| In general, the best preparation for gaining | | | | stage. In addition, if your teacher offers recitals, |
| entrance to music school or conservatory for | | | | make sure you play in them. Volunteering your |
| violin is to hire a top-notch violin teacher, who can | | | | time performing in nursing homes can be very |
| guide you through the entire process. Ideally, this | | | | rewarding -- they really love to hear you play! |
| teacher should have a history of helping other | | | | Conservatories usually require auditions. |
| students gain access to conservatories, and | | | | Sometimes these are in person, and other times |
| should be prepared to assist with the details, as | | | | you may need to send a tape. There are schools |
| discussed below. | | | | that make the rounds to major cities for |
| First, take advantage of the opportunities available | | | | auditions, but for other schools you may have to |
| to you locally. Participate in youth symphony and | | | | travel. In planning for your audition, make sure |
| school orchestra; take part in local competitions; | | | | you follow the guidelines for each school. Usually, |
| play for events or in your church or synagogue; | | | | you will need to have at least two pieces in |
| volunteer your music to a nursing home or | | | | contrasting styles, such as two selections from |
| retirement community; look for opportunities to | | | | the romantic and Baroque eras, or selections with |
| play in groups with your peers. | | | | contrasting tempos, such as adagio and allegro. |
| Use your summers wisely. Attending summer | | | | Make sure you know your major and minor |
| music camps such as Madeline Island Music Camp, | | | | scales in three octaves and can play them in |
| Tanglewood, or Interlochen is a great way to | | | | every key. Many schools list audition |
| focus with great intensity on improving your skills | | | | "requirements" but you are also sometimes given |
| on the violin in the company of some of your | | | | a blank slate. In this case, I suggest going with the |
| most gifted peers from around the world. | | | | music that you think shows you at your best, |
| Learn the literature. Although you may have | | | | rather than choosing difficult material aimed at |
| started with the Suzuki books, your pre-college | | | | impressing your listeners. |
| musical education should take you through the full | | | | Also, be prepared to offer a recording of yourself. |
| tour of materials for auditions, technique, and | | | | This recording should, if possible, be made in a |
| musical development, from such great works as | | | | recording studio. It is very difficult to make a |
| the Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky violin | | | | good home-recording, particularly on violin. They |
| concertos to invaluable technical exercises for | | | | have thousands of dollars of equipment dedicated |
| development of dexterity and tone written by | | | | to capturing your sound. |
| Kreutzer and Rode. | | | | In addition, find yourself a professional level piano |
| Devote time, practice, and activity towards | | | | accompanist. He or she is an absolute necessity |
| pursuing violin at the highest level. Take private | | | | for auditions and competitions. You may want to |
| lessons, practice at home, go to concerts, listen | | | | work with a few before settling on one that you |
| to recordings, watch videos of your favorite | | | | use repeatedly. I keep a list of trusted, |
| performers. | | | | experienced accompanists for my students. |
| Above all, perform, perform, perform! Learning to | | | | You might also want to consider schools such as |
| perform is vital; while you may initially experience | | | | Oberlin or Yale, which offer academic programs |
| "stage fright," the best way to overcome this is | | | | that confer double degrees such as the BA/BM or |
| to put yourself out there as often as possible. | | | | BA/MM. This pursuit ensures that, should you |
| Look for opportunities to play with orchestras. | | | | choose a path other than a career in music, you |
| Many local youth symphonies also have solo | | | | also have the college experience to back up your |
| competitions, but your school orchestra or a local | | | | candidacy for opportunities in other fields. |
| adult community group can also put you center | | | | |