The Bad and then the Good

October 20, 2006 at 3:26 PM

Well, what can I say, it's been a long time since I've updated this puppy. I guess I'll start with the bad news, I'm no longer doing violin performance. My teacher and I candidly discussed my career and my plans after college. She thinks it would be best for me to do something on the analytical side of music such as Theory, History, Musicology...that sort or thing. So here's where I am...I'm a softmore at Luther College with no acutal direction in music...Perhaps I should have done Music Ed because at this juncture, I'm not sure if I have the grades or the keyboard skills for grad school. I know I have 2.5 years left before I even have to worry but I just don't have very good keyboard skills and I know that will be a limiting factor along with my ear training skills, which are getting better, as I may have fairly close to an A in that class this time around. But yeah...I'm beginning to regret my decision regarding music ed and it's too late to start it now and finish on time. Why have I been such a fool? (My official major is Music Management).

Onto the good news, violin is going decently, although, sometimes I wonder if I should have switched to viola. Lately, I've felt uncomfortable while playing the violin, perhaps it's the new position of it which I'm still getting used to. But otherwise, things are going along well, except my teacher wont let me play a concerto, which it making me a mad. Vocalise is nearly memorized for the upcoming general recital and my Bach should be ready for seminar performance when we play in our gorgeous recital hall. I'm just starting a Mozart sonata, which one I don't remember, I just know it's in D-Major and it's an earlier sonata.

From Jonathan Law
Posted on October 20, 2006 at 4:06 PM

I really don't get the system in the states. You have two years and a half years left, so keep at the violin and see how it goes. I'm sorry, but any teacher who tells their student that they should concentrate on others things at this earlier stage should be shot. Getting into grad school isn't that difficult you know, if you've got an honours degree and can handle the staple concerto repertoire (mendelssohn, bruch 1, saint saens 3, mozart concerti) then you're a strong candidate. Obviously you have to be a good player, but not fantastic - why the hell would y ou go into post grad if you were good enough already. Music management? Change it back to performance if you can, if it's what you want, the teacher has no right to stand in your way and should help you achieve it.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on October 20, 2006 at 5:09 PM

Actually, I don't think the teacher should be shot. Only in later years can a person look back and say, "Yup. Good decision. I didn't want to make it myself, but she must have seen that deep down, it wasn't a good life decision." I dropped out of theatre early in my junior year while at university and it felt for a few months like I was totally adrift. I'd thought for so many years where that was where I was going to go with my life. What a yucko feeling to get that wake-up call. But I don't regret it in the least, now. Once I rerouted myself to a more generic liberal arts degree, still in the school of speech and drama, I started feeling much better.

A more general degree opens up LOTS of windows of opportunity when you graduate. LOTS. And sometimes a teacher can see when a student - not that this is you at all, Andrew, I don't have a clue about you - is not really into it for life. Or they THINK they want to major in music performance, but, in truth, they can't pass the "Yippee" test. (Heard about this years ago when I was drudging along in a sales career, and I scoffed. Now I'm a believer. Basically says something like "When you wake up in the morning and ponder the fact that you'll be devoting eight hours to this work/job/vocation of yours, do you leap out of bed and yell "Yippee"? If not, you're in the wrong job/career.)

So. Andrew, if you're feeling the smallest bit of relief over what the teacher said, listen to that feeling. No, if you're feeling furious, sick, determined to prove her wrong, well, then, go take Jonathan's advice. No, wait. Don't shoot her. Just prove her wrong.

So, good luck to you! Follow your gut-feeling, even when it defies what you've been thinking for years. Or even when it defies what your teacher is saying.

Guts are great things to have.

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The Bad and then the Good

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