<p>I would like to know what kids did the summer before they started college. Did they continue taking lessons? Attend a summer program or just relax? And how did what they did affect their performance in college?</p>
<p>My daughter went to Aspen. I don’t think it had any effect on her college life, but it was fun.</p>
<p>My daughter finally had an operation on her right hand to remove a carpal boss (not caused by violin playing, apparently, but definitely impacting violin playing). She just never could find the time for the operation and the rehab during the previous two years, and the situation just kept growing worse – she played several concerts in excruciating pain. So the day after a last quartet performance, that’s what she did. Post-op scared her for a week or so (she had a huge cast for a while, and then couldn’t move her hand initially after it was removed), but soon she was back playing – eventually with full range of motion restored and no pain – and taking a few lessons and preparing for college. Pretty idiosyncratic, I know, so not terribly helpful to others, unless it’s to say that summer before college is a good time to take care of stuff that’s been put off for too long, to make for a more clear-sailing college experience. If not for the operation, she would have done a festival somewhere. </p>
<p>My D did a summer composition program.(for “fun”) She also contacted her impending freshman year teacher and got some rep to work on with her (then) current teacher. Composition helped her with theory and broadened her musical outlook considerably. Whether it affected her performance in college…who knows, but she had a great time that summer.</p>
<p>My S did the same thing that he had done in each of the previous 3 summers, attended a week-long competition and then a music festival. The summer before the senior year was particularly important because he really poured a tremendous amount of time to polish his audition repertoire in the summer and recorded everything between September/October. In late August, he also worked on his non-conservatory college applications.</p>
<p>Sorry mis-read OP’s question. Similar answer, he will attend a competition and then a music festival. </p>
<p>Mine finally got braces, got her driver’s license, took one summer school course to finish high school and put on a recital.</p>
<p>Attended a festival. Worried on and off about whether she would like college or would be transferring right away. Shopped. Family vacation.</p>
<p>Summer before senior year, she did driver’s ed, SAT prep (waste of money in her case), worked at a short festival, attended another short festival. And shopped. Did I mention shopping?</p>
<p>We did not do a summer program because we weren’t sure how much we would have to put into college fund at that point. She had an opportunity to do a great program but we turned it down because of the cost. In retrospect, I wish she had gone just because it was a great resume builder.</p>
<p>My D continued lessons with her teacher until the week she left for college and she kept working her retail job and her church gig. The continuity of lessons kept her singing but once she was at school there was a complete rep change anyway; she was able to parlay her retail job, which she had held since her 16th birthday, into a management position with another branch of the company near her school.</p>
<p>Great! I guess we aren’t far off course. D plans on getting her driver’s license and doing a musical theatre program in Chicago which pays some (not much). And, as suggested by Stradmom, we’ll shop! Woo hoo! Don’t know about continuing voice lessons or not. Maybe less frequently. 
</p>
<p>My S ( percussion) did BUTI,… good experience for him- got him really ready for music school (Baylor 2014, Percussion Performance), and my D ( violin) goes on tour with PYO, then plans to continue with her teacher and composition lessons at Peabody , and work at Starbucks to save money for college in the fall It was really her decision to pass on a summer program- I think we would have tried to swing it if she really wanted to be back at Curtis- their summer program is that awesome…but she loves her teacher, wants those last few weeks with her, and loves her composition studies too. So…I guess it is really an individual thing- what can you afford and what is best for where they are right now. Best wishes!</p>
<p>Is the Curtis program Sejong? If so, I can vouch it’s wonderful.</p>
<p>Our son took lessons, practiced, relaxed and hung out with friends. He also taught students and did gigs and saved his money to have for college. Some schools being toward the end of August making it hard to get jobs without lying about when you will have to leave the job.</p>
<p>Exactly, StacJip- glad you remembered that all important matter of starting dates.While it’s more usual for schools on the east coast to begin after Labor Day, those in Ohio and west start the 3rd week in August.
D had to pass on two programs she was considering this year because they continued a few days past when her classes begin and she has to appear on day one with her roles prepared and ready to go into rehearsal.</p>
<p>The summer before Son’s senior year of high school he had his wisdom teeth removed. The timing wasn’t ideal but they wanted them out before his braces came off.
He had to take several weeks off from practicing (viola) because of how sore & swollen his jaw area was.</p>
<p>Ouch. D3 laid on the couch moaning for a week but then she was fine. Several weeks sounds rough!</p>
<p>The Curtis program is Curtis Summerfest- in Philly…they built new dorms three years ago, and I think that was what made them finally able to offer an on site program. Faculty is awesome, and because its a small program, there is lots of individual attention and just a great atmosphere of “we’re here to make great music”.</p>
<p>mymble, you may want to look into Sejong. It’s 2 weeks in August. The faculty for strings is incredible. If you are local, your daughter can commute, which is much less expensive than boarding. Age range is high school through grad school. Some Curtis, Juilliard, and other conservatory students attend. </p>
<p>Sounds interesting @glassharmonica - Philly is 2 hrs. away…- definitely something to consider. It seems like every school has different semester start times- My son always had to be back at Baylor by mid August for ensemble auditions/practice etc…, and we don’t know where she will be yet as all notifications haven’t come in yet, but we will definitely put this on our radar. It seemed like once my son got to college, his professor was steering him for summer programs…is that pretty much standard practice or are teachers different about this?</p>