Nothing But the Best: The Struggle for Perfection at the Juilliard School

by Judith Kogan

Written by a former student, this book captures the fierce competitive atmosphere at one the most famous music schools in the world

Genres: Music

239 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Liyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cathartic read. Sometimes quite dramatic, in my opinion, but perhaps I just wasn’t one of *those* students.

To this day, the practice room system is still horrendous.

[Dawn Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a peak into the life of uber talented classical music artists in the quest for greatness through education, then this book is for you. Published in 1987, authored by a Julliard student of many years who then became a Harvard educated lawyer, this book is not a summary of life at Julliard, it is a portrait.

As a person with more than my share of performance anxiety, this book provided detailed snapshots of the extreme paradox of those who fear performance and crave it. It shows you how the quest for greatness by music students is used as a tool that can be used to manipulate, discourage, and encourage them, sometimes at the same time.

It's a book also about power struggles, how teachers strive to enhance their own status by the students they take on, choose to showcase, or reject. Teachers compete with teachers, students with students, parents with everyone to push their children ahead. The extremes to which people go to achieve the apex is a bit staggering.

Add to all of this the fact that so many of these Julliard students are children, some teenagers, and few young adults, all crammed together under the "be the best" umbrella. The book describes the toll that can be taken, and sadly, showcases more losing than winning.

Under it all is the reality that lucrative careers in music, particularly classical music, as soloists or orchestra members, is miniscule. So why take it on? For the love of the music, for its magic, and because it cannot, in most cases, be resisted.

I don't know if life at Julliard is the same today as it was in 1987. It may be the same, better, or worse. The storytelling in this book is nonetheless riveting and, I suspect, the driving forces of those who go to Julliard are pretty much the same.

[Daniel Theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous read. An inspirational, couldn't put it down, book about life at music school. I went to a somewhat more conservative university for my Bachelor of Music degree, but it was all the same.

[Sebastián Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an artist, one of my favourite books about the life of some music program students and teachers.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these stories

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a trashy tabloid read about Juilliard. Easy reading - reminds me of "Mozart in the Jungle".

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. My son will be attending Juilliard this fall. It was nice to get an understanding of the school beforehand.