Preliminary Visits as a Junior

rcmama
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:01:04 +0000

Drummerdad: I have to ditto everyone on trying to arrange a lesson if at all possible. The teachers know that there will be progress made over the course of the year prior to the audition. Even if your son doesn’t make a good impression, wouldn’t you rather have that information now? Applications and auditions are costly in time and money. I think it’s better to find those teachers who see potential in your son, and focus there. It also helps to attend concerts, or classes. Many teachers hold studio classes, often weekly. If a lesson can’t be arranged, try to find out when these classes are held and whether your son can sit in. Your son can then get a sense of how the teacher interacts with students and get the chance to talk to other students at the school.

Allmusic: We also had the same experience with school administrations. Some are better organized and more friendly than others. Generally (but not always), we found that the “top” teachers were the least likely to give lessons to prospective students. They are extremely busy people, who don’t have the time to give extra lessons. Some of them teach in summer programs, or provide master classes in different places, so your son may be able to meet them that way. Or as a last resort, you can talk to former or current students to get more information.

When we visited schools, we drew up a list of about 20 to 30 questions we wanted answered. For example, how large is the studio? How many applicants does the school usually get on D’s instrument? How many usually accepted? What sorts of things do students do after completing their degree? What do students typically do in the summer? What performing opportunities are there, inside the school and in the community? How are orchestra positions determined and are they rotated? If there is more than one teacher on a particular instrument, how are the assignments made? Not all of our questions were answered at every school, but we got lots of extra information that helped to narrow the choices.