What I love -should I pursue it?

SmithieandProud
Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:47:55 +0000

One option to consider might be pursuing another major that would let you work with orchestras or within the music industry, but without necessarily being a concert musician. For example, let’s say you wanted to pursue law, maybe you could also try to get an internship or two with the business office of a symphony or orchestral group. Then later on, you could try to get a job working on the business end of the symphony. A lot of symphonies and other organizations need lawyers, accountants, marketing experts (especially ones that are good at social media and can help them reach younger audiences), etc. in order to keep the symphony running. Jobs like that can come with some good perks, like free performances, and you still get to remain connected to what you love, and in fact, you get to help preserve what you love for future generations and help people access it in new ways.

I had a friend who is passionate about the work that historical museums do. But she was concerned about the bleak job prospects, especially for people without Phd’s, in that museum field. But she was also very good with numbers and is now strongly considering getting a graduate degree in accounting and then trying to get a job in the business office of a museum.

As others have said, you don’t have to be quite so black and white about it. If you love music, you can continue to study and perform in college even if you neither major nor minor it. I had a college friend who was a very talented musician, but majored in pyschology and now is going to grad school in a totally different, health related field. However, she played and took music classes all through college, performing with our college’s top ensembles. And after college she joined a local symphony and even joined a band that fuses rock music with traditional instruments. They’re going to put out an album soon, and while they’ll probably never be on the billboard charts, she’s gotten to keep playing and practicing while also pursuing other things that she loves.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t at least put yourself out there and try to audition if that’s what you want. But keep in mind that it doesn’t just have to be one thing or the other. There are lots of ways to do what you love and stay connected with it. And if you really love music, as it sounds like you do, you’ll keep going with it in some capacity, even if you’re not a professional musician.