Who is worse American Idol or Julliard(Chapter 1 - 3)

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:15 pm

I have been through many auditions in Hollywood, but I had no idea how personal people take auditions. What does how you look have to do with how well you play? Dont these people realize that the judges are people not gods? All they have to do is relax and perform. If the performance is not up to par, go practice and try again. No big deal right? I really feel sorry for some of the candidates I read in this book. I have always said that Simon on american idol was mild in comparison to some of the people I have auditioned for. The people in the book are much worse. This also brought back memories of my conservatory days. Thank goodness I did not take up an instrument at the conservatory!

I just got through reading Chapter 3 of "Nothing but the best" and remembered why I did not choose music as a major or a minor in college. Engineering and Physics were mentally less draining! I can remember back when I would be forced to play music I did not like to make a dollar. It was like i was in a prison! No vacation, no fun, no girls, just practice and play. Man I remember those days!!!! Not being a world class player is my sacrifice for peace...lol

Over all, music is a funny business. I have seen many people that become superstars with no formal training at all. I have seen many people get PhDs in music, and wind up working as social workers. Go figure.

I will post another thread when I read the next 3 chapters! I am really diggin this book! Thanks for the suggestion Fluteguy18

Phineas

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:13 pm

Yeah, its a great book! [But horrifying].

I too feel like I am in prison sometimes. But other times, I really love it and can't imagine living any other way.

musical_Kat · Post by **musical_Kat** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:11 am

I ordered this book as well thanks to Fluteguy.....I can't wait to get it!

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:13 pm

fluteguy18 wrote:Yeah, its a great book! [But horrifying].

I too feel like I am in prison sometimes. But other times, I really love it and can't imagine living any other way.

I just got through chapter 4...lol What are your thoughts on Lauren`s father?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:00 pm

Phineas: Sorry I haven't replied yet. My computer has been very sick with a virus [which is thankfully gone now]. I will reread the chapter and get back to you. I have been very busy with "dead" week [next week is finals], what with all of my classes, final reviews, rehearsals, concerts, and recording sessions.

I will write soon on this subject. Promise.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:29 pm

It cool Fluteguy, I am still recovering from the teachers chapter!

It kind of reminded me of watching the Kung Fu training in Kill Bill II movie...lol

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:38 am

What book are you guys reading? It sounds like something I would enjoy reading.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:02 am

It's called: "Nothing but the Best: The Struggle for Perfection at the Juilliard School" by Judith Kogan.

The only problem is, is that it is out of print. So, you have to look around online for used copies. I found mine through the amazon.com marketplace. Luckily, mine was in really excellent condition. It had been sitting in a book store since it was published [unsold for about 12-14 years], and they wanted to get rid of it. I basically got a new copy for cheap.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 5:33 pm

I found mine on ebay for $1.00 plus shipping!

etgohomeok · Post by **etgohomeok** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:17 pm

I'd rather read Imagining the Tenth Dimension, myself...

musical_Kat · Post by **musical_Kat** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:57 am

Mine just came in the mail! I got it used on Amazon marketplace.....I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I swear I just can't put this book down!!!! Fluteguy.....thank you thank you thank you thank you.....and oh....did I say thank you for this book recommendation?!!!

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:38 am

lol. I will get around to rereading that chapter tonight. I have a performance with my woodwind quintet at a nursing home later today [after a couple of final exams]. I will definitely give a full report of my opinion this evening [if I don't forget].

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:35 pm

Okay. I am ready to chime in. Sorry about the delay, but I have been busy with school, and had a very rough patch in my personal life lately. Anyhow, I reread that portion, and have a few things to say.

First of all, I will say that I have very mixed feelings over this man and the way he handled his daughter's early music education. If I were a parent and had a gifted child, I would be very hesitant about enrolling them in a Pre-College division of ANY school, much less Juilliard. It is cut-throat, and vicious. I don't think it is healthy for young developing musicians to be put in such a situation at such a vulnerable area in their development as musicians but more importantly human beings. So SHAME SHAME SHAME on him! He was a Juilliard Alumus himself, and KNEW what she would be getting into. He knew she couldn't handle it, and did it anyway. He set her up for failure and a lifetime of insecurities.

However, I can't neccessarily say that I wouldn't make the same choice he made. If I had a child who was gifted, driven, and had a very thick skin, if it was their wish to be enrolled in such a program I would do it if I could afford it. But, I would make several decisions that he did not. First, I would have a very serious discussion with my son/daughter and regardless of how hard it would be, I would treat them like an adult. I would warn them of how cruel these people are/can be. I would make it clear that they don't have to do this in order to succeed as a musician. And even then, I might not enroll them unless I saw that my child was completely devastated about my decision. There are other ways to get your prodigious child out and about in the music world without throwing them to the sharks. But, if I did enroll them, I would not become as involved as Lauren's father was through the process either. I think the fact that he hovered so much was part of the reason she did not do well in the Pre-College division of Juilliard.

So, all in all, I am very dissapointed with the choices that her father made. I can't say that I wouldn't make a few of them myself, but I think the whole thing was very poorly handled. Even though he did enroll her against his own better judgement, he could have handled the whole situation in a much more positive manner. I mean seriously.... there is a vocal professor at my university who has a daughter that is a Senior in high school. She auditioned for the ballet division of Juilliard when she was 15 or 16. She was accepted. Her parents however had the insight to arrange her enrollment to begin after she graduates high school. That was a very good decision on their part. The past few years she has been touring the country doing summer workshops with world reknowned dancers rather than trying to swim in the sharktank. As a result, she is a very wholesome young woman who is incredibly gifted and trained.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:55 am

Thread Revival!

So. Have any of you gotten any further? I am interested in hearing thoughts.... ::nods vigorously::

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:21 pm

Yeah, you piqued my interest. I ordered a copy from Amazon and it just arrived on Monday. I've already made it through Chapter 4 with the dad and agree with your comments. Definitely an overbearing parent who didn't know when to stop. He certainly caused more harm than good.

I'm reading "The Teachers" now. Definitely some egos there...

I'll chime in again when I get through some more of it.