<p>Westwood, do not go into debt. Go somewhere you can afford for undergrad, then perhaps go to an expensive school for graduate studies.</p>
<p>As private schools continue to raise their tuition rates sky-high, while at the same time handing out few scholarships, the value of these top music conservatories will flatten. The talent will spread out among many schools. I am seeing this with the conservatory where my daughter will probably attend. On another thread, people are discussing their appeals for more scholarship money and not getting it. My daughter is fortunate to have received enough money to go, but I can see that others who were also admitted will instead go somewhere more affordable. That leaves the conservatory with lesser players who can afford the cost, and weakens the overall pool of musicians attending the conservatory.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently rehearsing her concerto with a large public university wind ensemble. We have noticed that this wind ensemble is better than the one at the conservatory she wants to attend. Why? Because more and more music students are deciding they don’t want to go into debt to pay for music school.</p>
<p>This is what we would have done had my daughter not received a large scholarship: Enroll at local public university with good music program. Travel to #1 teacher at X conservatory, and take private lessons. Go to top conservatory for graduate school.</p>