<p>The only thing they said is 9 out of 10 times you get your first choice. They said she would have one lesson per week…about 50 minutes to 1 hour. That’s about all that was said. </p>
<p>I will keep this in mind for all of the colleges…thanks, Cartera, I appreciate the information.</p>
<p>I didn’t hear anything about rolling admission. What is it?</p>
<p>Barbmaz,</p>
<p>Rolling admission means they make their decisions as they go along. We do not have to wait until all of the auditions are complete to find out if our kids get accepted. So, they had auditions Friday and Saturday and they will mail out letters this week (or next week at the latest) from what I understand.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ve got my fingers crossed. Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>How do you know which teacher would be the best for you? What do you look for?</p>
<p>The student needs to make the decision about the teacher. DS found that he “clicked” with some (actually most), but didn’t with others. He knew what he was looking for, knew what kind of interactions he felt comfortable with, and knew that he wanted someone who could make him a BETTER player but in a sensitive way. My son has been very lucky to have had outstanding private teachers in college, summer fests and now grad school. He hit the jackpot!! Your musician will know whether they are comfortable with the teacher or not…</p>
<p>Some additional past threads on the importance of the teacher, and a few insights into the relationship. The right teacher is not only an instructor, but also a technician, a mentor, a sounding board, a source of encouragement and inspiration, and in many cases becomes a life longfriend and colleague. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/390796-does-phenomenal-applied-teacher-really-trump-everything.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/390796-does-phenomenal-applied-teacher-really-trump-everything.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/341209-critical-have-lessons-before-auditions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/341209-critical-have-lessons-before-auditions.html</a></p>
<p>I think sample lessons are critical. My D has taken several lessons and has sat in on lessons. The decision for sample lessons was based on a lot of research - emailing former students and colleagues and other teachers at the school for recommendations. One teacher studied at Curtis with her private teacher so that was an easy choice. My D knew right away -from either observing or taking a lesson - whether she was interested in the teacher or not. Her teacher also prefers for her to study with a soprano so she has chosen schools where there is more than one soprano who has a good reputation in working with young voices. It is scary to consider, but voices can be ruined. The student has to recognize when things are being done to cause damage and they have to be proactive. My D’s teacher is working with two students now who left very well known conservatories because of technique problems. There is a lot of info out there but you have to dig. Former students are surprisingly honest about the strengths and weaknesses of their teachers. Some of the things I like to know are whether the teacher misses an inordinate number of lessons because of their own performance schedule and whether studio politics is manageable. Of course, the problem is that you are not guaranteed that you can get the teacher you hope for so it is always a bit of a crap shoot. That is why she didn’t apply to schools where there was only one teacher that was acceptable.</p>
<p>Being a good performer does not automatically make a good teacher. You can know how to do something but not be able to convey it properly to another.</p>
<p>So true, srw! The wisest performers know their strengths and their weaknesses and take on other responsibilities accordingly. Alas, not all are wise. And many a student has suffered the consequences. I cannot speak for how this conveys for instrumentalists, but it happens again and again with voice. Singers are uniquely vulnerable in their need to be instructed by an outsider, because their own tools of perception are inadequate, i.e they cannot hear themselves or see what is happening while they sing. Recording devices and mirrors are helpful, but static aids. The best voice teachers are providing tools for students to find their own voices every day, with a method, a plan, and protective as well as developmental procedures. They must be able to explain in a mutually comprehensible language. There are wonderful contributions to be made by performers as vocal coaches, lanugage, style, characterization, in ways the pure vocal pedagogue cannot usually. It takes a villlage…</p>
<p>Agree Lorelei - my D’s voice teacher keeps up with her students for that reason. Many, if not most of them, take a lesson with her when they’re home for a break. She tells them some things to watch out for and they have a good idea of the rep they should be singing as a freshman. Some schools have built in some protection with regard to rep in that they don’t even allow the freshmen and sophomores to audition for the main opera. They can be a part of the crew - which is a great learning experience too.</p>
<p>Echoing other’s thoughts about teacher. It is critical, and it is personal. My S was particular about the balance between praise and criticism. If a teacher did nothing but praise, then S felt he probably wouldn’t learn much. If teacher did nothing but criticize, S felt their styles were probably too different. S also wants to have a teacher whom he admires as a performer. Performing skills and teaching skills don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but S wants both.</p>
<p>binx, my S would agree with your S! At my S’s school everybody auditions because they feel that is a skill that needs to be developed as well. My S has been cast but his voice teacher has to sign off first, so if she doesn’t think he is ready for a role she can nix the whole thing. That’s part of the protection a good teacher will have for their students. Some teachers would push, so that they can say that more students are cast from their studio, etc.</p>