At the end of the day, the goal of our program is not advancement - it is to serve every child in the RIGHT educational environment, meet their educational and musical needs, keep the music learning process positive, keep them learning, and when they are ready to handle the greater challenge, then move. It is most certainly not a race to the top. We feel very strongly in this position of serving the musical and educational needs of the child first and foremost.

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We are saying this to be upfront and clearly communicate our expectations and our educational philosophy to all the families, that at the end we will choose what is right for the child, what the child needs for their best and most optimal growth, and what ensemble serves them best. This is why we have 6 leveled orchestras. 

 

Please communicate to your child that the goal is to improve as much as they can in their current ensemble. This keeps the focus on growing their abilities, and not chasing an ensemble they are not prepared for only to be overwhelmed. This keeps the joy in the process of learning, where it needs to be. 

 

Drawing their source of pride from doing their personal best and preparing an audition when they are ready we feel is the best approach. 

 

Remember that as a teacher parent team our messaging has to be consistent and that is: the goal is to become a better player and to master the fundamentals, so focus on getting better and mastering the skills. Moving to the next ensemble through an audition happens when you demonstrate you have mastered those fundamentals.

 

This will define success as learning and not moving groups. Remember that ultimately, our mission statement stands, we are providing a world class string and orchestral education and growing young artists in a nurturing and positive environment.

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- Victor Fernandez