Hi, I have a 10 year old girl who has always had a gift for music. At 3 years old I enrolled her in a music program at Queens College and she took off with the piano, practicing an hour a day, without exception. Of course, this was done with a no tv policy and a hands-on policy to parenting. How else could I have gotten her to practice on a daily basis? In any case, over the years, she has won a number of competitions and has even played at Carnegie Hall several times. She is now 10 years old and is in the process of applying to The Juilliard School. The scary part is that if she gets in, we have no idea how we'd pay for it. I'm a stay at home mom, caring for my 4 yr old who won't be in kindergarten for another year and a half. My husband works for the City of NY, but he's definitely not making a killing. Any ideas on how I we can fundraise to give my 10 yr old this incredible opportunity? We'd have to raise $12K within 15 months. I look forward to your responses and I thank you in advance for your help.
Unbelievable!!! I will never ask for help from this site again. You people are the most judgmental people I have ever come across. You have no idea who I am and what I've sacrificed to for my family which I am quite certain is more than most!!! How dare you insinuate otherwise. Not sure how a simple inquiry regarding funding ideas turned into a bunch of insults. Never again! Thanks for nothing (except of course to those who responded with some level of kindness)!
You might be putting the cart before the horse. See if she gets in. Then speak with the school about scholarship/ grant/ loan money.
Best,
F. B.
I see nothing in the question about if SHE wants to go. THAT is the first question that should be addressed. This kind of thing can't be about the parents, it has to be about the kid.
Crowdfunding sites might work. Research grants and scholarships. Does Julliard have financial aid, or a financial aid office?
Wow, she's already played Carnegie Hall twice at the age of 10?
My only suggestion is to find out if they offer scholarships. Sometimes the scholarship doesn't have to come from the school, it can be from an outside organization. The first thing to do is to talk with a Julliard admission representative. That's part of their job - to advise students on financial plans or scholarships.
What? I currently have three Regular Kids enrolled in expensive private colleges. I had no idea panhandling was an option! Go figure.
All three have substantial academic scholarships. All three have need based federal and state grants. The balance we are splitting, their father, me, and them.
I can't imagine asking other people to pay. Sheesh.
:(
Are you talking about this youth program?
http://www.juilliard.edu/community-programs/music-advance...
It's only $4500 a year.
At any rate, you take out loans, you get a job, you mortgage your house. You figure out how to pay for your Special Kid.
I read your prior posts and I see that this has been going on for many years - you have had a lot of expensive activities for your child, and now you have a second one who is probably in preschool. You have been very clear that you are really driving your oldest to play (sitting with her at 5 to make her practice 1.5 hours a day, rationing candy to bribe her, etc.). You also say that you are a very driven personality type yourself with aggressive workout programs, etc. I think, if you were to marshall all that energy, and put it into a job, you could easily put away $12,000 if you cut out the extras and budgeted aggressively.
That's assuming that your child is admitted and that the admissions people see HER as the driving force, not you. If they do and if she has talent, then they will help connect you with scholarship funds. If you had more income, you would qualify for loans too. But you need a good financial advisor to help you figure out how you can not just pay for 1 year of Juilliard, but also the next and the next, and still have money for college for both children. I think it's shortsighted to just look at one year's tuition. If you uproot your daughter and put her in an even more intensive music program that what you have been doing on your own, you have to have a plan beyond 1 year.
You really can't run a fundraiser year after year and expect the community to pay for your dreams for your daughter. A concert, as suggested below, will draw in a few family members and friends, and possibly the general public for the novelty of the first time, but will they do that year after year? How will you set yourselves apart from the many music teachers and schools who are running recitals for all their students? You can have a silent auction, yes, but with so many businesses being asked to donate items for schools and charities, what will make them want to donate to a private citizen trying to send her daughter to private school? Their "Community Dollars" programs probably won't allow them to donate under those circumstances. I've run so many auctions like this, and I can tell you the competition for donations is very strong. Moreover, asking and collecting and following up is a huge investment in your time - I've done it with teams of volunteers, and it's still overwhelming. I would think that, if you have that many hours to give, you could get a phenomenal job. The energy level you describe would be a great asset to an employer if you can focus that on someone else's needs instead of your own. Then you'll all get what you want.
Original Question because I am betting she flounces.........
