Karina A. (Student Amadeus International School Vienna)

I study the IB program in the private school of Amadeus in Vienna. We chose this school together with my parents when we applied to Smapse: it was practically the only option, the program is combined with music classes at a practically professional level, which is important to me, because I've been playing the violin since my childhood. Similar options were still in the USA, but Austria seemed more pleasant, more traditional, or something ... and still in classical music Europe is stronger than America.

The IB program is a preparation for the future university: two years we have been studying a small number of subjects. We choose them ourselves, but here we need to be careful and think carefully: the curriculum is difficult, intensive, very rich, the amount of information is simply enormous. Of course, everyone chooses those subjects that he will need in the future for the university - there is no sense to pore over mathematics if you go to a doctor, for example. But if you are confident in the choice - be prepared for the fact that studies will take almost all the time.

Music helps me to relax, at the school there is really everything for music. I can study at any time in the studio, it's easy to find a partner or an accompanist, all of them are constantly grouped together and ensembles. It is especially pleasant to listen to jazz bands in the evenings - they have tremendous jams and improvisations.