Phenomenal Private Teacher

One of the most important things you can do for your musical training is to study with a phenomenal private teacher. Since you are reading this blog, you probably already study with someone who is an expert on your instrument – which is great! (If not, find one right away!) But, it’s not just about […]

School Music Ensembles ROCK!

We have reached that time in the school year when classes for next fall are chosen! It’s also a time when older teens start hearing that daunting question, “So, what are you thinking about for college?” Regardless of what degree you are interested in pursuing, having a strong music resume will be an amazing predictor […]

Don’t Feel Like Practicing?

What do you do if you are a musical teen who doesn’t feel like practicing? A parent once told me that if a kid doesn’t LOVE practicing, then studying music at some level is not for them. She is an accountant, so I asked her, “Do you LOVE tallying numbers? Are you dying to get […]

Med Schools Love Musicians

It might sound crazy, but medical schools are actively recruiting high-end musicians. When you think about medical students, you probably imagine recent college graduates with degrees in biology, chemistry, or even physics. So, why are medical schools so interested in people with music degrees?! It’s simple – musicians know how to learn skills. They understand […]

Big or Small Music Program?

Lots of musical teens get this advice from well-meaning guidance professionals: if you would like to play music in college while majoring in something else, go to a university with a high-end music degree program. That will give you access to world-class professors and high-end ensembles. Right? Kinda. . . Schools with famous music departments […]

Audition Day Nightmare

Avoid this HUGE nightmare! It’s easy to do with a simple plan. Years ago, I was working with a brilliant, hard-working student who wanted to go to college for music performance. As I do with all of my clients, I instructed him to make a comprehensive list of all of the audition requirements for each […]

Does Holiday Music Count?

Never tell anyone important that you performed a virtual holiday concert for your Bubbe and the other seniors at her retirement home! Right? Over the past holiday season, a teen who couldn’t visit his grandmother in person (because, pandemic!) planned a little virtual holiday concert for her and her friends. He told me about it […]

Want to Major in Music? Choose a Professor!

When I was working in the Admission Office of an internationally-known music school, the biggest mistake I saw applicants make over and over was not choosing a professor when they submitted their application. Many students said that they liked the school so much, they would be happy studying with any of the professors of their […]

Virtual Auditions – Yes or No?

“I am not taking the All-State audition this year. It’s not worth it if it’s virtual.” I recently taught an audition preparation class to a group of teen musicians. A couple of the attendees told me that they are not preparing for this year’s All-State audition because they don’t want to bother if it’s virtual. […]

Concert Was Canceled. Now What?

Your favorite teen musician worked their butt off, took an intense audition, WON a spot in a high-end ensemble or festival, started rehearsals, and the event was canceled. Now what? This question has suddenly become common. COVID-19 stopped musical performances and events dead in their tracks, and teens wonder what that means for their level […]