10 year old applying to Juilliard for piano. HELP!!! Need fundraising ideas!
Hi, I have a 10 year old girl who has always had a gift for music. At 3 years old I enrolled her in a music program at Queens College and she took off with the piano, practicing an hour a day, without exception. Of course, this was done with a no tv policy and a hands-on policy to parenting. How else could I have gotten her to practice on a daily basis? In any case, over the years, she has won a number of competitions and has even played at Carnegie Hall several times. She is now 10 years old and is in the process of applying to The Juilliard School. The scary part is that if she gets in, we have no idea how we'd pay for it. I'm a stay at home mom, caring for my 4 yr old who won't be in kindergarten for another year and a half. My husband works for the City of NY, but he's definitely not making a killing. Any ideas on how I we can fundraise to give my 10 yr old this incredible opportunity? We'd have to raise $12K within 15 months. I look forward to your responses and I thank you in advance for your help
Second SWH... I wasn't quick enough to copy the first snappy SWH.
Unbelievable!!! I will never ask for help from this site again. You people are the most judgmental people I have ever come across. You have no idea who I am and what I've sacrificed to for my family which I am quite certain is more than most!!! How dare you insinuate otherwise. Not sure how a simple inquiry regarding funding ideas turned into a bunch of insults. Never again! Thanks for nothing (except of course to those who responded with some level of kindness)!
************************************************************************************
ETA: Per your SWH S., you clearly don't understand fundraising and what it is about. Fundraising is not about raising money to do things with or for your children because you are too busy to get off your butt, work and earn it yourself. The moms on this site are working moms, SAHM's and part time SAHM's and we know the value of doing what we have to do in order to provide for our children and family. We don't sit around here with extra funds to send to you so you can continue to sit on your butt and beg for money via websites, family, etc. YES, you were asking for money. Get a job.
You sound like some Tiger mom living through her children. Poor kids, have they ever been able to be normal and play?
My original reply:
Really?
Fundraising is for things such as schools, non profits, etc. Fundraising is not about funding a child we don't know to go to college or a trip abroad while funding our own obligations as a family
At 10yrs old, I can't see how she can possibly know without a doubt that she wants to play piano for a career. Is this something SHE truly wants to do? It is a tremendous sacrifice for her childhood which to me sounds like her childhood has always been piano. Does she participate in anything outside of piano? Does she have friends? Does she go to a regular school?
Since she is 10, a college fund should have been started a long time ago and have availability of the monies. Why can't she wait until she graduates from high school to try to enter which should give you 6-8 years to establish a college fund if she already does not have one?
IF she gets in, you have 15 months to raise $12,000 which is not too bad. Find ways to cut back with your lifestyle to fund her. Work part time, sell tings you no longer need, cut back anything that is not a necessity so YOU are raising money for YOUR child.
I don't understand why the public should be approached to fund her education. Of course there are sites where you sign up and ask for money which you realize, does come across as begging. No one will give you money for nothing in return.
I have a 20 yr old in college and WE funded her education as we should be doing. WE started saving before she was born because we knew someday, she would go to college.
Maybe your daughter needs to experience delayed gratification, wait and earn what she wants. She is only 10 and she deserves to have experiences outside of piano to see what SHE truly wants to do. She certainly does not "have to" apply to Julliard right now this second. That can be put off until you raise your own funds. If she is a part of earning her own way, then she will be more appreciative if it is something she wants to achieve.
I don't mean to sound rude or harsh but really.... I just don't understand why it is ok to ask for money from strangers and others in order to get what you want when you've had 10 yrs already to be putting money away in an account for her. If you knew she was so talented so early on, that would be a sign to get started on the savings.
Best wishes to her and your family. IF she does follow through and get in to Julliard, then go to the Financial Aid office and follow protocol for Aid, scholarships and grants.
You take out a loan. However, coming from someone who majored in music and took 16 years of piano, make sure this is something SHE wants to do, not you. Otherwise, it's a pointless investment.
If she is accepted. the school will send you information about their grants and scholarships. If you cannot afford it at this time. start saving for her future.
Our daughter was accepted to many private colleges, and all of them offered her scholarships.. We of course paid what we could, but we never did fundraising for her education or extra curricular activities. That is just tacky..
Judgy McJudgster.
