Hello. I've missed you.
Not actually, but in any case...
So I'm paying to go to college for music. My parents are paying for me to go to college for music, rather... or if you want to go that far- my father's employer is pretty much making sure I turn into a well rounded musician. And why?
There are a few things about music school that have flustered me over the short experience I've had here. Don't get me wrong, most of it is absolutely fantastic and I've learned so much- but I always wonder if I'm getting something here that it would be impossible to get somewhere outside of higher education. One main thing that has been on my mind is that every musician is different. On the academic level it is agreed that every musician is different and you have to find your own path. Unfortunately this is not paralleled by the curriculum. We are all funneled into one standardized system for a "well rounded musician." In my particular situation half of us classical, the other half jazz. If I were a person that wanted to do exactly what the program was gearing me towards I would not have a problem with it, but alas I'm talking about it and that's not the case. I'm a very commercial oriented musician at this point in my life and the classical world is getting more interesting and less appealing as time goes on. I love it and can appreciate it more than I ever could in the past, and I wouldn't subject my worst enemy to some of the extremist conservative views that seem to dominate the market. Being in the classical program, and nearly locked in at this point- makes me a little... uncomfortable.
I still have plenty to learn, specifically in the jazz style and theory areas. This semester I went out on a limb and am taking some courses on that side and I'm learning more than I am in any other course- and I'm getting zero credit toward graduating. It seems as though there is a problem when you are learning the most useful information in college during classes that nobody even suggested you take. [as an aside I've been told that people learn the most in this situation because it's the only time you're there simply because you want to learn and not even an ounce because you have to be, so perhaps if in an alternate reality it were required- I might not be learning as much... so there's that]
So is it worth it is the question at the end of every day...
In my humble opinion- the goal of music school is to get somebody's playing abilities great enough to be able to perform in the world proficiently. I've had to turn down performance opportunities a few times (and counting) because I have classes. It seems to me that these opportunities are the most important part of a young musician's career and it is very disconcerting to deem academic work simply more important.
In my experiences so far, it is indeed worth it. Again... For me, it is worth it. The problem is that I honestly don't think most of the people around me are getting enough out of it for it to be worth it for them, and are wasting their time and or money. It's not saying they're not good enough or talented enough, it's just saying that they could be using their time and money more effectively elsewhere (and definitely some are not good enough or talented enough :-P)
So this is kind of my first installment of "Is It Bullshit?! A Practical Approach To Investing Massive Amounts of Money With Absolutely No Guaranteed Return"
-Christopher B
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