Music school recommendations?

Christian Lee13 said:Musicians are born just like hairdressers, stoners, or Eskimos. If they don't get access to decent training—and more importantly, if they aren't practicing "from dawn till dusk"—then their talent is basically useless. (I honestly don't get where this myth comes from—that some "massive talent" will somehow make it as a pro regardless of those two things).
To play the violin professionally, you don't need perfect pitch; you just need a decent ear.

Look, I’m not saying practice isn't important, but it’s honestly foolish to even try the violin if you don't have perfect pitch. See, so many kids pick up the instrument just to scrape by on auditions, and by the end of middle school, most of them drop out—leaving maybe two or three a year to actually enroll in a place like the Juilliard School. In ten years, I've seen maybe one graduate who was actually decent, mostly because they weren't hitting sour notes—it was actually a pleasure to listen to them. Meanwhile, most kids at the conservatory are just butchering the instrument because they lack the ear, and that is a total career killer. But in this damn country, money fixes everything. You can spend a year taking private lessons with a professor who happens to be on the academy admissions board, and suddenly your acceptance is practically guaranteed, no matter what! This is stuff I know firsthand, so don't think I'm just talking nonsense.

By the way—true talent really makes it if they actually want it...

Lawrence Wells said:Look, I’m not saying you don't need to put in the work, but honestly, jumping into the violin game without perfect pitch is just asking for trouble. You see it all the time—kids pick up the instrument just to scrape by on audition points, and by the time they finish middle school, most of them have drifted away, leaving maybe two or three kids a year to actually enroll in a specialized prep school. In ten years, I’ve seen maybe one graduate who was actually decent, mostly because they weren't out there screeching off-key; listening to them was actually a pleasure. But the rest? They show up at the conservatory just butchering the instrument because they lack the ear for it, and that’s a total career killer. Unfortunately, in this damn country, money can fix almost anything. If you’ve got the cash, you spend a year taking private lessons with some professor who happens to sit on the academy admissions board, and suddenly, your spot is basically guaranteed regardless of talent. I’m telling you, this is how it works; don't think I'm just talking nonsense here.

😁 From what I’ve seen, if you tried to count the truly competent elementary and high school violin teachers in the entire US, you couldn't even do it on one hand.
The whole mess with paying for entrance exam prep is just a symptom of that rot. I won't even get started on where that legendary reputation of the Washington, D.C. violin scene went... 🙄

Look, there are maybe two or three truly great teachers in Washington, D.C.—that's about it. But man, those lessons are pricey—we're talking $200-$133! It’s honestly ridiculous. If you were just going twice a week, you'd end up dropping an entire average American salary just to keep up. It's a total shame...

Hey everyone
Got a question for you guys.

I’m pushing 19 now and honestly, I’m kicking myself for not hitting up music school when I actually had the chance. My parents just don't have any connection to music, so I guess it never even crossed their minds that I might want to go down that path. To be fair, I haven't exactly been proactive about it either, but I think I've finally hit a wall. It's about guitar—I've been messing around with it for maybe two years, but I really want to level up my game. Does some kind of "adult" program exist out there? Or if not, is there a way to dive into music and actually learn stuff I care about without, you know, losing a fortune?

Thanks a ton
peace

p.s. - and yeah, sorry for digging this thread up from the depths of the archives, but I just stumbled onto it while Googling stuff.🙂

Bryan Brown, I remember there being some guitar programs hosted at an open university somewhere—my memory is a little fuzzy on the details—and I also vaguely recall some rock academy advertising all over the subway lines 😁

dustytrucker222 said:Would anyone be open to sharing their stories regarding their little ones and music school? I’m curious about how you handled picking an instrument, what your experience was like with the teachers and the school itself, all of that. At what age did you decide to start? Every single perspective helps!

My kids, who are 12 and 9, are both currently enrolled in music school. My oldest is finishing up 6th grade—it's a bit different here since middle school starts earlier than in a standard American elementary setup—and my youngest is in 3rd. Honestly, go for it. Just keep in mind that you won't see any real progress unless they actually practice at home. Consistency is everything, and they really need to stick with it for at least three years to see results...

Also, there is so much more to it than just learning an instrument. They pick up so many life skills along the way. We're talking about discipline through daily practice, focus during one-on-one lessons, learning how to dress professionally for recitals, and the whole experience of performing in front of an audience. They learn how to handle success, how to recover from mistakes on stage, how to behave like a pro, and even how to be a respectful member of an audience... It's invaluable. If you're on the fence, just sign them up!

Aaron Parker31 said:My kids, who are 12 and 9, are both currently enrolled in music school. My oldest is finishing up 6th grade—it's a bit different here since middle school starts earlier than in a standard American elementary setup—and my youngest is in 3rd. Honestly, go for it. Just keep in mind that you won't see any real progress unless they actually practice at home. Consistency is everything, and they really need to stick with it for at least three years to see results...

