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<p>I thought that applies to all ages, no?</p>
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<p>By that age the good pianists are already giving solo recitals at major orchestras. Even then they only have a moderate chance of getting into a top-notch conservatory.</p>
<p>Yawn…</p>
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<p>Because I ask questions?</p>
<p>Why do you expect anyone to answer yours?</p>
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<p>I don’t. I expect people unwilling to answer to simply ignore my questions. But they get upset instead, which is a pity.</p>
<p>Why am I reminded of " who’s on first"?</p>
<p>LOL, EK. Clearly “I don’t know” is on third!!</p>
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<p>If that’s what all the good pianists are doing, then there are tons of bad ones that are professional musicians these days.</p>
<p>There are good, medium, and poor professionals in every field.</p>
<p>so? 10 char</p>
<p>"
By that age the good pianists are already giving solo recitals at major orchestras. Even then they only have a moderate chance of getting into a top-notch conservatory."</p>
<p>Oh well, so maybe they’ll become piano majors at Lawrence or St Olaf or Oberlin and wind up becoming piano teachers. Quelle horreur!! Or is it quel? My French is deserting me.</p>
<p>Actually, come to think of it, French was a major EC of mine back in the day, I did independent study on French playwrights of the 17th and 18th centuries, participated and did well in various French contests, etc. What has it “meant” for the rest of my life? Well, simply that I can go to France and not make a fool of myself, lol. I enjoy having some facility in a pretty language. That’s all it ever needed to mean.</p>
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<p>IP wants to know whose kids play piano also, maybe.</p>
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<p>I thought IP would say, “Younger than yours”.</p>
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<p>Except perhaps there’s a Steinway grand piano sitting in the grand room.</p>
<p>Apparently a lot of kids play piano, IP, and not for college admissions or even downplay it as an EC.</p>
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We have a home gym. Isn’t motivating me to be the next adult bodybuilding champ :)</p>
<p>Oh, that is where jym626 came from! Being in the gym from 6 to 6, and taking some liberty with spelling? ;)</p>
<p>Um… yeah… thats the ticket :)</p>
<p>A good point does run through this thread: kids who focus intently on one or more ECs pre-college, may or may not wish to continue them in college. Some of us (or our kids) did, some didn’t; some have regrets, some don’t. Pursuing excellence in some non-academic activity is a choice. In college, some don’t have the time; some pare down; some drop them or find new ones and are happy about that.</p>
<p>IMO, the point of pre-college ECs is to garner some experiences, for onesself, with the hs and in the community, that: a) maybe enrich life, teach a few lessons about planning, responsibilty, follow-through, commitment, giving- and maybe the value of a little sweat and even stress (and more, ok?) b) offer adcoms a view of the applicant’s interests, abilites and impact, outside the classroom, behind the stats. </p>
<p>You can manufacture this neat picture- or parents or counselors can. Or, you can feel your way into it. </p>
<p>I won’t get into how adcoms view ECs, IME. But, they do look at them and glean what they can. And, they do hope a good number of kids will continue some of those ECs in college, to enrich and support campus life.</p>
<p>So, the OP asked for bickering. And, got it. Maybe it’s the weather.</p>
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<p>Not really.</p>
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<p>I don’t know the age of anyone else’s kids but mine.</p>
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<p>We have one too.</p>
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<p>I am sure.</p>
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<p>Not a horror, but just mediocre. Which was my point. It is very hard to be good in anything, and as each year passes by it becomes harder.</p>
<p>What an awful attitude. I want my children to be happy, healthy, self sufficient and enjoy what they do. Whether that’s high school music teacher, research scientist or hedge fund manager. How much they make is completely irrelevant.</p>
<p>I presume your child’s school offers music. Are those high school music teachers “mediocre”? How about any private music teachers your son may have?</p>
<p>Why don’t you ever question your own assumption that it’s always necessary to be the very best or don’t bother? It’s a huge blind spot of yours.</p>
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<p>I completely agree. </p>
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<p>The school music teachers are really mediocre. My kid plays far better than them. The private teachers (2) are highly accomplished in their own playing and composing careers. They are not just teachers.</p>
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<p>You don’t have to be the very best. Few, of course, can be the very best. My position is that give it your best, whatever it is you decide to do. If that doesn’t bring greatness, well, at least you tried.</p>
<p>Also, there is nothing wrong with being mediocre. Most people are. It’s the law of large numbers.</p>