Congrats on Curtis!
Right now, we’re at the “I-know-I-want-to-major-in-music… and maybe something else too” phase. Where she’s stuck is in the future goals. She had an advisor ask her what she’d be doing 5 years after she graduates college… and it’s hard to say. Obviously, it’s not necessarily a linear path, and she’d consider plenty of music-adjacent paths, from history and humanities to biology and neuroscience. Narrowing that down is impossible.
Have yours been singularly focused on music?
My kid was singularly focused on music.
If you haven’t already done so, read the Double Degree Dilemma linked here:
He’s a first year, violin, and yes, has been singularly focused on music since he was quite young. Little doubt from probably as early as age 8 or so, and definite by age 12. His only conundrum was that he also likes theory, composing, and conducting, but luckily Curtis lets him explore those areas as he wishes. He’s really enjoying his time there, working hard, though I do hear some complaints about a few of the classes being annoying and easy. But I think that is par for the course for everybody in conservatory!
My younger one (also 14, same as yours) plays viola and has never been as serious. As she says now, there is nothing she likes more than music, but I’m not sure that’s enough. I’m trying to give her time and space to explore.
As for lessons, you can definitely learn a lot from a trial lesson or two. My son also watched potential teachers teach masterclasses (online and in person) and even studied (and talked to) some of their students. He got a LOT of information from kids in his precollege and summer programs who graduated in the years before him and went off to various conservatories around the country.
Thank you! I am getting more confident about what we’re doing. The program we’re in is very competitive and there’s not much sharing of info, even from the teachers… but I am finding the people I need.
It is an adventure! She is so passionate about it though, I just supporting her and watching her climb all the mountains. I have faith that it will work out 
How does one get a trial lesson? By meeting teachers at summer festivals? Or can you reach out to conservatories and request one?
Mine is like yours and also had no doubt about her path from a very young age.
She is 100% uninterested in doing a double major. I’m okay with that because she is a smart cookie and will land on her feet.
Could you clarify this for me, please. My musician kid was in some mighty competitive programs, and the faculty involved were very invested in helping the musicians further their education and growth, and were very willing to share information. Other musicians shared their opinions of applied teachers and programs as well.
I’m surprised that your program doesn’t have this.
She will need to find music performance programs that actually support double majors. Some are fabulous and do so. Others aren’t as accommodating.
This is very doable, but will take some research!
I don’t want to go into a lot of detail. I was very surprised to find the competitive, political nature of the department she is in, especially as her previous music program was like what you describe. Her current teacher does not get involved in that, fortunately, and is very helpful and supportive. We had a different teacher initially and that was not the case. Helpful on the surface but playing a lot of games with the kids and parents behind your back. I really can’t say more than that other than that I’m really glad we’re no longer dealing with that!
Glad her current teacher sounds like she can be helpful!
Keep the questions coming when you have them.
Just clarifying, it seems the OP’s daughter is 100 percent uninterested in a double major.
Sorry…I misread that. I thought she was interested in a double major! Thanks for the clarification!
There are plenty of conservatory programs, and music performance programs that are conservatory like that are housed in universities. I’m sure she will find some great options!
You usually cannot have an “official” trial lesson until late junior year or early senior year. But you definitely can go to summer programs where good teachers congregate and try out some different ones there. For my son, due to when the pandemic hit, he could not do this as much, so almost all of his interactions had to wait until senior year.
The most important things I would recommend at 14 would be making sure you have a teacher who knows how to prepare kids for conservatory (it sounds like you have that), make sure your kid is getting a well-rounded musical education (chamber music, theory, some orchestra, etc.), and make sure your kid has time to practice. This is especially true in the summers – the kids going to the top programs are going to summer programs that allow for ample practice time (3-4 hours minimum), along with some chamber music and other things. If your daughter hasn’t applied to these sorts of programs yet, there are some that are still accepting applications even if priority deadlines have passed. I can’t emphasize how critical the summer study piece is, especially with a focus on practice.
Ww always suggest reading the Double Degree Dilemma essay in the Read Me section here on the music major forum. It gives an overview of ways to study music using hypothetical individuals. It might be helpful for the future.
I don’t see that you need to do anything beyond what you and she are doing. In fact, I might decrease or eliminate competitions and focus on conservatory prep, lessons, practice and summer programs.
And from the parent of a kid probably not as motivated as yours who ultimately decided that the pro musician route was not for him, make sure that she continues to have other things in her life, excellent academics, summer programs that bring joy, and an understanding of how difficult the life of a professional musician is.
Thank you so much, will do!
She has those things and is as aware as she can be for 14. I’m not concerned about how she’ll adjust in the future.
Talk to me about competitions… how important are they at this level? I am divided as to how important they are.
Yes, she does. Teacher is excellent and the real deal. Her program offers all of that, so pretty well rounded.
Do you know if they are allowed to choose their rep in these summer programs? She has a competition in the fall and is thinking she’ll have time at the festival to work on her competition rep but I am wondering if they’ll suggest (or require) that she work on specific pieces?
Are you talking about rep with the private teacher? My kid was always able to be part of the choosing process for pieces to work on with the teacher at summer festivals. But there were times when a teacher suggested trying something different than what my kid might have chosen. And the kid did, and always felt it was the right decision.
Re: competitions. I will give my opinion. Both of our kids did things like concerto competitions, and the regional music club competitions. But that was it. They had plenty of other repertoire to work on for honors ensemble auditions, summer program auditions, and things like that.
Plus, they both played in a school ensemble, precollege wind ensemble and orchestra, chamber music group, and both sang in a children’s auditioned chorus. And both also took piano lessons in addition to lessons on their primary instrument.
They had plenty of repertoire!