Eitan Silkoff

A Dream Come True

November 12, 2009 09:20

Hello fellow V.Commers, I have been gone for a little bit, although you might have seen my around this site, but finally I have decided to share with you my last 7-8 months.

I originally come from Israel, although i have lived in Canada, and Denver, Colorado. After that I moved to Philadelphia where i really worked hard studying violin. I acquired a teacher that didn't do me any good. I won't name any names, but my teacher taught me many things that i am told today is wrong. And she's a Curtis and Juilliard Graduate.. Anyways one day I decided to remark about a proffesional violinist's playing in a not so pretty way and this teacher decided that I should no longer remain in her studio. So basically, she kicked me out of her studio and did the wonderful deed of calling up the conservatories that I was registered for and REMOVING her reccomendation. LOVELY. So I have a bad word against my reputation from this half crazy nut case of a woman. This was about 6 months before auditions, and for me it was devastating to have to prepare by myself. I did my best, and even made efforts to go up to New York for lessons with a teacher who I consider a treasure from the heavens. This time i'll shoot out a name. Joey Corpus really put some hope and love for music back into me. He could see me talent and knew how to prepare me for my auditions.

I had auditions at three schools. New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and San Francisco Conservatory. Anyway i'm not one to be down forever.. so i walked into my auditions with this mindset: "Eitan, You're talented and musical and you have potential to follow your dream and get accepted into a conservatory." I kind of talked myself into believing that I would be ok, and that I was going to do my best. My first two went decently, and on my last one I really hit it on the nut. I was driving back from my audition at MSM, and it dawned on me. I felt that i auditioned well, but at the same time I was really angry at the time, because i couldn't understand how some woman could do this.. especially to her own pupil. And on top of that, angry that someone could try to ruin my life by literally calling teachers and saying NOT to accept me.

Long story short, surprisingly, I was accepted at these schools, and was in awe. I couldn't believe it. I did it by myself (almost) and here i was reading a letter that said "Congratulations you have been accepted at the Manhattan School of Music..." I jumped in joy, and felt amazing inside. To this day i still am hurt and angry by what she tried to do, but on top of that I feel extra strong than I did before, and I know now for sure that I have it in me to do what I want to in life.

So here I am, 3 months into conservatory and I have never been happier. I am with students and adults that share the same mindset as I do, and that love music as much as me. At one point I wanted to quit and never play the violin. And now, i don't put my violin down :)

so one thing i learned from this is that there are always going to be people out there who don't fully work in harmony with you, and sometimes might even try to screw you over. But if you are strong enough inside, and have the confidence to go into an audition teacherless for 6 months and play your heart out, then you could do anything in the world that you please. With my teacher here, I have excelled very quickly and found someone that clicks with me and knows how to teach me so that I will WANT to learn more. I love it here, and hope that one day when I graduate Manhattan School of Music, I will be able to have a job that i look FORWARD to everyday.

Eitan

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