Why We Supported Our Daughter’s Decision to Study at the Conservatorio di Firenze

When our daughter decided to study at the Conservatorio di Firenze, many people asked us the same question.

“Why choose music?”

She enjoyed languages, mathematics, and science, and she could easily have chosen a more traditional university path.

As parents, we also wondered what would be best for her future. We talked about engineering, languages, and other possibilities.

In the end, however, she chose music.

This article is not about saying that a conservatory is the right choice for everyone.

It is simply our family’s experience, and I hope it may be helpful for other families considering a similar path.

Music Was Always Part of Our Family Life

I teach the violin, so music has always been part of our home.

Even before our daughter was born, she listened to violin lessons while I was teaching.

When she was little, I also performed at weddings and other events, so violin music was part of her everyday life.

One day she said,

“I want to play the violin too.”

We began learning musical notes through games when she was about two years old, and she started violin lessons on her third birthday.

She has now been playing for fifteen years.

She Had Other Options

During high school, she attended a school that focused on economics and law rather than music.

Italian high schools are academically demanding, and repeating a school year is not unusual.

For that reason, our family always placed schoolwork first.

Before important examinations, there were times when she hardly practiced the violin at all.

She has always enjoyed languages and science.

Her teachers often suggested,

“Why don’t you study engineering?”

or

“Why not choose languages instead of music?”

As parents, we asked the same questions ourselves.

If she had not been accepted by the conservatory, she would probably have chosen a completely different path.

But after many conversations, music remained the path she truly wanted to follow.

Is a Conservatory the Only Way to Study Music?

I don’t believe so.

Today, students can learn through excellent private teachers, online lessons, masterclasses, and summer courses.

Many wonderful musicians never attended a conservatory.

Likewise, many people who graduate from conservatories eventually choose careers outside of music.

For me, attending a conservatory is not the only path to becoming a musician.

What a Conservatory Offers Beyond Private Lessons

What convinced us was something different.

A conservatory is not simply a place to improve instrumental technique.

Students also study:

• Harmony
• Musical analysis
• Music history
• Chamber music
• Orchestra
• Ear training

These subjects help students understand not only how to play music, but also why great music is written the way it is.

Private lessons can teach technique beautifully.

A conservatory offers something broader: an environment where students spend every day surrounded by professors and classmates who share the same passion.

That kind of environment is difficult to recreate elsewhere.

Watching Her Grow

When our daughter was younger, I often tried reading harmony books and music theory with her.

Music history came more naturally because she loved history books.

Harmony and musical analysis, however, were another story.

She would often smile and say,

“It’s too complicated. I can play it by instinct!”

and after only a few pages, she was ready to stop.

Everything changed when she began preparing for the conservatory entrance examinations.

Because the subjects were now necessary, she slowly began studying them seriously.

Little by little, her understanding grew.

Today she can even explain many of these concepts herself.

Watching that change reminded me that people often discover the joy of learning when they understand why it matters.

Technique Alone Doesn’t Move People

Technical ability is important.

With enough practice, almost anyone can continue improving their technique.

But music is art.

A performance can be technically perfect and still leave the audience untouched.

What moves people is expression, understanding, experience, and the ability to communicate something beyond the notes on the page.

For us, this is one of the greatest values of conservatory education.

More Than a Degree

For me, university has never been simply about finding a job.

It is a place where people can spend several years deeply exploring something they truly love.

It is also where students meet classmates who have dedicated years to the same passion, learn from experienced professors, and challenge one another to grow.

Those experiences often become just as valuable as the lessons themselves.

Every Family Will Make a Different Choice

We don’t believe that studying at a conservatory is the right choice for everyone.

Every student has different talents, interests, and dreams.

This was simply the right choice for our daughter.

Whether she becomes a professional musician or chooses a different career one day, we believe the years she spends learning, growing, and living in Florence will remain one of the greatest experiences of her life.

If our family’s story encourages another family to think about their own child’s future with an open mind, then I’m glad we shared it.

Visiting Florence for Conservatory Auditions or Enrollment?

Every year, students and their families come to Florence for entrance examinations, auditions, summer courses, and enrollment.

If you’re planning to stay for several weeks or a month while supporting your son or daughter, our apartment offers a comfortable home in the heart of Florence’s historic center.

Many of our guests return year after year because they enjoy experiencing Florence like locals rather than tourists.