level and costs is a daunting task (and you don’t know what the financial help with be until the last minute).
Good Luck to your D, woodwinds. Appreciate your input lorelei.
Looking forward to 5/1.