Also, there is so much more to it than just learning an instrument. They pick up so many life skills along the way. We're talking about discipline through daily practice, focus during one-on-one lessons, learning how to dress professionally for recitals, and the whole experience of performing in front of an audience. They learn how to handle success, how to recover from mistakes on stage, how to behave like a pro, and even how to be a respectful member of an audience... It's invaluable. If you're on the fence, just sign them up!

Since it’s been quite some time since I first posted my question on this forum, I feel it’s only right to share how things have progressed.
1. We enrolled our child in violin, and it turned out to be a brilliant move. I’m not sure if they have perfect pitch, but the teacher is happy, and we are too. I wouldn't say the child is absolutely obsessed, but the daily progress is truly fascinating: their relationship with music, their self-confidence, their sense of order, their conscientiousness...
2. We treat the Juilliard School with the same level of commitment as any other school. Attendance is steady. We sit in on classes. We monitor their practice sessions to ensure they are maintaining a serious level of effort.
3. We aren't worried about whether they will pursue music in high school or college. Our goal wasn't to turn them into professional musicians.
4. It requires immense effort—from the child and certainly from us as parents (we're starting the younger one this fall, too). But the rewards are so significant that we have never once questioned our decision.
5. We have a fantastic teacher whom our child absolutely adores. She is nothing short of wonderful.

So, those are our impressions. Thank you all for the support and the advice.

Honestly, Bryan Brown is in the exact same boat I am... except I’m a year younger than him and I’ve been playing guitar for four years now.😁
Lately, I’ve been obsessively searching for options—I even made a frantic trip down to Washington, D.C., just to try and get a feel for the landscape. The issue is, I’m completely lost when it comes to the local music scene; I have no clue which schools are actually worth my time or even how many there are in the area. I did stop by the conservatory, but they basically told me there wasn't any room for someone in my position, according to what they said back at the elementary level. To make matters worse, I had to deal with some condescending secretary who acted like she was the absolute authority on everything. I know there must be programs designed for older students, and likely some private music academies that hold official accreditation from the Department of Education...
So, I’m reaching out to those of you who have already navigated this—those who have graduated or enrolled their kids in primary music programs and such—to ask if you could please share an address, an email, a phone number, or even just a few details regarding their intake periods. Most importantly, I need to know if they even consider "students" who are already eighteen.😁
Thanks in advance.

put this here:

I’ve been thinking about it, and honestly, I don't think you can just walk into a state-run institution like the Juilliard School at eighteen and expect them to let you enroll as a freshman in their first year.

Thanks, I’m already aware of that option and frankly, I have zero interest in going that route... But look, man, I could always just enroll myself; my problem is that I don't have a clue where these institutions are located, how many there actually are, or even what they're called in areas like Washington, D.C. or near the Juilliard School... And from what I've gathered so far, most of them list an email address, but they seem too incompetent to actually check their inboxes... which, quite honestly, gets under my skin. If you aren't going to monitor your correspondence, why bother listing an email at all? It's absolutely pathetic. Besides, private lessons are an option, but let's be real... it would take me a full year of grinding just to scrape together the $2,500 needed for tuition. 😁
I'm strictly looking for some specific information here...
If I enroll in theory classes during middle school along with an instrument—even if I struggle with the technical side—can I still sit for the entrance exams for a specialized high school later on? Or is that middle school certificate an absolute prerequisite for admission? Because if I can't get into a formal program now, my plan is to study privately with a professor for a year and then try to apply to a high school after that... Dammit, I'm not trying to be some world-class prodigy here. I just want to learn as much about music as humanly possible, but these idiots running the education system are too busy chasing their own agendas. It's infuriating, honestly. Everything is just completely broken.

The whole music education track here is basically split into a few different paths:

-You’ve got those first six years of elementary music school—where you can pick up pretty much any instrument except for things like solo vocals or pipe organ—and once you wrap those up, you're ready to sit for the high school entrance exams.
-Then there are the two-year preparatory programs designed for older students who want to jump straight toward a theory major or dive into instruments that don't necessarily require a full six-year grind, like certain wind instruments, the double bass, or solo singing. After those two years, you face the entrance exams again.
-Finally, there's the standard four-year high school music program.

To actually get into high school, it all comes down to having either that sixth-grade certificate or the two-year prep certificate, provided you don't trip up during the entrance exams for music theory and your primary instrument.
From what I've gathered, guitarists usually run into a wall if they try to enroll in that two-year prep track at eighteen, though singers or double bass players might have a smoother ride—I mean, vocal cords aren't even fully developed until you're sixteen, and those bass players literally have to grow into their instruments just to reach the damn strings.

