Music school recommendations?

cosmicsailor63 said:thanks, lady 👍

No worries at all.

George Edwards72 said:Which music school should we pick in downtown New York City? Prvašić wants to learn guitar... And when is the best time to enroll a kid?

On the other hand, looking back at the past, Paul Marc had such wonderful people and wonderful choir members.

Blagoje Bersa is an excellent school too—actually, I studied out in the Midwest, and I had some great experiences with their programs.

Enrollment for music schools usually happens around May, though there’s sometimes a fall session, but that's likely already passed.

I wouldn't personally recommend starting in first grade; it can be a bit much for kids that young. If you aren't aiming for a specialized preschool program, it’s actually pretty smart to wait until third grade to start formal lessons. That way, the two stages finish up together and they can head straight into high school. Then again, for those absolute prodigies, there are other paths—like skipping grades by testing into multiple levels or jumping into a specialized high school while still finishing general studies.

Music preschool is a great option; I didn't go myself, but my friends have nothing but good things to say about it.

Just a heads-up: guitar is incredibly hard to get into because the interest is just so high.

Tyler Davis2 said:Just wanted to give you guys a quick little update on our end... we actually ended up passing on the guitar after all. We decided to go with the violin instead! We’re planning to just borrow an instrument from the music school for now.

Quick question for the group—does anyone happen to know if there's a way to download Rodionov’s "Beginner Violin School" online? Also, does anyone know if there’s an American English version available, or is it mostly just in other languages?
If you happen to know where I can find a digital copy, please shoot me a private message!

If you're okay with a copy, I might be able to track down a Rodionov primer for you. I just need to check if it's even still around. I'm not entirely sure if it's easy to find online. And I think it might be in a different script. But honestly, don't sweat it—we all grew up using books with different scripts; the musical notation is universal, and your teacher will walk you through the rest. It's the etudes that really matter.

Thanks so much. My professor actually handed me a hard copy earlier, so I’ll just go ahead and make some copies for myself.

Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll sign him up when the third session opens. For now, he can just take guitar as an elective in his core curriculum. Maybe I'll wait until next year so he actually has some foundational skills under his belt.
Isn't the violin significantly more demanding than the guitar? Is the only reason it's so hard to get into the high demand, or what? As a backup, I'm looking at percussion or maybe accordion. He can't make up his mind, but honestly, I'd be happy if he played anything at all.

I’m right there with you—I honestly think picking up the violin is a much steeper climb than learning the guitar. That said, the interest in guitar is just massive lately, though it’s a bit of a bummer because they don't really offer many programs for it at our local music academy over in San Jose.

George Edwards72 said:Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll sign him up when the third session opens. For now, he can just take guitar as an elective in his core curriculum. Maybe I'll wait until next year so he actually has some foundational skills under his belt.
Isn't the violin significantly more demanding than the guitar? Is the only reason it's so hard to get into the high demand, or what? As a backup, I'm looking at percussion or maybe accordion. He can't make up his mind, but honestly, I'd be happy if he played anything at all.

In most ways, yeah, it's tougher. That's why you see the best results when kids start early. I think they mentioned starting around sixth grade. Around here, most people don't really start until seventh. My brother-in-law actually switched from violin to guitar entirely during high school; he said the transition was smooth and easy enough, especially since he had to take piano anyway for his credits.

You can always teach yourself guitar as an adult. It's just that the instrument is incredibly popular right now.

This isn't about a music conservatory, but perhaps someone here has some insight:

Has anyone dealt with flute sub-classes (recorder lessons, specifically) at the Waldorf School of New York in Brooklyn?

My main question is whether they allow enrollment for kids who aren't actually students there—is the course open to children from other schools? Also, if anyone happens to know the tuition costs 😉.
My little girl isn't a total novice, but her current lessons have become a massive drain on our wallet given how few hours of instruction we actually get. We’re looking for a better alternative.

frozenrider15 said:This isn't about a music conservatory, but perhaps someone here has some insight:

Has anyone dealt with flute sub-classes (recorder lessons, specifically) at the Waldorf School of New York in Brooklyn?

