 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katie7174
Date: 2005-07-09 05:24
Hi, I'm a 19yr old soon-to-be college sophomore in music ed... I'm in extreme need of advice. I went to school, and I hated it. It wasn't the right school for me at all. I want a die - hard living-breathing-my life is music school... and thats not where I went. Also, I feel I don't connect with my private teacher... at all. I want to transfer, but I had no way of transportation for a mid-year or even audition for this upcoming fall. I really, really don't want to go back... I'm taking lessons back home with a teacher that is phenomenal, but he is only here for summers. His lessons are teaching me so much, more than I feel I got at school, and I dread returning. What should I do? Take a year off to audition? Try to get into spring semester programs?
Please give me any advice possible... I'd appreciate it ALOT.
Thank you so much.
-Katie
PS- I'm a performance major at heart.
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-07-09 06:48
Katie - goodness, you're not alone in your hatred of high school. I had good reason to hate mine (being musical at a sporting high school isn't a good combination). Where do you live?
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-07-09 07:13
"PS- I'm a performance major at heart."
So then maybe you should audition to become one when you get the chance. Anyway, have you checked out sending audition tapes? Some schools accept that.
You have to do what you have to do, but I'd advise against taking a year off just because I've heard of people doing that and not returning because of circumstances. It's better to be safe that sorry.
Bradley
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-07-09 12:52
There are other methods of transportation - Bus, train, etc
I wouldn't return to your current situation as if you really hate it, then leave. Your "Summer only" teacher - why is that the situation? Could you be accepted to his school year school or is it too competitive?
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-07-09 13:21
Have you compiled a list of schools in your area that have a strong music performance program? Why don't you try calling their music departments, explain your circumstances, and ask what your options are? You have nothing to lose and you might be pleasantly surprised. Good luck, there is a solution out there.
Sue Tansey
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-07-09 13:59
As usual in such situations you have not provided enough information for anyone to offer meaningful advice or opinions. It sounds to me like you just want support for not returning to school.......so you can use it to convince your parents.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2005-07-09 14:07
Is there an outstanding teacher in the same area as your school? When I was a student, I was a music major. Because I didn't like the teaching of my teacher, I started taking lessons on the side. Even though I became more competitive at my school, I learned the one thing that matters the most: internal drive, regardless of what is around you.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-07-09 18:23
BobD is the best......and I mean that in the most sarcastic way possible.
Bradley
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-07-09 18:33
Katie7174
I'm so sorry to hear that!! Do check with other universities to see what your options are. Whatever you do, don't drop out or take a year off unless you have no other option. Most that do, get caught up in life and don't return until they have to (which as you already might know would be very very difficult). If you can, try to take a lesson or two with the applied teacher (clarinet??) before deciding which college/university you want to attend. This is to get a feel for the professor and see how he/she teaches. This will help prevent another recurrence of "teacher-who-I-don't-connect-with-which-in-turn-makes-me-not-want-to-go-back". Keep us posted as to how it all turns out!!! Good Luck!!!! Hope this Helps!!!!
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-07-09 20:29
I had some additional thoughts.
I noticed that you refer to your school in the past tense, as though you are done. Have you quit? You said you are a music ed major, so was I, although initially I had some disdain for "ed". Although your private teacher is important, in the long term it's your total musical education that will matter, so your other classes are important too. As you progress through school you will have more music study in a variety of areas, and you will broaden your scope and depth of understanding.
There were two clarinet teachers when I went to undergraduate school, one was considered the one who had the better students, and I was assigned to the "other" one. He did not have the professional gigs the first teacher had, and it was considered lower class to have the guy I had. I didn't think much of him at first. In fact, I had other problems with him, search earlier posts. Something clicked with me my junior year, though, and my playing really started improving. Sometimes these things have a way of working themselves out.
Hope I made some sense. No one on this board can tell you what you should do. Just offering a different perspective, I guess.
Sue
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Author: Katie7174
Date: 2005-07-09 21:13
I'm sorry if some of you misunderstood...
I'm not looking for a way out of school, and no I didn't quit.
I want to go to school, very badly.
However, it's July and I missed all the deadlines to get into another school... most of them are January - March at the latest.
I don't want to take a year off...
The summer teacher I talk about teaches at a school that does not offer a music major... that's why I haven't auditioned at that school.
Thank you for the advice ..
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2005-07-09 21:14
I agree with Brandon....go back to school and find someone "on the side" that will help you with your performance.
jbutler
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-10 03:27
Let me join those who have argued against taking time off from school. Stick it out, but find what is fun; and do some of that, too. You're going to be amazed at the ways that your "education" manifests itself.
Learning is a change in behavior. Are you noticing any changes in yourself? Or, are not really learning? Or haven't you noticed?
One of the best performers I know was an "ed" major; but that didn't stop her from playing beautifully and being in great demand. Do prospective employers care if an applicant has a performance degree? (As a serious hobbyist, I don't really know).
Bob Phillips
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Author: Katie7174
Date: 2005-07-10 04:08
I feel like theres more out there than where I'm at now. It's very laid-back..
Also, I didn't feel much different after my lessons, at all. That's what freaked me out... after my lessons here this summer I want to explode with all that I've learned.. it's amazing
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