<p>My son really wanted the “prestege” of going to a conservatory, but we all ended up agreeing that a conservatory was probably not best for him. He already has plans for this summer, but I was wondering if it is possible to enroll at a top name conservatory for just a summer term on a non-degree bases? </p>
<p>Many colleges will allow pretty much anyone to take a class or two, without ever being accepted, but what about the high falluten fancy schools? Or what about an Ivy League school (non-conservatory).</p>
<p>Basically, just to give him a taste of the top conservatory experiance, and to beef up his resume so that he could say (in a snobbish accent) “in 2012 I also studied at XXX”</p>
<p>I don’t think that many (if any) top conservatories offer any summer courses. Most of their top teachers are either on holidays or are teaching at top summer programs. If your son wants that top conservatory experience, he should apply to a top summer program (e.g. Aspen, MAW, Tanglewood, Meadowmount, Roundtop. . .).</p>
<p>In addition to the summer programs, you may be able to work out a private lesson or two with one of the teachers from the conservatories of interest. My daughter did just that between her sophomore and junior year in high school, getting two individual lessons at a summer program and two more private lessons from the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He suggested some changes in her technique that improved her playing tremendously and referred her to his top student at Curtis (now the assistant principal in Philly) with whom she studied during junior and senior years of high school. Those two years really set her up for her college auditions and, while not accepted by Curtis, she did make some friends in very low places.</p>