What would be a good back up plan?

Is my plan (so far) to attempt to be a concert pianist a good one, and what else do I have to do"?

• Hello All. I just want to get some input and/or constructive criticism about my plan to become a concert pianist. First off, I have been studying privately and practicing diligently for about 12 years. I am now 17, and a senior in High School. I'm at the level of Liszt Etudes after Paganini, some of Beethoven's late sonatas (most excluding Hammerklavier), Mozart sonatas, Chopin Etudes etc, and have played many of the pieces among these volumes at a concert-ready level from memory. I'm also already used to practicing several hours a day (6+) without building up tension. So, that gives you a little bit about my skill level. My actual plan includes obtaining an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from James Madison University in Virginia, the best in my state for music. My audition is in a month, and in order to be recognized as a part of the upper echelon of music students, I'm auditioning with two difficult pieces: La Campanella, and the Volodos transcription of the Turkish March. I will also obtain my Music Education Concentration while I'm here so I have an immediate back up upon graduation. While at James Madison, I will begin with the end in mind and Immediately start working on the Liszt Transcendental Etudes, a Beethoven Sonata sonata of extreme difficulty (should I avoid the standards like Appassionata and Hammerklavier), and all of the pieces that I would need to fill the Audition requirements of: Juilliard, Eastman, Indiana, Cincinnati, Oberlin, and Yale. Whichever Graduate program I enter, I would strive to out work the other students to be noticed by the school so I would have a good amount of promotion. After having my degree, If I'm not already preforming regularly, I would use whatever money I had to rent out a small-medium concert hall, and give tickets to the music critics of the biggest music critics in the area so I can get a [hopefully] good buzz going. However, after this I'm not sure how things work. Am I supposed to hope to be "discovered" or am I supposed to continue with self promotion? I know how hard it is to become a full time classical musician (that's why I have music ed/engineering as back up), and I know the odds are against me, but it has been my dream, and what I have spent grueling hours behind a piano for. I also am aware that if I make it, I will have to sacrifice family, staying in the same place for extended periods of time, however that's what I want, for a while, then later I hope I can be a piano professor somewhere and make a few well known recordings, and write a book or two post concertizing career. Thank you all for your responses in advance!

• Answer:

  Your own personal commitment is laudable - but I will tell you right now - James Madison U is NOT a top music school in the US. Might be the best in your state, and Ok for people with lower aspirations, but if you intend to have a career, you are going to need to get into a TOP conservatory. Curtis, Juilliard, Manhattan, Oberlin - and the other school of that level. No local or state schools, and nothing but the BEST and most competitive. Think of all the top playersin the Us and the world - where did THEY go to school? And do not think that after JMU, you can get into a TOP conservatory for grad work - it is exceedingly difficult to *trade up*. With you abilities and work ethic, I support your decision to pursue this - but give yourself more credit, and more of a challenge - aim for the TOP - and maybe keep JMU at the bottom of your list as a *safety* school. The major factor is the person with whom you are going to study - which is why I tell all serious students to apply to college in major cities with major orchestras and opera companies - THAT is where the top teachers are, since those locations give THEM the most playing opportunities, too. My adult son is choral conductor, whose major instrument is piano - and he attended Temple University so he could study with Charles Abramovic. My husband and I did similar things decades ago, so we could study with particular people in our areas, and attend conservatories in major cities with all the artistic milieu that accompanies that. There will be people who wil write in here, and tell you that they attend some dippy state school in Cow Country, and they LOOOOOVED it, and their teacher was fabulous - and they now work at Sears. Like the sports saying goes - go strong, or go home. I wish you much luck - but another old saying - luck favors the prepared - and you certainly are PREPARED. Let us know what your *short list* maybe a half-dozen schools is - for applications/auditions. I can think of 5 schools that ought to be above JMU. Added - let's try this again. After attending any of those place in VA, you will not get INTO a top music school - not as a transfer, or certainly not for grad school - and ABSOLUTELY NOT into Yale - are you delusional? You are not going to have any kinds of performing career by attending those schools. If you need to go local and free - do not plan on majoring in performing, becasue there is no career in line for you - even if you had degrees from Juilliard. Go for engineering - music ed jobs are drying up, too. Good luck.