<p>Sue22:
Such situations do happen in public schools as well, just with far less frequency. We have that same problem in band all the time: one thinks they are good until they find the Wind Ensemble, where many are in the CIM and Cleveland Orchestra systems designed to train those for professional musicianship. We have even had a few make the leap directly from high school to the professional world, and many are successful.
Of course, those who do it always have the $$$.</p>