i'm a sophomore in high school and feel like i've got a long way to go until i have to decide what i want to do with my life, but i know it's a lot closer than i wish it were..
i've played flute for 4 yrs and am playing in highly competitive ensembles in the boston area (New England Conservatory Prep and Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras). my parents recently invested in a new, professional flute for me, but we're sort of at a stopping point.
right now, i can't see myself doing anything BUT performance in the future--nothing else seems quite so satisfying to me, in every sense.. i might consider myself a "live and breathe music" person, but i often can't find the time topractice hours on end every day, even though i would like to. i know my parents would be willing to support me on a musical career track if i exerted myself and showed some serious personal commitment (even if they weren't so happy about the professional music atmosphere). the only problem is, i'm also sort of on the valedictorian track at my school. i'm in the highest level classes offered and manage to pull all A's. up till now, i haven't really had a problem balancing my music and my school, but i'm really hitting a wall.
should i give up one or the other, convincing myself that i'll only get a career in music OR something else, or should i continue to try to keep a balance between the two?
a couple of other things.. one reason i think this bothers me so much--a fear of failure. ("what if i don't make it in music?" "what will people think of me if i drop down to lower level classes?" etc.)
also, i've played piano for 8 yrs, which often adds to my stress. i don't enjoy it half as much as i enjoy flute, but i know a good knowledge of piano is essential in music.
HELP.
careers..
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band_orchestra_geek
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- Location: massachusetts
careers..
We are the music-makers
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Well, this is a personal decision that you must make on your own. I believe that you can do both, but realize that you must find a balance between your music and your academics [particuarly if music will be your career].
So, if this means still trying to be valedictorian, then go for it. Actually I really support that, as long as you know that if you dont succeed [have to take a lower class, or get a B+ in a class....] it doesnt make you a failure. It is perfectly okay. I myself was on the valedictorian track until my sophmore year as well, but I then decided I needed a balance. Colleges want you to be well rounded. So, if you end up with a 3.5-3.75 GPA with honors, but are highly involved, then they will for the most part look at you as if you had a 4.0. I had a friend who had a 4.0 who did get some scholarship money [academics and soccer] but still not full tuition. I myself had a 3.75 but I was much more involved. I came out with tuition and most of my room and board paid for.
So, just try to find a balance but dont give up on your dreams
So, if this means still trying to be valedictorian, then go for it. Actually I really support that, as long as you know that if you dont succeed [have to take a lower class, or get a B+ in a class....] it doesnt make you a failure. It is perfectly okay. I myself was on the valedictorian track until my sophmore year as well, but I then decided I needed a balance. Colleges want you to be well rounded. So, if you end up with a 3.5-3.75 GPA with honors, but are highly involved, then they will for the most part look at you as if you had a 4.0. I had a friend who had a 4.0 who did get some scholarship money [academics and soccer] but still not full tuition. I myself had a 3.75 but I was much more involved. I came out with tuition and most of my room and board paid for.
So, just try to find a balance but dont give up on your dreams
I'll second fluteguy in that this is your decision. Regardless of what you decide, many people change careers over the course of their life, so this isn't your only shot to figure out a career.
Also, I don't think this is an either or situation, but a balancing act between school and music. For classes, there's middle ground between taking the highest level of classes while becoming valedictorian and taking lower level classes. If you get an occaisional B, it will be ok. If you take a lower level class, it's also ok. Only one person will be a valedictorian, and the rest of the students are not failures. However, I do encourage you get good grades and take some challenging classes; this will keep your options open, and it be a shame not to get into a music school or a scholarship because you completely let academics go. Also, even if music isn't you're career, there are many community bands and orchestras you can play in, so you don't have to stop playing.
As for flute, I can't tell you what it takes to become a professional, but again there's a lot of gray area between practicing hours a day and not at all. If you're pressed for time, try to be very focused and efficient when practicing. Someone intently practicing the fundamentals for 1/2 an hour can make much more progress than someone noodling about for two hours. This means paying close attention while practicing tone exercises, scales, etc. If your mind wanders, you're not being efficient. It's ok to ease off practicing during finals week or other hectic times.
Could you cut back some on the piano? Is there anything else you could cut back on?