Thanks for the insight; that’s exactly what I was suspecting. As I’ve dug a bit deeper into the Rock Academy, it looks like they’re actually my best bet because they just secured official accreditation from the Department of Education to operate as a primary institution. That means they can issue legitimate diplomas and all that jazz. It’s definitely an investment, but I’m already working on pulling the funds together for this upcoming year.
I have to say, there is only one school that actually gave me a coherent, intelligent response. Honestly, I feel like I owe them a huge favor—maybe even a round of drinks—when I finally make it out to the Juilliard School area. 😁 Here is exactly what they sent over to my email address...

Radovan, enrollment in high school is available until you reach age 17.

Given your current age, if you are serious about pursuing music education, we would suggest arranging private instruction through a tutor. However, you are more than welcome to come to the Juilliard School to sit for your examinations. Once you have successfully passed all the required exams for a specific grade level, you will be issued a certificate for that grade.

For piano, guitar, or violin, students are required to pass through six years of primary music school curriculum, followed by four years of high school music curriculum. For other instruments, solo vocals, or theoretical studies, students complete two preparatory years (which serve as the equivalent of primary school) followed by four years of high school.

Specific subjects and the exact duration of study per instrument can be found on the School’s website.

We generally organize these examinations during three sessions throughout the year (summer, fall, and winter). You must submit a formal request to the School Board at least 15 days prior to the exam period, specifying exactly which subjects and which grade levels you intend to test for.

Once processed, we will send you a confirmation detailing your scheduled exam dates along with the necessary payment vouchers.

They didn't really give you any groundbreaking insight there, they just pointed out that it’s basically the only school in the US where you can sit for those private certification exams 😁 . And honestly, that's their whole racket... they make a killing off it
.

From what I’ve heard, they even managed to get into music school with four different banks backing them! Keep pushing!🙂

Christian Lee13 said:They didn't really give you any groundbreaking insight there, they just pointed out that it’s basically the only school in the US where you can sit for those private certification exams 😁 . And honestly, that's their whole racket... they make a killing off it
.

And just for the record, they aren't the only ones offering private exams. If anyone actually cares, you can head over to the Joseph Hatze music school in San Francisco. You can take certain exams $83. If that's your thing, go for it!

Christian Lee13 said:Exactly, most really talented people just don't get the chance to actually hone their craft.

That is just not true!!! I know firsthand. I’m actually really talented; back in fifth grade, I was already playing Paganini's 24th Caprice. And honestly, talented people practice a ton. Don't get me wrong, I hate practicing scales and all that technical stuff—it's boring. Nobody actually *wants* to do that. But those talented people who skip out on the work? They're the exception, not the rule. It's like they say: talent is only 1% of the equation; everything else is just pure grit and practice (and no, you don't have to grind from dawn till dusk)

Anonymous said:That is just not true!!! I know firsthand. I’m actually really talented; back in fifth grade, I was already playing Paganini's 24th Caprice. And honestly, talented people practice a ton. Don't get me wrong, I hate practicing scales and all that technical stuff—it's boring. Nobody actually *wants* to do that. But those talented people who skip out on the work? They're the exception, not the rule. It's like they say: talent is only 1% of the equation; everything else is just pure grit and practice (and no, you don't have to grind from dawn till dusk)

Yeah, right. And you know how many of them actually bother showing up to music school instead of just blowing smoke up their own egos?! Even if they do show up... they won't touch a practice room. Nothing comes from those guys.

So, I see our resident newbie is thinking about enrolling their kid in the Ivan Zajac music academy. Look, I went to that school myself—well, the branch over in the suburbs—and I just wrapped up sixth grade on violin before moving up to the preparatory high school program. Honestly? Sitting there staring at your kid while they practice isn't going to help them improve. In fact, you’re probably just driving the instructor crazy. If you want my advice... just bail. Sneak out of the lesson before the kid actually gets used to having you hover. It's better for everyone involved.
I’m with Lawrence Wells on this one. There’s just no future with a dieter who refuses to listen. You could have all the willpower in the world or spend every waking hour at the gym, but if they won't listen? It's a lost cause.
Look, iva.web... that concert wasn't exactly a life-changing event. Seriously, tone down the hype a little.

My kid finished music school at the William Shakespeare Academy, and honestly, enrolling them there was one of the smartest moves we ever made. It’s less about the music and more about the discipline and the work ethic you pick up along the way. That said, my advice? Don't push them too hard. If you overdo it, you risk burning out their passion entirely. To give you an idea of the attrition rate, only two kids out of the ten who started first grade actually made it through to the end. I definitely agree that parents shouldn't be constantly hovering or micromanaging every single minute.