For Parents
Support Your Child’s Dream: A Parent’s Guide to the Music School Journey
Helping your student pursue a college education in music can be both exciting and overwhelming. With prescreening, auditions, portfolios, deadlines, and a competitive field of applicants, it’s natural to have questions like:
- What are the real chances of acceptance?
- Is a music degree the right path?
- How can I best support my child through this intense process?
- Will they be able to build a sustainable career?
- And, what are the application mistakes we need to avoid?
The truth is, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. At Inside Music Schools (IMS), we’ve guided hundreds of families through this process, helping them understand the landscape, make informed decisions, and give their children the tools to succeed.
Why Your Role Matters
Behind every student who gets accepted to a great music program is a support system that helps them stay focused, encouraged, and on track. Your involvement, encouragement, and willingness to invest in the right guidance makes a huge difference.
Whether your child dreams of attending a conservatory or university program — or they’re still figuring out what the right fit looks like—your support can help transform uncertainty into confidence.
Setting Your Child Up for Success
We’ve seen firsthand that students thrive when they have the right preparation, guidance, and support. IMS offers expert coaching that strengthens your child’s musical, academic, and personal presentation — and helps you understand each step along the way.
Working with IMS gives your family:
- Clear understanding of each music program's specific expectations
- A structured, strategic roadmap for prescreenings, auditions, portfolios, and applications
- Experienced evaluation and coaching from professional musicians, educators, and admissions experts
- Support for your child’s unique goals, strengths, and learning style
From essays to interviews, prescreening videos to live auditions—we help students present their strongest, most authentic selves.
What Parents Can Expect
To get the most out of working with IMS, here’s what we recommend:
Start Early
The earlier you start, the more time your child has to grow musically and academically — and the less stressful the process becomes.
Stay Engaged
You don’t need to have all the answers. Just being present, asking questions, and helping your child stay on schedule goes a long way.
Trust the Process
Every student’s path is different. We’ll help you and your child navigate the options and focus on what matters most.
Be Open to Possibilities
While we’ve just had one of our most successful years yet, we realize not every student has the same goals and aspirations — and that’s okay. We help families discover incredible programs that may not be on your radar but are the perfect fit for your child’s goals.
We’re Here to Help — And We’ve Seen It Work
Many of our students (and their parents) start this process feeling uncertain or even discouraged. But with the right support from IMS, they gain clarity, confidence, and ultimately, acceptance into music schools that truly fit their aspirations.
“Thanks to Inside Music Schools’ expert guidance, our daughter is now thriving as a first-year student at her top-choice music school, surrounded by like-minded peers who share her passions. She’s not one to exaggerate or sugarcoat, so when people ask her how college is going, and she responds with a genuine, enthusiastic “I love it,” I know she truly means it. I am deeply grateful to Inside Music Schools for their wisdom, encouragement, and support in helping my daughter achieve her college dreams.”
— Pam W. (parent), Menlo Park, CA
Whether your child is a classical pianist, a jazz saxophonist, a singer-songwriter, a composer, or a music producer, or pursuing another non-performance music career, IMS helps families find the path that makes sense—and supports your child every step of the way.
Let’s Talk About Your Child’s Future in Music
Choosing a college music program is a major decision—for your child and for your family. Let’s explore how we can help you support your child’s dream, reduce stress, and give them the strongest possible start to their future in music.
