Curtis Mentor Network

An Online Six-Week Training Program

Challenge yourself to grow in an online, intensive conservatory environment. The Curtis Mentor Network develops overall musicianship and prepares students for auditions, competitions, and performances. Students receive one-on-one lessons and attend studio classes led by Curtis mentors. The online program welcomes dedicated, classical musicians ages 14–28 (18–32 for conducting students).

CMN’s Audition Prep session focuses on intensive preparation for music school auditions. In addition to the six weekly one-on-one lessons with our Curtis-trained faculty, the session will offer “mock” auditions, plus seminars with experts in the field on:

  • How music school auditions work from the inside and what evaluators are really looking for
  • How to deal with performance anxiety and other mental health issues common to performing musicians
  • How to make a successful audition video

The online program is currently available to students in bassoon, cello, clarinet, composition, conducting, flute, harp, horn, oboe, piano, timpani and percussion, viola, violin, and voice. Program fees total $1,000 USD and include:

  • six private 45-minute lessons via Zoom (optimized for audio quality)
  • three one-hour studio classes
  • three one-hour professional development seminars
  • a Certificate of Completion signed by mentor and Curtis Mentor Network artistic director

Curtis Mentors

Our roster of mentors includes some of the most celebrated professional musicians and accomplished teachers in the field, drawn from the alumni body and Curtis’s summer program faculty.

Tips for Remote Learning

Once assigned, your mentor will e-mail you to introduce themself; all lessons are scheduled via e-mail. All lessons take place on Zoom. Your teacher will e-mail you a Zoom link in advance of your lesson, which is how you will connect. Please be on time.

Choose a quiet room with few distractions. Minimizing ambient noise, like air conditioning or fans, will result in clearer audio. Spaces with soft, sound-absorbing elements like upholstered furniture and carpet also help with audio clarity. Lessons must take place on a Zoom-enabled device with reliable internet access. We recommend using an external microphone and headphones or earbuds for your lessons. View Zoom settings that optimize audio for music lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What financial assistance is available?

    A small amount of financial assistance may be available. Please contact support@curtis.edu.

  • How are lessons scheduled?

    Our support team will send you a link to a form where you’ll inform us of your general daily availability. We will use this information in considering your mentor assignment. Your assigned mentor will contact you around November 1 about scheduling lessons. They may suggest scheduling all lessons at once or they may need to make weekly plans.

  • How is the rest of the program scheduled?

    Group studio classes will be scheduled as far in advance as possible and will be organized via CMN Support. If you have weeknight and weekend availability or flexibility, that is most helpful to everyone!

    Our seminars will take place on Thursday, November 18 and Thursday, December 2 at 7 p.m. EST.

    *Changes to these dates/times will be communicated ASAP

  • I submitted my enrollment on Acceptd. How do I know if I have been accepted to CMN?

    We do not screen or audition participants for CMN at this time. Once you have submitted your enrollment and paid the program fees on Acceptd, you are officially enrolled in the Curtis Mentor Network. Our support team will contact you if any further information is requested and you will hear from us the week prior to November 1 with specific information.

Need More Help?

If you have questions about your equipment configuration to improve remote learning, please e-mail us!

 support@curtis.edu