Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

I am a parent of a talented kid who has not had the luxury of attending fancy classes and is mostly self taught by ear and plays multiple instruments. After going through the process of auditions at DESA and open houses. I am convinced that if you are white this school doesn't want to take you. Sure there are a very few white kids at DE, but I do believe that this school was set up for under privileged blacks in DC and that is who they want, not a white kid from a middle class. Wish they were more transparent about it.

[Anonymous]

So, your self-taught child was competing against kids who have been honing and practicing their talent for years, but the reason they didn't get in is because they are white?

[Anonymous]

I never mentioned practicing or honing talent for years..., I mention affording fancy lessons that cost thousands of dollars. I don't think most kids applying have that unless they have the money. I just noticed that there was not diversity in general at the school and it made me wonder if it is possible that being white and middle class works against someone. Simple no need to read into it or take offense or put words in my mouth. It is true that the school was started for under privileged black youth. Which is great, no issue was just curious if being white and being middle class hurts.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of white families are just not interested in sending their kids to a school where the overwhelming majority of kids are black, TBH. Similar thing going on with Banneker.

Although, I think that is very slowly changing. And I know at least one white kid who was admitted this year.

[Anonymous]

Most of the kids I know at Ellington are middle class and white. I'm not sure why you think a kid with no formal instruction is somehow going to do well at an open audition. DC Youth Orchestra is $600 per year, and the instruction is excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know at Ellington are middle class and white. I'm not sure why you think a kid with no formal instruction is somehow going to do well at an open audition. DC Youth Orchestra is $600 per year, and the instruction is excellent.

Yeah, all the kids I happen to know from Ellington are white and UMC (nice houses in NW).

[Anonymous]

This is such a weird post. I know plenty of white kids at DE, including instrumental musicans, singers, and dancers.

It is an audition-based program, though. The kids who get in have usually had some formal instruction, but that doesn't need to have been in the form of expensive private lessons.

Here is a list of groups working to reach low income kids in the DC area, and provide them with the same sorts of opportunities that their middle class peers receive.

https://www.prepforprep.org/list-detail?pk=58607

[Anonymous]

OP, it's a PERFORMING ARTS school. The kids your kid was competing against were also talented but they have also probably been studying with top teachers and putting in the necessary practice time -- which is really the only way that virtually anyone can excel at a musical instrument -- for up to a decade. I'm not sure how you consider this unfair. This is no different than if your kid was competing for a top sports team and they had never played on a high-level team and developed the necessary skills to compete at that level. If your kid is "self taught by ear," they probably can't even read scored music at the level necessary to participate in Duke Ellington's music program. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

My white kids attended Ellington. Now that the building has been renovated, it's more competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's a PERFORMING ARTS school. The kids your kid was competing against were also talented but they have also probably been studying with top teachers and putting in the necessary practice time -- which is really the only way that virtually anyone can excel at a musical instrument -- for up to a decade. I'm not sure how you consider this unfair. This is no different than if your kid was competing for a top sports team and they had never played on a high-level team and developed the necessary skills to compete at that level. If your kid is "self taught by ear," they probably can't even read scored music at the level necessary to participate in Duke Ellington's music program. Get a grip.

Great points but I never mention anything about it being unfair....also when touring and at the open house I personally did not see only but a few white kids, this did not bother me. I just was curious if background plays a role. That's it ... I should be able to post and question something with out people putting words or saying things i did not say nor was the Get a grip necessary. Just nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's a PERFORMING ARTS school. The kids your kid was competing against were also talented but they have also probably been studying with top teachers and putting in the necessary practice time -- which is really the only way that virtually anyone can excel at a musical instrument -- for up to a decade. I'm not sure how you consider this unfair. This is no different than if your kid was competing for a top sports team and they had never played on a high-level team and developed the necessary skills to compete at that level. If your kid is "self taught by ear," they probably can't even read scored music at the level necessary to participate in Duke Ellington's music program. Get a grip.

Great points but I never mention anything about it being unfair....also when touring and at the open house I personally did not see only but a few white kids, this did not bother me. I just was curious if background plays a role. That's it ... I should be able to post and question something with out people putting words or saying things i did not say nor was the Get a grip necessary. Just nasty.

People should also be able to give their opinions on your post, otherwise what is the point? You stated that Duke Ellington doesn't want middle class white kids and people are here to tell you that you are wrong, you seem to be the one not taking it well.

[Anonymous]

Here are the races of the kids I know that were admitted: 3 white, 1 biracial and 1 Asian. All hardworking talented kids, all from UMC areas of DC. I went to the open house with my DC, I wondered if it would bother DC that it was majority POC. It was pretty much a non issue.

I am sure that the renovation has made it more competitive and I expect to see test scores going up over the next few years too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, your self-taught child was competing against kids who have been honing and practicing their talent for years, but the reason they didn't get in is because they are white?

Beautiful.

There it is, the hard-working Asian American or white kid asking an unqualified black kid to drop the skin color bs and just study harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of white families are just not interested in sending their kids to a school where the overwhelming majority of kids are black, TBH. Similar thing going on with Banneker.

Although, I think that is very slowly changing. And I know at least one white kid who was admitted this year.

Apparently OP's kid tried, and has reasons to question the objectivity of the assessment.

Maybe s/he can ask for an objective review?

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should have gotten your middle class white kid some lessons????

God I hope you are a troll.