ALL moms sacrifice for their families. How dare you?
Maybe we should all just send you fifty bucks? Lol
Call me crazy, this seems like it has a very obvious solution.
You can get a job.
It seems like your daughter has made lots of sacrifices to get to this point.
Now it's your turn (nor friends and neighbors and relatives) to chip in for her dream.
Find something with large CASH tips and work around your husband's work schedule.
Someday it will be a GREAT STORY: My mom put me through Julliard by
Delivering pizzas/giving manicures/bar tending/waitressing/!
Fundraising? People are struggling to put their own kids through school. Can't imagine them helping put yours through school. If it means that much to you, get a job. To me that is the only answer to your problem. Why are you applying if you cannot afford it. She's only 10. Start working and saving money. Do t mean to come off harsh. Just being realistic. My daughter wanted a horse. As a child she was an accomplished equestrian and still is. She now owns two horses she bought herself. I wasn't going to go into debt even though I knew this would be a career choice. Sometimes kids just have to wait for things they want. Makes them a better person.
I don't think people were rude. I think they were realistic in their answers to you. You may not have "asked" for money but you were hinting at it. People tend to get bent out of shape when they are busting their hump and then someone wants "help" but they don't want to work, they don't want to change their lifestyle. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for these types of opportunities but not by everyone else but by the family.
My husband and I have put two kids through state universities. Not cheap but we saved and I went to work. That's what families do.
I would wait until you know for sure. Most schools will offer financial packages to families in need. Please make sure this is what SHE wants to do. That is a very rigorous program and a person must be dedicated to that life. 10 is a young age to commit to this and yes I read you SWH.
Good luck!
She only practices because you took the TV away and sit with her?
S.
WOW!! Are you asking for money here??
If your daughter is REALLY talented? Julliard has grants and scholarships. Have you bothered to check into those??
She's 10 years old. Are you really expecting me to believe that SHE is applying for Julliard - or are YOU??
Is it possible she's playing to make YOU happy? To get attention from YOU?? I'd have a talk with my CHILD to see what SHE wants. Not what **I** want - but what SHE wants. Ten years old is a little young to "know" what you want to do.
How to fundraise? There are sites like "gofundme" and "crowdfunding". Do do it on your own? Find out if you can do bake sales or start selling things that are collectibles in your home. Otherwise?? I would check with the school for grants and scholarships.
Fundraising for her education? I'm sorry, but I feel that is the parent's responsibility to handle.
I had to pay for my own school (undergrad and graduate) and so while I am paying my loans off I am unable to save for my 3 kids to go to school, they will all have loans as I did. But I never have thought to ask other people to pay for it.
$12k? Get a loan for it. Even if it's a personal loan. This is 100% on you and your family to provide this opportunity to your child, not the rest of the world.
Get a job or a loan? That's what most people do.
My son got into a gifted program at a very intense, very expensive private high school. I understand that your daughter has worked hard and that she has real talent. I understand that you want to give her this opportunity. You cannot expect others to pay for it. When my son got accepted, I took on extra work in order to cover the cost. I have been working so hard to give him this. This year, even with financial aid, there is no way that he can stay at this school, even though he loves it. I can't work any more overtime on top of what I am doing and neither can my husband. If we don't find more income and we keep paying this tuition, we will go into serious debt. Thus, my son is leaving the school. It is a disappointment, but he will be fine.
Juilliard should be able to give you information about financial aid. Then you can consider how you can finance the difference by working. I do not think I am being rude in this response, BTW, because if she gets in and if she is considering this as a career/profession, she will have years and years of expensive education to pay for. You cannot expect to crowd-fund something like this. You need to have a long term plan. The truth is that in the arts (my husband went to Juilliard) at a certain point if the cost of your education is not being covered through merit-based, competitive scholarships and grants, then you are likely not of the caliber to consider that art form as a professional goal. Most pre-professional programs are run like this.
i've got a 23 year old with a talent for science. he'd have loved to be psychiatrist, but the med school thing was too much.
if i send you money for your kid's education, will send my kid some for his?
of course, mine DID get a childhood. so there is that.
khairete
S.