About failure:
Failing is part of life. Just because you fail doesn't mean you are a failure. To succeed you must try. If you try, you will sometimes fail. If you never try, you will never succeed. Edison had many failures before he successfully made a light bulb. Regardless of your career, most people go through a number of interviews (or auditions) before they get a job. A good approach is to learn from 'failures' (interviews/auditions/other), so you can do better next time.
This will work out. I hope this helps.
Also, I don't think this is an either or situation, but a balancing act between school and music. For classes, there's middle ground between taking the highest level of classes while becoming valedictorian and taking lower level classes. If you get an occaisional B, it will be ok. If you take a lower level class, it's also ok. Only one person will be a valedictorian, and the rest of the students are not failures. However, I do encourage you get good grades and take some challenging classes; this will keep your options open, and it be a shame not to get into a music school or a scholarship because you completely let academics go. Also, even if music isn't you're career, there are many community bands and orchestras you can play in, so you don't have to stop playing.
As for flute, I can't tell you what it takes to become a professional, but again there's a lot of gray area between practicing hours a day and not at all. If you're pressed for time, try to be very focused and efficient when practicing. Someone intently practicing the fundamentals for 1/2 an hour can make much more progress than someone noodling about for two hours. This means paying close attention while practicing tone exercises, scales, etc. If your mind wanders, you're not being efficient. It's ok to ease off practicing during finals week or other hectic times.
Could you cut back some on the piano? Is there anything else you could cut back on?
About failure:
Failing is part of life. Just because you fail doesn't mean you are a failure. To succeed you must try. If you try, you will sometimes fail. If you never try, you will never succeed. Edison had many failures before he successfully made a light bulb. Regardless of your career, most people go through a number of interviews (or auditions) before they get a job. A good approach is to learn from 'failures' (interviews/auditions/other), so you can do better next time.
This will work out. I hope this helps.
The real race for valedictorian doesn't really start heating up until junior year where you're hit with higher level classes (especially English AP/IB classes which can be a nightmare), and if sophomore year is bogging you down with academics, junior year will prove to be one of the most enduring years you will have, even if you finish upper level math and sciences sophomore year. The gap in academics between sophomore and junior year is a pretty huge leap, and most students on the "valedictorian track" realize that when they or their peers can no longer stay in the running because of the difference.
Hopefully that didn't scare you (I didn't mean for it to), but that's a reality my peers and I had to face when we got to junior year and started taking college-level classes. The future and your academics are important things to consider, but there's also you living in the present and what you want to do now. Your opinions might change about what you want to do with your life, and I'll give you an example, too:
Best of luck to you. :]
Hopefully that didn't scare you (I didn't mean for it to), but that's a reality my peers and I had to face when we got to junior year and started taking college-level classes. The future and your academics are important things to consider, but there's also you living in the present and what you want to do now. Your opinions might change about what you want to do with your life, and I'll give you an example, too:
It all depends on what you want and what you think will benefit in the short and long run. You've still got the rest of sophomore year and junior and senior year to look forward to and I'm sure you'll find the answer the your questions if you don't find the answer you need any time soon. Your opinions and interests may or may not change over the course of the next two years, but you'll eventually come upon a good balance.I was on the track for valedictorian as well until junior year when my interests started to change and I was leaning toward what I wanted to do, and that was playing the flute. My childhood goal was to become valedictorian, but it really just stopped there.. I didn't have a set college or university to go to, and that was a goal I chose when I was a in 3rd grade, so if I was valedictorian, I'd be happy.
High school and marching field shows came along and I fell in love with music more than receiving the honor of valedictorian. I didn't mind if I had a B or two stuck with all of my other classes because I was enjoying what I was doing, and that was being involved with school band, youth orchestras, and auditioning for honor bands whenever I could.
Now, I'm a senior and waiting for my colleges to reply, but I'm still changing my goals even now. I transferred schools senior year just for the music program since the music program at my old school was shut down. For college, I had my eye set on a few UCs that are well-known for sciences and medicine, but I also applied to a Cal State with a really competitive music department as my back-up/last choice school (the UCs I applied to don't have music programs as strong as the Cal State). I was accepted to all of the universities I applied to, but the Cal State had the music program that I was interested.
But, even though I have the choice of choosing any of the four colleges I have interest in, I'm still unsure of what I want to do, and time is definitely running out. I'm caught between choosing what I love to do (taking a music performance major) or working toward a career and working/successful future.
Best of luck to you. :]