My oldest just finished the audition process. Accepted 5/5 top conservatories (Curtis, Colburn, Juilliard, etc.) all with full or large scholarships.
Here is what he did:
- Daily practice: 3 hours on average
- School orchestra: daily 50 minutes
- Lesson: 90 minutes once a week
- Precollege program: 10 hours each Saturday, included theory, chamber music, chamber orchestra
- Various other performances and rehearsals probably averaging one performance a week and one rehearsal a week
Obviously very intensive. He gave up a lot to make this happen. No sports, minimal non-music extracurriculars, slightly less intensive course load (only took 6 AP classes in HS), missed a lot of school, especially the last year. Dropped the city youth orchestra during high school as well, as it was too much of a time commitment and not that beneficial. He did attend a regular public school, though it is a selective urban one that requires you to test into it.