Klarinet Archive - Posting 000263.txt from 2002/06

From: "Jeremy Yager" <bomber@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Majoring in Clarinet Performance
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 09:36:41 -0400

zwei pfennig from a non-music major.

I was told fairly early on that I had the ability to major in music or
engineering (this is not that rare of a combination). I chose
engineering because:

1) It is not overly difficult or terribly unusual to be an
engineer/(insert other discipline here) by day and a musician by night
if you have the ability to succeed in either. It is kinda difficult to
be the other way around.

2) I never wanted to wake up and not want to play and have to anyway.
If I made clarinet/bass clarinet performance my career then I know there
would be days like that. Music making for me has never been a chore--it
remains my stress relief and emotional outlet. I played in at least one
musical group every semester and marched for four years (probably to the
detriment of my GPA, but it was still >3.1).

However, upon graduating I have found that some of the community groups
that I have been involved with do not perform at the level that I am
accustomed to at college. My answer is to try to get involved (if
schedule permits) with the band of the local university. I am currently
in Charlotte, NC, playing (and taking a few classes) with UNC
Charlotte...a fine university with an up-and-coming music school, a
reasonable engineering school, and music faculty members that appreciate
non-majors who can play.

I intend to start graduate school in the spring in electrical
engineering, either at my alma mater (NC State) or at UNC Charlotte. If
I go to UNCC then I may (if possible) get involved with their B.A. music
degree with a clarinet performance/electronic music interest.

Just another way of looking at things.

(whew am I _really_ that long-winded?)
--Jeremy Yager

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