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About a Future in Music
Hi there. You probably know who i am but i had a question regarding a future in music.
With millions of musicians out in the world, how sure is a person with a degree in music going to get a job, whether teacher privately, at a university, in a public school, as a concert pianist, etc?
Is it safe to go out there and try to 'reach for your dreams'. or should a person look at the more "realistic" approach of the music/business realm?
recently i was looking in a music forum and i came across a topic. one member posted several ideas, advice, and tips on "marketing" oneself to get a job! No one is going to ask you to play. you are literally going to need to "advertise" yourself! I was blown away! I had the same feelings as own of the other members who wrote this:
"Wow! I had no idea how business-oriented (being a musician) was... I suppose I had always adhered to the naive assumption that if you're good, then it will all fall into place. Thank you VERY much for making this apparent; being 16, I should have some time to get my act together."
now along with this is the fact of colleges/conservatories. graduating from curtis, julliard, eastmann, etc does not necesarily insure a wonderful music career, (a concert musician, professor at a university), although the name may look good on a resume. The sad thing is, if we were to look at a list of the most important factors of being accepted into a prestigious music conservatory, it would probably look like this...
1)talent/ability
2)CONNECTIONS (knowing a professor well, an alumnus, board member, etc.)
for some schools connections may be even more important than the prospective student's abilities!
Taking all these factors into account (schools, job securities, marketing oneself, music's business side), is it safe to try to plunge into a career of music?
i know that every musician who wants to be professional has a dream and an assurance of a future in music, but should we stop to consider the facts, statistics, and history and question ourselves?
thank you for your time,
a troubled musician in high school
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Colleges & Universities?
Okay, let's start at the beginning. You basically want me to tell you if you're going to succeed in music. I can't really do that. BUT, about being sure about it. I'm not going to lie. You seriously have to be talented. Like stand out amidst like a ton of other pianists. Sounds hard but if you know you can do it, then you just gotta get out there and make it happen. You're trying to be realistic which is extremely smart. But i'll quote from Leonid Kogan, great violinist, "if the talent is there, the career will come". I'll just let that speak for itself. And about the marketing. People ARE going to ask you to play but you need to get out there and really make some publicity for yourself. Play where you KNOW some important people will be. In the old days, people used to give free recitals for the public to get known. That's a little old timey but you could still do that specially in New York and up North. And yes, famous musicians usually need people to market them and to help with publicity. Heifetz needed people to help with tours and such. So that's normal. You won't personally be expected to do that if you're famous. The college itself will not guarantee you anything, you're right there. But it does help to get up there in that vicinity, North, so you have chances to be where others are being "found". You'll have great teachers probably from the Metropolitan and Boston Pops maybe if you try New England. Connections are great, but people are going to love you if you can play. They'll ask you if you want to take under them. Like how i study with Ms. Mori. Well, you know about that. She asked ME to study with her. So that kind of stuff does happen!!! And let me remind you, not every musician is sure about themselves. Some want the safe way like teachers and professors. Very few "brave souls" are willing to go out there and just make it by themselves as soloists. I've considered history and statistics and it doesn't bother me. I'm fully confident of what i'm able to do. Other people are too such as my teachers and such. So that's encouraging. But you're 16!!! Right now, practice!!! Don't focus on the future as much. You have time!!! I find that trusting God is so much of a help because i know he's in my music career and He's made soo many things happen already that aren't natural. So just rest in Him because he'll pull you through always. Like he's totally going to ignore you with colleges??? Don't think so. Hope i helped and good luck!!!
4Him, Disciple (plz rate and send comments!!!)
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