I'm a musician and played the piano when I was 5, picking out songs by ear. When I had just turned 7, I started formal piano lessons and practiced an hour a day in a cold church beside my house because we didn't have a piano. Sometimes it was an hour and a half because I didn't want to stop. (My hands quit playing because they were so cold.) I'd learn the little songs my teacher gave me in a half hour and by the time I got to my next lesson, I had jazzed them up so much that they were unrecognizable. My mother explained to the teacher that I didn't have enough to practice in my hour or more a day routine. AT FIRST the teacher was horrified, thinking that my mother was forcing me to play. When my mom explained the situation, the teacher understood and worked with me to stick with the music, with ENOUGH music to satisfy me.
That was a long time ago.
I went on to major in music but ended up with a vocal performance degree because singing is more fun than playing piano, though I play very well, even now at my age. I took piano lessons for years and years and still prefer to embellish what is on the page.
My point is that you MADE a 3 year old practice an hour a day. This has all been about you. You remind me of Tiger Moms who rule their children according to what they want regardless of their children's development and wishes. Maybe you don't think there's anything wrong with that, but there is. At the point that your daughter walks away from music because she's totally burned out and blames you for it, and you don't see her for a long time because of it, maybe you'll figure it out. Or not, because you probably won't accept that you've ever made a mistake with your children.
You have called the mothers here judgmental because they take exception to your insinuation that your child is more deserving of an education than theirs. But you will find PLENTY of judgment elsewhere if you are expecting others to pay for her education. If she is deserving of a scholarship, Julliard will give at least a partial one. And then it will be your job to fund the rest.
Have you contacted Juilliard to inquire about scholarships?
You could look in to internet fundraising such as gofundme.com but my word of caution is that you may alienate your friends and family by asking them to fund your daughter's music opportunity. I like Wild Woman's idea about bake sales and selling your possessions. That is your best course of action. Great success takes great sacrifice.
Wow. To imply that you sacrifice more than most is pretty disgusting. Usually the people sacrificing the most are not the ones crowing about it. I wish your daughter the best.
The only type of "fundraising" I would consider donating to in your particular case would have to be driven by the student herself.
I know a couple of girls who were quite talented musicians. They played cello and violin at our local Farmer's Market for tips towards a summer music program. They did quite well. So technically they were working for the money, offering beautiful music in exchange for money to use in a specific, positive way.
Focus on earning rather than asking and you'll find people are much more willing to offer ideas and support.
ADDED: As mentioned below, you could easily make a few hundred dollars per week waiting tables. Honestly, at 2-3 nights per week for a year and you'd have your 12K. High end dinner place, short shifts, leave the stress at work, Dad can watch the kids. In my area you can actually make a pretty decent living waiting tables.
Yes, you are certainly the only mother who has sacrificed for her kids. Geez!! YOU are applying, not your micromanaged daughter. I knew from day one that my daughter was my responsibility.
I would donate to an animal shelter before I would contribute to this situation but hey, best of luck. I would love to fast forward to see how your daughter is when she gets five minutes of freedom!
I am hoping you applied for financial aid when you submitted the application.
Here is a website to apply for scholarships and grants to be used for private school education:
http://www.admissionsquest.com/~financialaid/showarticle....
Perhaps if you can't do the tuition for the pre-college program, she could experience the MAP program (Music advancement Program), for students 8-14? The cost of that per year is:
How much does MAP cost?
Annual tuition per pupil is as follows. For further information on tuition, financial aid, and fees, please visit the Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Level 1: $1,500
Level 2: $2,500
Level 3: $3,500
Level 4: $4,500
There is also information on how to apply for financial aid:
http://www.juilliard.edu/community-programs/music-advance...
Just a couple thoughts with regards to your SWH... When I see the word fundraising, it implies getting individuals or businesses to contribute money to a specific cause. Isn't that asking people for money? Maybe that's not what you meant, however it's a reasonable interpretation. Fundraisers are usually for a special event or an occasional occurrence, so as one post mentioned, getting together the money for her tuition would not fit that profile--you'd be doing it for the next 7 years. You all would need a plan to increase your income by $14,000 a year for each year she is at the school (assuming she doesn't get any aid), and fundraising isn't going to do that. We also have only your post to go on and no way to tell from it whether your daughter really loves piano, wants to go to Juilliard, etc. So you might rethink your indignation at some of the responses.
