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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000089.txt from 2003/08
From: EnglandWLa15@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Student needs advice from professionals
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 10:49:54 -0400
I am in my second year of school, receiving my bachelors in music education
and bassoon performance. I went into college thinking that I wanted to be a
high school music teacher and no one could tell me any different. Now, having
done camps, and lessons and what not, I'm starting to see the other end. It was a
lot of fun being a high school music STUDENT, but being the teacher isn't
what I thought it would be, and I haven't even gotten the full expierience yet. I
am wondering if I'll be able to go from practicing as much as I do, and
playing the awesome music my college orchestra plays, and being surrounded by
people with such a high musical understanding, back to high school. I've been back
to visit my high school several times and I see the way that some students
treat my director, and just don't know if I could do it. Also, it's so
frusterating musically. Sometimes the kids just don't understand things that I find so
simple.
On the other hand, my high school music teacher changed my life, and the
oppertunity to do that for kids and have music really effect them, is what made me
want to teach music in the first place. I'm just wondering, if the
frusteration, time away from your family, and putting up with students who just don't
care about what you're trying to do for them, is worth the gratification of
seeing a students who truely loves what they're doing, and appriciates you.
Also, I am a pretty serious bassoonist. I don't want to give up playing. I
don't see the point in putting SO much effort into playing well and learning so
much about my instrument in college, just to turn around and have no time to
play because I'm doing marching band, and jazz band and going on trips every
weekend. I've considered two things, and this is the purpose of the e-mail, to
get professional opinions on my ideas.
1.) Apply to graduate schools, go through my masters and doctorate degrees
and find a university to teach bassoon at.
2.) Go directly to teaching HS and then, when it's time to get my masters
(schools require you to after a period of time) just get my masters and my
docterate and then teach at a university and see which I prefer. The problem with
this is that teaching for the I believe 4 years that it is before I'd have to
get my masters would mean 4 years of a lot less time to practice, and the type
of grad schools I want to go to (I want to study with Frank Morelli) require a
very high level of musicality. That would be 4 years out of playing with an
orchestra, and without the constant help of an instructor (I actually live with
her right now). When I graduate undergrad school, I will be at the peak level
of musicianship and I just don't have the money to audition to the schools I
want to go to multiple times.
The reason I am asking now for advice is, I need to decide by next year what
I am going to do, because I will obviousy need to start preparing for
auditions, but also you have to apply to graduate schools earlier then I am allowed to
do my student teaching. Otherwise, I would just student teach, see how I
liked it, and then decide, but I'll have to decide before I get that expierience.
Overall, I have a very strong love for music, and love for my instrument, but
most of all, a very strong love for the power of music education, and I'm
very confused about what I want my life to be (I suppose just like any other 19
year old) and any advice that could be offered by someone who's already been
through this is greatly appriciated. My apologies about the length.
Sincerly,
Jacqui Gorski
Eastern Washington University
