Your Music School Roadmap
A written plan built around
your artistic & educational goals
A focused 50-minute session with Dr. Fish, a written assessment you keep, and a curated resource bundle — all personalized to your goals, your instrument, your timeline. $297 flat.
Credit applied toward any consulting package if you upgrade.
Who is this for?
The Roadmap is designed for families who want expert guidance before committing to a full consulting package or who need a clear, specific picture of where you or your college-bound son or daughter stands right now.
Sophomores & Juniors Starting Out
You know the process is coming but aren't sure where to begin. The Roadmap gives you a real foundation.
Seniors
Application deadlines are on the horizon, and you need a clear, fast read on priorities, not a full season of guidance.
Families Doing Their Homework
You've done your own research, but want one expert advice before making decisions you can't undo.
Not Sure if You Need a Consultant
The Roadmap answers that question honestly. If you don't need more help, Dr. Fish will tell you.
What you receive
1
A 50-minute session with Dr. Fish
A focused conversation covering your student's instrument and experience level, the schools they're considering, their academic profile and timeline, and the strategic challenges specific to their situation. This is not a sales call — it's a working session.
2
A written Music School Roadmap document
A 2–3 page written assessment, sent within 48 hours of your session. It covers: where your student stands today, what the competitive landscape looks like for their instrument and goals, a preliminary school tier framework, the top three things to prioritize in the next six months, and honest recommended next steps. This is the document you come back to when you're making decisions.
3
A personalized resource bundle
Access to the CMMaj resource suite — the DIY Guide, School Finder, audition timeline, and planning checklist — with a personal cover note from Dr. Fish explaining which resources apply to your student's specific situation and in what order to use them.
4
A 15-minute follow-up call
Scheduled 2–3 weeks after your session, once you've had time to read the Roadmap document and sit with it. Bring questions, pushback, or anything that didn't land right.
60-day credit. If you decide to move forward with any CMMaj consulting package within 60 days of your Roadmap session, the $297 fee is credited toward the total. The Roadmap is designed to give you enough information to make that decision confidently — not to pressure you into it.
What one parent had to say
Neither my husband nor I is a musician, so Dr. Fish helped our daughter in ways we simply couldn't. Mock interviews, expert evaluations, and audition prep — he was there for every step and connected with her in a way that genuinely built her confidence.
Dr. David Lee Fish, Ph.D.
Dr. Fish is a former music professor, Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and independent educational consultant who has guided students to acceptance at Berklee, Eastman, USC, Miami, and more. He writes the semiannual cover stories on best music schools for In Tune Monthly — the world's leading music education magazine — and has worked with over 200 student musicians and their families. His prices are the same for every family, regardless of zip code or income.
Reserve your session
Fill out the form below, and we will reach out within one business day to schedule your session and send a payment link. There's no commitment until you confirm the appointment.
We respond within one business day. We don't take payment until your session is confirmed. Questions? Email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is this a watered-down version of the full consulting package?
No. The session and written assessment are genuine consulting work, not a preview or a teaser. If you don't need anything beyond the Roadmap, Dr. Fish will tell you — and the document and resource bundle will be useful either way.
What if I want to move to a full package after the Roadmap?
The $297 Roadmap fee credits toward any consulting package if you upgrade within 60 days. You'll also have a much clearer sense of which package is the right fit — because the Roadmap document is designed to answer that question honestly.
My student is a sophomore — is it too early?
No. The earlier you understand the landscape, the better decisions you make about summer programs, repertoire development, and which schools are worth visiting. The Roadmap is actually most useful when there's still time to act on it.
How is this different from the free intro call?
The free intro call is 20 minutes and covers the process generally. The Roadmap session is 50 minutes focused entirely on your student's specific situation, and you leave with a written document, a resource bundle, and a follow-up call. It's a working engagement, not a conversation.