Klarinet Archive - Posting 000252.txt from 2003/03

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] re: anger and jealousy
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 09:17:15 -0500

Robyn, I really like what you're saying here. I just had piano student =
who
quit. She also took clarinet lessons from me last year and her Mom told =
me
this girl felt I compared her to another student I had. The fact is =
this
girl compared HERSELF to my other student and asked me questions about =
how
she played as well as she did. My answer was always, "she works and
practices very hard." If you don't mind I may print your post and send =
it
to her. She lives in a small town also and is sort of a "big fish in a
small pond." She loves music and is talented but hasn't had to work =
very
hard because she's already the "best in town." On some level, the =
student
knows this but has "blamed" teachers for the fact that she doesn't play =
as
well as she would like. I really think your thoughts might be better =
heard
from someone like you since you are a student.

Christy Erickson

-----Original Message-----
From: Robyn Brown [mailto:rjbrown@-----.edu]=20
Subject: [kl] re: anger and jealousy

Rebecca,
As a college student who is smack dab in between you and most (all?) of =
the=20
people responding to this thread (in age and experience), I feel =
inclined=20
to add my 2 cents to this discussion. First of all, I agree completely=20
that if you love playing, by all means, never, ever quit playing. I =
know=20
from personal experience with one of my good adult friends that quitting =

music would be something that you would regret for the rest of your life =

(and I know many of the responses have backed this up).

A little background: I am a clarinet performance major at a smallish =
state=20
school in Washington state. When I was in high school I was in much the =

same position you are now. I was fairly well known in the music scene =
and=20
took home a lot of the honors. I'm not the best at my college, but I =
would=20
say I'm near the top (however, considering our size, I'm not sure if =
that's=20
saying much). I started college with a double major in music =
performance=20
and music education (as a backup, in case the performance thing doesn't=20
work). I eventually dropped the ed major because I couldn't handle all =
the=20
pressure and wasn't getting enough practice time.

But here's the point of this rambling message (sorry, it's way past my=20
bedtime and I'm avoiding my homework for a bit)....I debate with myself =
at=20
least once a week whether or not I want to go into music performance. =
The=20
questions are endless, and are much the same as the ones you are asking=20
yourself now...am I good enough? can I make money? etc. I've flipped=20
through the course catalog numerous times looking to see if there is a=20
major that I would enjoy that would guarantee me a more solid=20
career. There never is. Also, I don't get a whole lot of support from =
the=20
people around me. Most say "there isn't much money in music" or "you'd=20
better have a back-up". These comments are frustrating, and I guarantee =

that you will get them. But for me, they have only served to strengthen =
my=20
resolve that this is what I want to do. Whenever I start to get down on =

myself and wonder if I'm doing the right thing, I remind myself that I =
have=20
to make believers of those people who don't support me. I don't know =
what=20
has happened in your life recently that has caused you to have a =
"reality=20
check" but I would say, think it over carefully, decide if it has merit, =

and if not, ignore it. Don't let it stop you. Allow it to strengthen =
YOUR=20
resolve.

I get very frustrated sometimes with what I'm doing and how I compare to =

others, and it wears me down. But...music feeds me so much. I'm sure =
you=20
know that there is nothing better than the (natural) high you get after =
a=20
successful performance (I am so hyper after band and orchestra concerts=20
;-) And that's what keeps me going. So, I apologize for the lengthy=20
message, and I hope my late night ramblings make some kind of sense. I=20
guess my point is that what you are going through is completely normal, =
and=20
(unfortunately) it will almost surely follow you through college until =
you=20
get out into the working world and land yourself an orchestra job or a=20
teaching job (assuming you do decide to go into music). At that point =
you=20
know that you can succeed (because you have). As for me, I'm in the =
middle=20
of that journey and I have no clue where it will take me. I must say =
it's=20
at the same time exhilarating and terrifying. So, for whatever it's =
worth,=20
there's my story. I think it's time for bed, before I get more =
incoherent.
:-)

Robyn

P.S. Don't be angry. Be inspired. Find those people who play better =
than=20
you and hang around them. Learn from them. Find out what they are =
doing=20
to be so good.

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