My main question is whether they allow enrollment for kids who aren't actually students there—is the course open to children from other schools? Also, if anyone happens to know the tuition costs 😉.
My little girl isn't a total novice, but her current lessons have become a massive drain on our wallet given how few hours of instruction we actually get. We’re looking for a better alternative.

People usually only stick with the recorder for a year or so in exceptional cases (correct me if I'm wrong, but I think she's been playing longer than that). It might be worth asking about enrolling her in a grade level at a local music school or even switching to the transverse flute if she's really catching the bug.

She’s been playing for a year now, and honestly, she’s killing it—she can actually read sheet music. We haven't given much thought to enrolling her in a formal music academy. Right now, it’s strictly a hobby; we aren't looking to sign her up for the whole conservatory grind. It isn't exactly practical to have her juggling two different schools at once, so our plan was to let her stick with the recorder for maybe one more year, just while the spark is still there. She has an incredible instructor from her current lessons, but the hourly rate has absolutely skyrocketed lately.

frozenrider15 said:She’s been playing for a year now, and honestly, she’s killing it—she can actually read sheet music. We haven't given much thought to enrolling her in a formal music academy. Right now, it’s strictly a hobby; we aren't looking to sign her up for the whole conservatory grind. It isn't exactly practical to have her juggling two different schools at once, so our plan was to let her stick with the recorder for maybe one more year, just while the spark is still there. She has an incredible instructor from her current lessons, but the hourly rate has absolutely skyrocketed lately.

Honestly, I have to play devil's advocate here and lobby for the music lessons, sorry!

If a kid is truly making progress and actually enjoying themselves, starting music lessons isn't nearly as much of a burden as people make it out to be. Plus, the flute is such a beautiful, useful instrument; it builds lung capacity and does wonders for both physical health and mental focus.

The "overload" usually starts around kindergarten, but kids who pick things up easily tend to handle it without any issues, and the benefits are endless.

If the issue is the instrument itself, I'm happy to let you borrow my transverse flute. I feel bad seeing it just sitting there since I don't have the time to play, so as long as someone takes care of it, go for it. No charge, nothing—I just need to take it in for servicing anyway, which I was already planning to do.

As for a tutor, I can ask some friends from the Juilliard School for me. Just send me a message letting me know if you have any specific preferences—like a certain neighborhood, whether you want someone to come to your house, or if you'd rather travel to them...

Hey there,

I'm looking for some solid recommendations on a flute for a first grader. I’d really prefer to avoid Yamaha this time around, so we're looking at a budget somewhere under $667.

We’re currently looking into music school enrollment. My kid has dabbled in a few different instruments, but she’s finally settled on the guitar.

She came home from school today clutching this flyer that I honestly felt like tossing straight into the trash—it’s one of those "personalized" things that feels a bit much—but it actually piqued my interest enough that I might attend the parent meeting next week. I’m curious if anyone here has any firsthand experience dealing with a modern music academy
(Kačić)

The flyer says:
"During this school year, we had the pleasure of visiting your child's classroom. We conducted a music appreciation session specifically designed to identify musically motivated students and highlight opportunities for advanced musical education.
Your (insert name here) demonstrated not only a high degree of motivation but also significant musical aptitude by successfully completing the tasks presented to her."

🤣
I really don't care for this approach.
Is this how they operate during regular classes too?

When it comes to those "big name" traditional conservatories, I hear everything from glowing praise to absolute horror stories. I realize it's all subjective, so they remain our top choice, but my nagging fear is that she won't even get a spot on the guitar. We don't have any existing ties to them, and since she hasn't attended their "pre-school" programs, I'm worried they'll try to push some other instrument on her instead.
This popped up as an alternative option, but the way they approached us right out of the gate felt wrong.

Any advice?

just enroll your kid in a proper music school

Larry Walker24 said:just enroll your kid in a proper music school

Look, if they don't nail the guitar at any of those three local academies, what's the fallback plan?
I am absolutely not forcing them onto some other instrument—that's a non-starter.
It would be incredibly helpful if someone could share their experiences with these "modern" music programs out there.
Maybe even some insight on private tutoring at home... or maybe just DM me if you know a good teacher.

