Music Week: A Music Career is Not For Everyone

I’ve been music lover since I was a child. I think it all started when I was cast as Molly in my local community theater’s production of Annie. I got the part because I was cute and could act as well as a 7 year old can, but I couldn’t sing at all. All my singing solos were given to other orphans because I was that bad.

Despite a lack of natural musical talent, I continued to be involved with music. When I was in the 6th grade, I joined the school band and learned how to play the clarinet. I continued with the band throughout high school.

I really wanted to learn how to sing, so my parents got me private lessons once a week at a local college. In my senior year of high school, I also joined the school choir. It was during this time of my life that I was preparing for college, and I came up with the idea that I would major in music.

I pursued the major and had to audition before I could even start signing up for music classes. Now, I don’t have any fear of speaking publicly, but I do have a fear of singing by myself in front of other people. Despite this fear, I managed to get accepted into the music program. I got an adviser who also gave me private lessons, and I was really excited. But the wind soon went out of my sails when I started my piano class.

This class was mandatory and it was one that I was looking really forward to. I always had wanted to learn how to play the piano. Unfortunately, the teacher assumed that we knew a little about playing the piano, which I didn’t. I quickly  fell behind and ended up dropping the class.

During my year as a music major, I realized one important fact. I did not want to be a teacher, and since that was pretty much the only career path I had since I wasn’t very good, I changed my major.

I was still involved in music throughout my years in college. I was in the woman’s chorus every semester except a few when I had class conflicts. I also was in the band one semester as well, though I’m not sure how I got in because while I was a fair singer, I really was bad on my clarinet.

I don’t regret my year as a music major, though I’m glad I didn’t try and pursue it longer. I ended up with a degree in Broadcasting which I think I was better suited for (though I don’t use that degree much either). I applaud anyone who is a musician for a career, because it is hard and was too hard for me.