Hi Chris,
Regarding question 1, I would recommend reading an interview with Paul
O'Dette in the most recent issue of Lute Society of Amerca Quaterly
(Volume XLIV, No 2). In it, O'Dette is asked what kind of training a
person planning a career in lute performing should be looking for. To
be sure, he does stress the importance of the ability to improvise,
which is taught at least at the conservatory in Basel where he did
study. (Of course, he did have the advantage of coming to the lute
from having played rock and folk music where he gained experience
improvising).
So, perhaps it is possible to find courses in improvisation where ever
your daughter plans to study. If not in the particular school whe will
be studying in, perhaps in a related school. She may need to pick up
another instrument for that; but the ability would transfer to the
lute. (Does she have any musician friends who play music that requires
improvising? Is so, perhaps they would let her join them for sessions
where she could pick up some pointers - either on her lute or a
guitar).
At any rate, if you haven't seen that issue of the Quaterly I would
recommend it, since O'Dette talks about other areas of strength a
performing lutenist needs to acquire to be professionally proficient.
Good luck to your daugher.
Ned
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