Matthew Garcia2 said:Look, if they don't nail the guitar at any of those three local academies, what's the fallback plan?
I am absolutely not forcing them onto some other instrument—that's a non-starter.
It would be incredibly helpful if someone could share their experiences with these "modern" music programs out there.
Maybe even some insight on private tutoring at home... or maybe just DM me if you know a good teacher.

Honestly, everything mentioned before sounds a bit like a late-night infomercial to me. I mean, did they really try to vet twenty kids in a single class period? 🤣

And when it comes to the traditional public music school route, here is something for you to chew on:
If they can't make the cut through the standard entrance exam, why bother pushing it at all? What good will it do them in life? Is it just because you personally feel like they *should* do it?

The reason I ask is this:
As much as there is parental pride and excitement in thinking, "My child is in music school, they have such talent, such an ear...", most parents only realize later on just how much blood, sweat, and tears—both the kids' and the parents'—actually goes into it...

By some strange quirk of genetics, all three of my children are musically gifted; they all passed their auditions on the first try with flying colors (scoring 93% or higher), and we, the thrilled parents, happily enrolled them in music school, completely oblivious to the chaos that was waiting for us...

Point number one.
Music school is a school just like any other; you have to attend classes at least twice a week, complete theory assignments, and practice your instrument constantly. All of this on top of the heavy workload of a standard American school schedule...

Point number two.
The costs are anything but trivial, ranging from transportation to the instruments themselves, and even little things like specialized nail care for guitarists...

Point number three.
A kid enrolled in music school doesn't exactly have a "normal" life anymore, especially if they want to pursue other activities like sports, a second language, or coding. They barely even have time to just hang out with friends on the street...

Point number four.
The frustrations can be beyond words. You show up at the school, and the theory teacher tells you that while your child is the greatest talent in their generation, unfortunately, they show about as much interest in the subject as her own grandmother shows for the higgs boson...
Then you go to the instrument instructor, and he's riding you about how they haven't practiced again and how the mid-year recital performance is going to be a disaster. In short, you're always one step away from constant friction with your child...

Point number five.
That initial choice of instrument isn't always the smartest one. My daughter chose the guitar herself and played it for years, only to declare—literally six months before finishing middle school—that she wasn't interested anymore and wouldn't play it ever again. I didn't force her then, and I won't now...
But, somehow, we managed to talk her into finishing the program, only for her to pull a total Copernican revolution where she decided to switch instruments entirely, and now she's finishing two years of prep for a new instrument with the intention of enrolling in a fine arts high school...

And I could go on forever, because more often than not, stories about music school end with shouting, crying, pleading, threats... even people falling to their knees begging their kids to just quit...

Whether I've actually helped you by distilling my own experiences and those of other parents remains to be seen... In short, we eventually discovered that we all share the same dark desire: to smash our child's instrument into pieces and split every atom within them while asking ourselves, "What on earth were we thinking?"...

So, please, ask yourself one more time:

If someone isn't making headway with the guitar—which, let’s face it, is incredibly crowded right now with so much competition—why not just pick up a different instrument instead?
And if they haven't seen any real progress after three serious attempts, I have to wonder why anyone would keep pushing against a brick wall like that...

If a kid actually shows a genuine talent for the guitar, there’s really no rule saying they have to enroll in a traditional music academy right away. They could always find a local workshop or a casual course, which is a much lighter way to start since you don't have to deal with all that heavy music theory stuff immediately. With enough passion and practice, they might actually end up surpassing those kids stuck in the rigid classical curriculum, and besides, they can always dive into formal training later in life when they're a bit more mature...

Quincey:

I don't know what you're trying to say with that string of gibberish. It looks like someone tripped over their keyboard or perhaps had a momentary lapse in cognitive function. If you have an actual point to make—a coherent thought, an argument, or even just a legible sentence—then by all means, present it. Otherwise, why are we even looking at this? It’s pure noise. Just static. Like a broken radio in a basement in Chicago. Get to the point or move along. kaže: And when we get down to the nitty-gritty of the standard public music school system, here is a little something to chew on: If you don't make it through the front door via the standard route—you know, the entrance exams and all that—then what exactly are you even pushing for? What's the point? Honestly, what does that actually get you out of in life? Are you really sitting there thinking that child needs this specific path to succeed? It just doesn't add up. Why am I even asking you this? As much as that initial rush of parental pride feels good—that swell of excitement when you realize, "My kid is actually in music school! They’ve got the ear, the raw talent, the spark"—it’s often just the tip of the iceberg. Most parents don't truly grasp the sheer volume of blood, sweat, and tears hidden beneath the surface until they're already deep in it. And I'm not just talking about the kids' struggle; it's the parents too. It's an exhausting, relentless grind that most people don't see coming.

