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

woodwinds
Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:59:43 +0000

My daughter is a sax/oboe player, and she just auditioned this year and about to make the final decision. So, not the same as cello.

BU was a possible audition place, but she ended up auditioning at three other Boston schools instead (but that is because my daughter wanted a straight conservatory). We visited boston several times, and she is quite familiar with the teachers. We’ve also been told about how great a city Boston is. One of my other daughters was admitted to BU with a large scholarship (non-music) but went elsewhere.

For us, money is an issue, and I agree with you that your child needs to get a large scholarship if money is also an issue with you. My daughter will turn down NEC, in Boston, because although she was offered a large scholarship, it is not large enough. There are other factors too, but they aren’t applicable to a cello player.

Besides having lessons with the possible teachers, we also made an effort to hear the teachers perform live in concert, and to hear their students perform. this gave us a bigger picture of the teacher.

I wouldn’t factor in study abroad programs at BU or elsewhere. From what I see, that can be difficult to fit into a 4-year schedule. It is much cheaper to attend a European music school; my daughter looked into applying directly. She considered going to the Conservatory of Amsterdam; tuition is only around $8,000 a year for international students.