4Real Forums: Applying to a conservatory

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Topic: Applying to a conservatory

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MacBeth
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Joined: Jan 27 2005
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Posted: Oct 15 2006 at 4:30pm \| IP Logged

I am continuing this conversation from the thread on Trip going to high school, as I think my answer to Julie's question strays way far off-topic

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My experience with Libby (who is a junior) is also limited. But your note is timely, as I attended an admissions meeting at Juilliard yesterday. It was very enlightening. They gave us all the general info, then asked at the end if there were any parents of homeschoolers, and, since I was the only hand raised, invited me to the admission office for a private consultation.

Juilliard is, out of all the conservatories, the most difficult for homeschoolers in terms of documentation, especially if you are from NY. They want documentation from the school district (most of which we personally do not have, as they ignore us), a letter from an outside teacher, but not a music teacher or science teacher, and evidence, basically, that you are a human who can interact with others, and not some kid who has been locked in his room with an instrument from birth. From Juilliard's perspective, more than other colleges, this is vital, as there actually are some kids in the applicant pool who do lock themselves away and practice just to they get into conservatory.

OTOH, they do make exceptions for homeschoolers on a few things. While they discourage the GED for most students, they suggest if for some homeschoolers. Rather than go that route, we registered with Kolbe this year so we will have three semesters of transctipts when she applies. They said this would be fine. Also, though they usually want a letter from a teacher of history or English, they would gladly take one from a German teacher, and would also accept letters from conductors who have worked homeschooled kids. For traditional students, all extra recommendations go into a pile that they never look at. Because she is in the honors program in the pre-college division, they will accept recommendations from the teachers she has in that division. Usually, the only advantage one has as a pre-college student is an automatic live audition. All other students must pass a pre-screening via recording before being allowed to audition.

But, after all is said and done, none of this matters unless you pass the entrance audition. And it's tough. This year, they will have over 500 violinists audition for 50 spaces.

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MacBeth in NY
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juliecinci
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Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Oct 15 2006 at 5:55pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for this! Wow.

I'll be curious to see how it all turns out for her... for you! I appreciate your posting it.

On a side note: what age did she start violin and did you use the Suzuki method? My daughter is 10 and playing. She is at the beginning levels and I know strings are finicky. I wondered if you have recommendations about styles of instruction.

Julie

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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years

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