Briefly: my kid expressed an interest in picking up the guitar. No one is forcing the issue here. No one is pushing. It’s purely organic.
So, here’s the question at hand: if someone doesn't manage to get into the guitar program at a traditional conservatory or a standard music school, what are the actual alternatives? It’s like when you can't get a spot on a varsity roster—it doesn't mean you stop playing the game. It just means you have to find a different way onto the field. If the formal academic route shuts its doors, you aren't suddenly left without options. You could look into specialized private academies, maybe even some high-end intensive workshops that focus purely on performance rather than the heavy theoretical coursework. Or, frankly, in this day and age, you have the entire digital landscape. You can study under world-class instructors via masterclasses online. It’s a bit like choosing between a structured university curriculum and building your own custom syllabus through various experts. There are always paths forward; they just aren't always paved with a degree from a prestigious institution.
I see it happening here too, and honestly, I’ve heard plenty of real-world stories about this exact thing. It's a pattern. Parents will try to push a different instrument on a kid just to force the enrollment through after the entrance exams are over. They aren't even looking at what the child actually wants to play; they just want to ensure that kid gets into the music academy regardless of their own interests—provided, of course, that the kid actually has some innate musical talent. It's like trying to force a square peg into a round hole just to say you finished the puzzle.
I simply cannot accept that. It is utterly unacceptable.

There is absolutely zero sense of excitement or even a shred of pride to be found when the subject of the local music academy comes up. It’s just... nothing. No spark. No enthusiasm whatsoever. 🤣 Should it even be considered? Honestly, I find myself questioning the very premise here. It’s like asking if we should rebuild the entire interstate system when the current bridges are already crumbling under their own weight—it's a fundamental question of priority and logic. Is it necessary? Is it prudent? Or are we just throwing resources into a void, much like those failed urban renewal projects you see in cities like Detroit or St. Louis? One must weigh the necessity against the sheer absurdity of the proposal itself. I'm still weighing the variables. 🤔

Quincey:

kaže: It seems some strange quirk of genetic fate has cursed my three children with musical talent. All three of them sailed through their auditions with flying colors—we’re talking scores north of 93%. As parents, we were absolutely thrilled, naturally. We rushed to enroll them in music school, beaming with pride, completely oblivious to the absolute hellscape that awaits us. Pod 1. Look, a music conservatory is just like any other school, plain and simple. You can't just show up when the mood strikes you. You’re expected to be in class at least twice a week, grind through your theory assignments—think of it like endless math homework but with notes—and you have to be constantly practicing your instrument. It isn't some casual hobby. You're trying to balance all that alongside the heavy workload of a standard American high school, and let me tell you, it's a lot to juggle. Pod 2. The expenses were simply relentless. It started with the basic logistics—shuttling the kids around everywhere—and then escalated into buying instruments. But honestly, once you get into the guitar side of things, the costs just spiral. You’ve even got all that extra gear and upkeep, like nail hardening treatments or those artificial nail kits. It never ends. Pod 3. A kid enrolled in music school? Forget about having a normal life. It’s just gone. Especially if they actually want to pursue anything else—which, let's face it, most kids do. You want to play varsity soccer? You want to pick up a second language or get ahead in computer science? Good luck. There simply isn't enough bandwidth in the day. You won't even have time for the most basic, mindless teenage ritual of just hanging out on a street corner with friends. The schedule is a vacuum. It sucks everything else up. Pod 4. The level of frustration one can feel is truly beyond description. You walk into a school meeting, feeling optimistic, only to have the music instructor look you dead in the eye and deliver this crushing blow. They tell you that your child is, without question, the most gifted student in their entire grade—a true prodigy. But then comes the kicker. They follow it up by saying the kid shows about as much interest in practicing as my great-grandmother would show toward studying the higgsian boson. It’s maddening. You show up to an instrument lesson with the professor, and instead of actual music, you just get absolutely hammered. He’s riding you hard about how you haven't been practicing, basically telling you that the mid-year recital is going to be a total train wreck. It’s exhausting. Honestly? You’re basically one bad session away from being in a constant state of warfare with your kid. Pod 5. Picking your first instrument doesn't necessarily mean you're making the smartest long-term move. It’s often just a whim. Take my daughter, for example. She insisted on the guitar. She spent years lugging that thing around, practicing away, only to turn around—literally six months before she was set to graduate from her music academy—and tell me she was completely over it. Done. Finished. No more playing. I didn't lose my temper with her back then, and I certainly won't start now. I'm not going to stifle someone like that. So, there we were—having somehow managed to talk her into finishing school and walking away from music entirely. We thought that was the end of it. But then, out of nowhere, we hit this total Copernican revolution. She suddenly decides she’s going to switch instruments altogether! Now, she’s already wrapping up two years of preparatory work for the new setup, all with the goal of getting into a specialized performing arts high school. It's quite the pivot. And I could go on forever because, honestly, the whole music education saga often ends in screaming matches, tears, desperate pleas, threats... I've even seen parents dropping to their knees begging their kids to just give up the lessons. Whether I actually helped you by distilling my own experiences and those of other parents is debatable. In short, we’ve all uncovered this shared, dark impulse: the urge to smash the kid's instrument into pieces and split every single one of its atoms while asking ourselves, "What on earth were we thinking?"

