Klarinet Archive - Posting 000648.txt from 1996/10

From: Richard Johnson <rjohnso@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Decisions, decisions...
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 01:46:42 -0400

On Tue, 22 Oct 1996, Kelly Rohm wrote:

> snip

> do in college? I love music, but wonder if that is because music is the only
> thing I know. I am scared to start out as a music major, completely
> submersed in nothing but music related classes, in fear to later find out
> that music is not what I really want to do. Mabye some of you out there
> faced the same decision. What have you decided? What are your regrets (if
> any)? Those of you who have gone on to music as performance majors, are you
> finding jobs? Is it everything you expected it to be? Is there money out
> there or do you find yourself teching just to get by? ...

Did you watch "Mr. Holland's Opus"? If not you should rent it. Wonderful
movie. Music was what Mr. Holland really wanted to do, but he ended up
teaching to get by. But it wasn't really a bad thing.

I majored in music education, and taught for two trimesters. Music was
what I really wanted to do, not teaching, especially 6th and 7th graders.
I am not a professional musician by any stretch, but I am in a community
orchestra and have composed a couple of pieces, and am enjoying music. I
do something else "to get by".

Your decision really depends on you, Kelly. You know how much you love
music, how much you are willing to sacrifice for it, how much talent and
skill you have, how creative you are. Well, you may still need to find
out (or decide) about the sacrifice part. You probably should look at
many options before making a final decision. Music is worthy of your
dedication and your work, either as a vocation or as an avocation.
Godspeed to you.

Rick