Klarinet Archive - Posting 000380.txt from 1999/05

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Performance Degrees
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 22:22:13 -0400

Hannah Zoller wrote:

<<<Hi my name is Hannah Zoller, and I'm in 8th grade. . . . I love playing,
and I take every chance I can to play with a group, and to learn and expand
my knowledge, but it's still discouraging. I don't know if I should really
think about it or not. . . . I'm also interested in physical/occupational
therapy, and I don't know if it would be better to concentrate on that
instead. Help!>>>

Hi Hannah--

I'm the guy that counseled the college student against switching from Music
Education to a performance degree. That person has a difficult decision to
make--they are at a crossroads in their life, and need to choose a
direction.

You don't. Eighth grade is awfully early to be making decisions like
this--or even worrying about them. At your age, the only thing you should
be doing (IMHO) is keeping your options open . . . and practicing, of
course. If you love playing clarinet, by all means continue to do so.

Please don't take my earlier advice as a call to quit playing--or even to
quit working hard at it. If you are truly interested in playing clarinet as
your living, these are critical years for you. My advice is to get the best
teacher you can and practice, practice, practice.

Do not worry that you're wasting your time should you decide to do something
else later, because you're not. The discipline and mental organization from
your practicing will make you a better law student, or med student, or
computer scientist, or . . . (well, you get the drift). I firmly believe
that music education is the single best thing you can do for your future, no
matter what that future is.

So . . . get off the computer and get back in the practice room where you
belong! ( ;-) )

kjf

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