you aren't 😉
because that isn't what I asked.
Practice is a given, and so is ear training. It's obvious to any kid that they won't learn to play with a magic wand; everything you described is just a fundamental part of the process.
It's the same in every school, whether it's language arts or varsity sports.

One reason we wait until third grade instead of first is partly because the school day is shorter, which leaves more breathing room for actual practice.
That might be where we tripped up, because there can be an "advantage" for kids who attended the school's preschool programs—not just because they're already students, but because they picked up some basics that make passing the entrance exam easier.
On the flip side, I look at the kids in her class who started in first grade; they're stuck at school until 4:30 PM. I have no idea when they're supposed to find time to practice, let alone have a normal life in the neighborhood.
I truly believe it's easier when school lets out around 11:30 or noon.

We could avoid the headache by enrolling her in a local school she can walk to, and we could dodge those unnecessary costs of buying gear by letting her pick the specific instrument she actually wants to play.

brightheron64 said:Honestly, everything mentioned before sounds a bit like a late-night infomercial to me. I mean, did they really try to vet twenty kids in a single class period? 🤣

And when it comes to the traditional public music school route, here is something for you to chew on:
If they can't make the cut through the standard entrance exam, why bother pushing it at all? What good will it do them in life? Is it just because you personally feel like they *should* do it?

The reason I ask is this:
As much as there is parental pride and excitement in thinking, "My child is in music school, they have such talent, such an ear...", most parents only realize later on just how much blood, sweat, and tears—both the kids' and the parents'—actually goes into it...

By some strange quirk of genetics, all three of my children are musically gifted; they all passed their auditions on the first try with flying colors (scoring 93% or higher), and we, the thrilled parents, happily enrolled them in music school, completely oblivious to the chaos that was waiting for us...

Point number one.
Music school is a school just like any other; you have to attend classes at least twice a week, complete theory assignments, and practice your instrument constantly. All of this on top of the heavy workload of a standard American school schedule...

Point number two.
The costs are anything but trivial, ranging from transportation to the instruments themselves, and even little things like specialized nail care for guitarists...

Point number three.
A kid enrolled in music school doesn't exactly have a "normal" life anymore, especially if they want to pursue other activities like sports, a second language, or coding. They barely even have time to just hang out with friends on the street...

Point number four.
The frustrations can be beyond words. You show up at the school, and the theory teacher tells you that while your child is the greatest talent in their generation, unfortunately, they show about as much interest in the subject as her own grandmother shows for the higgs boson...
Then you go to the instrument instructor, and he's riding you about how they haven't practiced again and how the mid-year recital performance is going to be a disaster. In short, you're always one step away from constant friction with your child...

