Do you need to be a big time performer to go to Juilliard?

Question

I've been playing piano since 1st grade and i'm about to enter high school. Right now I practice an hour and a half a day and i'm wondering if I'd be able to make it into Juilliard, Eastman, or other schools like that.

Answer 1

I'm a Julliard dropout.  You dont have to be a big time performer but you have to be a committed, serious, musician who eats. drinks, breathes and sleeps music.  They expect that and anything else is usually not tolerated.

Answer 2

A great place for you to get the feel of what any of the schools you have mentioned would want you to learn and do while there would be the Boston University Tangelwood Institutes Young Artist Program.  It is set up for students from highschool through college level courses and the staff there are amazing.  I went to B.U.T.I and it was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life.  The staff would be able to determine where you stand in relation to college courses and would be able to help you further develop your talent to be ready for any of the schools you have mentioned when the time comes to do any auditions.