Wasn't sure where top put this.. decision about college

[arabians207]

I'll try to keep this as short as I can, any opinions are appreciated greatly! I am an upcoming junior in highschool and I am pretty positive I want to major in Music Therapy and Education in College.

My problem is that I currently play both flute and violin, in band and orchestra and this last year especially has just really been tough with both classes as they are both during first period and so I have to switch back and forth. Its a huge problem as I am in the top of two orchestras, and the top of 3 bands (for grades 10-12 for both) as a sophomore, its not easy to be in the top band as a sophomore.

I really feel at this point I should make a decision on an instrument so I can just really focus on that instrument up to college. I am stronger on flute and I think I overall enjoy flute more, but is deciding now the best thing for me?

This morning my mom and I went and talked to both my band and my orch directors and obviously, My band director is happy..my orch, not so much lol. I think he understands, but obviously was NOT ready to hear what we told him.. it really was just completely thrown at him, I feel kind of bad, lol.

I have many options that don't involve quitting orch. completely like going to our fifth period orchestra (basically freshman orchestra..) and do orchestra more non competitively, but I don't really like that because I'd probably be first chair, and then it would get competitive..

I really feel like it would be best for me to choose an instrument now instead of later as there are lots of things I want to do on flute (full orchestra, pit for the musical. I could do that either way), but can't if I continue violin.. but I'd also be leaving out lots of violin if i quit like being a 4 year letter winner (im not even a first year in band, I might though I'm asking him about my points) and chamber orchestra.. but again I'd have to keep doing violin like I'm doing and not able to completely focus on one.

I am also going to be starting piano and I don't think I could add another instrument without dropping one.. my flute teacher said she didn't think I should drop orchestra, but when I added in the piano part she was almost all for it.. I also feel bad making my mom pay all this money for my lessons. With Piano, Violin, and Flute lessons that would be $62 a week..almost $250 a month.. thats an insane $2880 a year! Shes currently only paying (and would be paying with just flute/piano) $30 a week, which is still a lot of money.

I really would like to teach private lessons after college and can easily see myself teaching on flute.. not as much on violin. Also I'd maybe like to be part of a symphony and I know that there would be many more spots open as a violinist than as a flutist.. like 40 for violin compared to 4-5 on flute.

What would you guys do yourself/reccommand? This would be SO much easier if I was just bad at one of them.. I was playing my violin tonight.. and I really do love it.. but I also think I could live without it. Flute I cannot see myself quitting at all. This is all quite frustrating/stressful Sorry it was so long

[fluttiegurl]

First off, follow your heart. Only you can decide what makes you happy.

Now as for my personal opinion, I don't think you should have to choose. I work with a lot of international students who play multiple instruments (some up to four) and all are very good at what they do. Also, the more instruments you can play well, the better scholarship chances are. I should also point out that as you said, thee are more opportunities for violin than flute, but that should not hinder your decision. At the universities that I deal with, flute is also hard to get a scholarship for because there are so many people playing.

Even if you choose to concentrate on flute, don't give up playing the violin completely. You will have chances to play as long as you keep up your skill, especially once you get into college.

[fluteguy18]

I agree.

Follow your heart. If you feel that you must choose, pursue one instrument for a "major", another as a "minor" and another just for fun.

I do understand your predicament though. When I was in high school, I was torn between flute and harp. [ Yeah, as if being a guy flute player wasn't enough, I threw harp in there as well ]. Anyway, I ended up pursuing flute, and with harp on the side. I am getting my degree in Flute Performance, and I do some freelancing as a semi-pro harpist on the side.

But, in my situation, there were bigger things to consider. Portability, and Cost primarily. In order to get a harp degree I would have needed a Concert Grand pedal harp. Those are very expensive. A 'cheap' one costs about $20,000.00 and they go up in price almost indefinitely. Then, the fact that they are 6 feet tall, and weigh about 80lbs. With gas as expensive as it is, maintaining a vehicle that can transfer a harp is also very expensive.

Anyway, just follow your intuition.

[arabians207]

I think I am just going to do flute, and quit violin at school as a major thing. I will keep playing at church as I do, and do it for fun, but I just can't continue doing both so competitively.

I really just enjoy band/flute SO much more, and I have been pretty positive I want to do this for quite a while now. I didn't go to orchestra at all this week (except today as it was finals. All we were doing is sightreading and in band we are doing marching stuff for next year) and I really enjoyed not being there.. wow that sounds terrible, lol. Its just not where I belong..

I also have a more reason to just do band (although I could not do orchestra in just the fall) as I am a squad leader (with two others, one is the main section leader and my best friend and I are squad leaders, which I am ok with as the other person is a senior ) for the flute section in marching band. I do not know if the band directors decision was changed after our conversation about me wanting to just do band yesterday or not Either way, I am a part section leader yay! I figured I probably would be either way, though.

Thanks for the comments!

[Mark]

sounds like you already made your decision then.

my two cents, however, are definitely thrown at keeping violin in the mix as well.
You do not have to play it at school to continue playing and enjoying the instrument. Adding piano will likely help you in all your music, btw, so good choice there.

mark