Cookie-Cutter Extracurriculars

mommusic
Fri, 02 May 2008 18:06:26 +0000

A few observations from reading this thread:

I have never heard the term “playing an instrument ‘competitively,’” though I of course know what you mean. I’ve just always thought that was a sports thing. (And I’m a musician.)

High school athletes used to play one sport, or perhaps two. Now they are all-season athletes, going from one intensive season to another (and sometimes they overlap.) This leaves no time for anything else, and can result in stress injuries to growing bodies.

Some young people can manage to do both sports and music at a high level, if they are “natural” at one or both. I’ve seen kids combine theater and soccer or basketball. Now “high level” to me doesn’t necessarily mean they will major in theater or get an athletic scholarship, but if they are good at something, why give it up if they can manage to do both? Having reached reasonable competence, this is something they enjoy and may want to continue in college (or beyond) at some level.

OTOH, when theater and/or sports are so time-consuming that they interfere with ACADEMICS, that’s when it’s time to call a timeout. I have seen kids so consumed with theater (and they are good but not star quality) that their grades suffer, and they’re not even taking the most difficult courses.

So…balance in all things, I guess. Sometimes parents have to be the gatekeeper for these overachievers.

And as far as my ECs…besides piano-playing, I have the usual social/community things, but recently I took up the flute again after not having played it since HS, pretty much. I am so glad I learned the fingerings when I was young! It was not too difficult to get my facility back, and I am having so much fun!