Just to emphasize what others said, you don't need to cross this bridge because she isn't accepted yet, and worrying about possible events is a sure way to go nuts (or just be very unhappy). I understand it is hard to turn off the 'what if' voice, however you will find it very relieving to do so. As well, Juilliard surely has a well-developed scholarship and aid department, and that information will be easily available for parents enrolling their kids. I do wish you luck with this, and I hope your daughter continues to flourish joyfully, wherever she goes to school.
Why is she applying if you can't afford it? At 10? Yeah she may be magical and talented and wonderful, but at 10, and Julliard, I don't know. Unless their is a scholarship involved...
Otherwise, I've applied to be a pet sitter/ walker, etc. they pay 10-25$ hourly. In 15 months that could at least get you a head start. So there are ways to make money. Fundraising only gets you so far. 12k is a bit steep for a one girl show. No offense.
Just speak with the financial aid office at the school.
Please go all the way back to the first reply, from Fanged Bunny. She is exactly right. Wait to see whether or not your daughter gets accepted before you start stressing over finding money to pay for the program. And please be open to the idea that she may not be accepted -- she is still young, and they will be looking at her own maturity as much as at her talent. If they perceive that you are pushing her too much it actually will make them look askance at her application. I say this as someone who knows a couple of kids accepted to programs like Oberlin and NC School of the Arts (though at high school levels, not at 10). Of course these schools know that the whole family is involved with a child's artistic pursuits, but the schools also need to be assured that she is the one who will drive this eventually.
If you need to raise funds later, you have some good ideas given to you below. Be aware that you will have to pay taxes on what you raise, so it's not all going to go toward her tuition if she gets in.
Congratulations on your gifted child.
People have raised funds for more frivolous things.Forgoing the politics as to whether it is appropriate or not, but mainly focus on the question as to what the best avenue is to raise funds, Gofundme seems to be a site that might work. Post a video of your child playing, write a snippet about her dream and appeal to the masses.
Best of luck!
You could always try gofundme or ask family to help. If you were to go back to work now and use daycare could you make enough after daycare and transportation costs to save the money yourself (this would be my first avenue to look at, I don't think others should pay to raise my children)? You can also look into financial aid options.
What about selling tickets or sponsorships to a concert that she puts on in your local community? And then have a big silent auction in the lobby. Perhaps she could do the concert in one of the performance halls at Queens College? If she get's in, and I believe it is just an honor to be invited to apply for The Julliard School, then seek out local and national media to help you get the word out. Perhaps one of the national morning show producers (FOX, ABC, etc) would be interested in the story. Maybe The Julliard School could help with media contacts or information on scholarships. Good luck.
I'm suprised by the negative resposes too. While I don't have fundraising ideas, I'm very impressed that a 10 year old is applying to The Julliard School. I played piano for 9 years growig up (not really by choice) and I came no where close to that. Good luck!
Take a look at some crowdfunding sites.
Sorry you got so many critical responses. I don't see anything wrong with your question and don't think you are panhandling or begging for money. It sounds like you have a highly talented daughter and want to give her some amazing opportunities.
I love the idea one of the first posters suggested about having her put on a concert. Sell tickets to everyone you know - friends, family, neighbors, etc - and advertise throughout your neighborhood. Bake a ton of cookies, brownies and cupcakes to sell at the event for a little added revenue.
Host a poker night. Make a $25 buy in and again, invite everyone you know. Give out half of the proceeds to the winner (or top 2-3 finishers) and put the rest toward your daughter's education fund.
Create a GoFundMe campagin or use a similar site. I've seen people do it to try to take their kids to Disneyland; can't hurt to try to raise a little money for Julliard.
Have a garage sale. Combine it with a lemonade stand/bake sale.
Since going back to work right now will be hard with your younger child at home (I imagine the cost of day care would eat up any income you made, right?), see if you can make some extra money watching other people's kids. Either nanny 1-2 kids all day or see if you can watch a few kids after school until their parents get off of work. A friend of mine makes several hundred dollars a month because she watches 5-7 kids for a couple of hours after school every day (in addition to her own four school-aged children).
Finally, do extensive research on scholarships, both within Julliard and from external sources. See if any local musicians will serve as a benefactor.
Good luck. I hope she gets admitted! If she does, you'll find a way to pay for it.
