my dilemma , need your advice

I have been lurking here for a while but hesitated to post since I am not good at Chinese input.
Now I have a dilemma that I need your input ˉ

I have a high-achiever son; he is a freshman in a very competitive magnet high school for math and science.
The work load is heavy but he handles it well (top of his class)
He is in soccer school team for fall and school tennis team for spring. He is in Jazz Band during winter.
He is also in premier league travel soccer team all year round.
(The team is very competitive; many of his teammates have been cut since last year. His coach and players treat this as a step stone to colleges).

He has a very busy schedule, the thing is he also plays flute.
He has private lessons for more than 2 years, got reward for young artist competition, attended area’s symphonic band.

Now comes the dilemma, his flute teacher suggested we upgrade his flute to a professional level (>$4000) as the current one might hold him back.
My son wants to try out all-state band and really wants a better flute.
My concern is he already has a very tight schedule. School sports are 5-days a week activities, plus 2 nights training and weekend travel for travel soccer.
I double if he can make the time to practice the flute, not to mention about his school/academic work.

I discussed with him the other night about my concerns and he answered me “I will make the time; this is what a high school like, isn’t it?”

Is it worth to invest $4000 in his flute with the possibility that he might not be able to catch it up later on, although he shows great interest and talents on it?


BTW, we are just middle-class family, so every penny counts.

所有跟帖： 

• 听孩子的。 -soccermom- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 07:48:19

• 回复：听孩子的。 -沧海一声笑- ♀ (700 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 08:11:59

• 回复：回复：听孩子的。 -soccermom- ♀ (214 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 08:33:35

• 要是经济还行的话，就买吧。前段时间儿子要买吉他，被我挡了。 -baydad- ♂ (184 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 07:58:23

• 才高一，应该买。跟琴行商量一下能不能分期付款？ -erh- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 08:05:04

• 听球妈的。 -A-Momy- ♀ (43 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 08:15:19

• He wants it, you go for it. That's what I would do. -Apricotseed- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 08:41:15

• 介娃儿多好呀，8给买你以后会后悔滴～～～ -淡如浮云- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 09:00:52

• remind of me a story I read to my kids -QualityWithoutName- ♂ (421 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 09:07:37

• You got to buy it for him. -Passerby- ♀ (765 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 09:37:12

• Can you write more about music, or music education? thanks. -QualityWithoutName- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 09:46:13

• OK. I'll write some during the holidays. -Passerby- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 10:28:50

• Thanks in advance! -QualityWithoutName- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 11:54:55

• A very good concert flute is worth to keep it. -3Es- ♀ (147 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 22:30:10

• you may go for a used one. -１２３笑一笑- ♀ (257 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 13:19:52

• I just brough a very good new concert flute for my 8th grader. -3Es- ♀ (487 bytes) () 12/17/2008 postreply 22:24:02

• 回复：my dilemma , need your advice -Zaobudao- ♀ (419 bytes) () 12/18/2008 postreply 05:19:15

• $4000, make your son happy and be productive!!! -mingusmt- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/18/2008 postreply 06:20:36