Point number five.
That initial choice of instrument isn't always the smartest one. My daughter chose the guitar herself and played it for years, only to declare—literally six months before finishing middle school—that she wasn't interested anymore and wouldn't play it ever again. I didn't force her then, and I won't now...
But, somehow, we managed to talk her into finishing the program, only for her to pull a total Copernican revolution where she decided to switch instruments entirely, and now she's finishing two years of prep for a new instrument with the intention of enrolling in a fine arts high school...

And I could go on forever, because more often than not, stories about music school end with shouting, crying, pleading, threats... even people falling to their knees begging their kids to just quit...

Whether I've actually helped you by distilling my own experiences and those of other parents remains to be seen... In short, we eventually discovered that we all share the same dark desire: to smash our child's instrument into pieces and split every atom within them while asking ourselves, "What on earth were we thinking?"...

So, please, ask yourself one more time:

If someone isn't making headway with the guitar—which, let’s face it, is incredibly crowded right now with so much competition—why not just pick up a different instrument instead?
And if they haven't seen any real progress after three serious attempts, I have to wonder why anyone would keep pushing against a brick wall like that...

If a kid actually shows a genuine talent for the guitar, there’s really no rule saying they have to enroll in a traditional music academy right away. They could always find a local workshop or a casual course, which is a much lighter way to start since you don't have to deal with all that heavy music theory stuff immediately. With enough passion and practice, they might actually end up surpassing those kids stuck in the rigid classical curriculum, and besides, they can always dive into formal training later in life when they're a bit more mature...

Okay, so do you have any suggestions for a specific course or alternative?
Downtown.
As for the curriculum, I don't see a problem with ear training (I had to do that back in ballet school), and all this whining about how hard it is for kids is nonsense. It's hard for some, easy for others. You have to study; you have to write things down. But I think it's absolutely vital for learning an instrument, and that might be the biggest strength of classical academies compared to modern workshops that skip it entirely.

I'm not so sure you can enroll in a classical program once you're older. 😕
Where did you get that information?

So, did any of your kids ever join one of those local community bands to pick up an instrument?

I'm asking because the middle school over here is basically recruiting kids to come learn some music and hang out at the same time. It’s just a brass band, nothing too crazy

If they happen to offer some sort of workshop or small group sessions, I suppose it could be a decent option for those individuals who lack the genuine desire to master an instrument and endure the tedious grind that accompanies it.

My daughter, for instance, joined her local community orchestra when she was only ten years old, making her by far the youngest participant there—she had started music school just six months prior. While she struggled immensely at first, and frankly, the curriculum felt somewhat uninspiring for much of that first year, it proved to be a wonderful experience in terms of social connections, live performances, and traveling together.

analogseal18 said:If they happen to offer some sort of workshop or small group sessions, I suppose it could be a decent option for those individuals who lack the genuine desire to master an instrument and endure the tedious grind that accompanies it.

My daughter, for instance, joined her local community orchestra when she was only ten years old, making her by far the youngest participant there—she had started music school just six months prior. While she struggled immensely at first, and frankly, the curriculum felt somewhat uninspiring for much of that first year, it proved to be a wonderful experience in terms of social connections, live performances, and traveling together.

but then what are they even learning there?

They spend their time just noodling around aimlessly, lacking that essential theoretical foundation required to truly grasp the complexities of music and refine one's technique. If one utilizes solfège, progress in performance happens at a much more accelerated rate; for instance, my daughter reached a point where her technical ability had actually outpaced her understanding of theory, necessitating two years of intensive solfège study at her conservatory in a single academic year just so she could catch up to her own playing skills.

I am certainly not suggesting that learning an instrument outside the traditional conservatory system is inherently flawed—it does possess its own distinct advantages—but formal institutional training represents a far more rigorous pursuit. Community orchestras, by contrast, serve primarily as social outlets and casual extracurricular activities.

I’ve always been more into ear training than actually picking up an instrument (which, let’s be real, is pretty rare)

Most people find theory work about as exciting as watching paint dry.