The Difference Between "Wanting it" and "Choosing it": Advice for Music Majors.

Congratulations: You decided to major in music! As a former music major myself, I can tell you these will be some of the most exciting and meaningful years of your life. If you've already been here for a while, you can probably relate to a few of these things:

• Your manager needs you to skip an ensemble concert because your co-worker called out of that essential Saturday night shift. "Will they even notice you're gone?"

• You have that coveted practice room signed out for the next two hours, but your friend just rolled up and asked if you wanted to go get McDonald's with them.

• You have a recital this semester, but callbacks for that marching group are also right around the corner.

• You have a lesson tomorrow, but you're feeling the heat because time slipped away from you after that science homework.

People like to say "you have to want" a career in the arts, but we're bad at talking about what "choosing it" actually costs. I'm speaking as a musician, but I'm sure this could apply to any of the performing arts.

I see students every single day who tell me "I want this more than anything". The thing is, I 100% believe them; But I am also here to kick things off with the hard truth: Wanting it and actually choosing it are two completely different things. Buckle up, because I'm aware this is about to be a hot topic and I may catch some heat.

When I say "wanting it isn't enough", a lot of eyebrows raise because that sounds callous and kind of gate-keepy. In an ideal world, wanting it should be enough. However, for today's students especially, there are so many other things throughout the week that are vying for your time: Gen-Ed classes. Extra-curricular activities. Community groups. Part-time jobs to help off-set the cost of college. Some of these things are necessary, and some are things that you are choosing to put in your own way. Rather than just rambling, let's chunk this up into the five most common issues I see as a college professor.

"Finding" Time To Practice

As a collegiate music teacher, one of my biggest pet peeves is "I didn't have time to practice". Maybe this sounds heartless, but debunk it with me. Can you imagine looking at your calculus, physics, or engineering professor and saying "sorry, I didn't have time to do the homework"? To a lot of students, that's unthinkable, mostly because music feels so subjective, and how can somebody really measure the progress of learning a piece of music compared the progress of finishing a list of physics problems? Well, as a professor that's my job, and it's way simpler than you think. Think of your musical progress like homework. Concerts? Those are tests. Your recitals are your term papers. Just because it's an art doesn't mean it can't be academic. So here's my advice: get into that Google or phone calendar and start planning out your day. Color code your responsibilities, and you'll see just how much empty space you have in your day. It might be hard, but some (not all) days, you will have to choose the practice room over that coffee trip with your friends. The sooner you start thinking this way, the easier it will be.

"Tell Your Director You Have To Work"

Oof. This one I get, and it's hard. Working a part-time job is a necessity for many students now more than ever. Through my Bachelor's, my M.M., and even my DMA, I delivered pizzas, cleaned dorms, and even worked as a dietary aide in a hospital kitchen for several months. I'm repaying student loans. I understand the grind. However, just as you made a commitment to your manager, you also made a commitment to your degree, your teacher, and your studio, and if you want to pursue it that badly, you will figure it out. Here is the process that mostly worked for me to make both of these things work:

• The moment I sat down in my job interview, I explained my degree situation to my manager. Studying music isn't like other degrees, and it often locked me into a specific non-negotiable schedule. Once I was in good with a job I liked, I would set a schedule and talk with them each semester.

• If my potential manager agreed with these terms, I would also often show up to the interview with my list of non-negotiable concert and dress rehearsal dates. You'd be surprised how many managers are open to this strategy if you are respectful and TELL THEM IN ADVANCE, especially when you tell them it affects your grade.

• Here is the most difficult part: If my manager ever went back on any of these agreements, I made arrangements to find a new job. I know a lot of people would call me unreasonable, but I made a commitment to my schooling just as much as any employer. You have to choose it.

The Marching Arts

Yes, it's time to have that talk. I'll probably lose some people here, but let me preface this with I DO NOT HATE THE MARCHING ARTS. I am currently a front ensemble technician myself, and I think that marching band and drum corps offer some incredible benefits in terms of leadership, responsibility, and performance skills. I would also be lying if I didn't admit that when my students don't manage their time efficiently, it becomes one of the biggest detractors from their progress in school.

Here is my stance: A responsible marching arts leadership should not/will not knowingly ask you to tank your life-savings and your education in exchange for one season of marching. The same is especially true for collegiate marching bands: a responsible music educator will have your best interests at heart, not theirs.

There are marching organizations that recruit and educate responsibly, and there are orgs who simply look to attract as many paying audition candidates as possible, even if it means being dishonest about your odds and preying on the potential student FOMO. I have seen so many fellow students get convinced to miss concerts, give up performance opportunities, and even risk graduating on time because they were convinced that "x group" was the ultimate priority. I would implore you to think past your age-out season. Do you have enough material to succeed in the rest of your career?

Cliff notes: I (and probably your teacher too) are in support if you decide you're about that life and you want to join a high-level marching group that has your best interests at heart.

However, the hard truth is just as I don't accept physics homework as an excuse for not practicing, I'm not inclined to accept "I was too busy practicing for -insert marching group here-" either. As an adult, it is your responsibility to plan accordingly for every part of your life.

"What's In It For Me?"

This is a big one. The thing about the arts we never talk about it having to work your way up the ranks. As a student, you will be expected to view a lot of things as an opportunity. The unpaid gig accompanying that choir on djembe. Filling in for someone in the school ensemble. The sub gig for an orchestra when your name wasn't in the program. I get it.

In the age of "I'm protecting my peace and not getting paid in exposure", we have forgotten that a lot of the arts still work on a who-you-know, not a what-you-know basis. Sad, but true; here's what students never think about though.

You take the unpaid choir gig; the choir director might write you a letter of recommendation. You subbed in the orchestra, and when they need a full-time player, your name will be in the pot for potential candidates. You filled in for your friend and played really well that day, and the director takes that into account during your next semester audition.

There IS a payoff, it just isn't immediate gratification. It's worth the wait if you put in the effort.

Family and Friends

I saved the most difficult one for last, and I'm going to tread lightly through this because I know that everybody's life and situation is different. I am wildly aware of my privilege in this area because while I didn't come from a wealthy background with an overwhelming amount of resources, my family was supportive of my long-term goals in music.

Let me lead with this: I am NOT telling you to choose your career over your family.

What I am advising is that if and when you can, you should at least attempt to "go to the mat" for what you care about. Sometimes you might need to have a hard conversation about practicing versus your sister's dog's birthday party, or the amount of time you can hang out with friends when you have homework and practicing to do.

The common misconception for most loved ones is that majoring in music is just an extended version of "band in college". It isn't. Just like a STEM degree, it comes with a multi-year commitment of intensive study and financial investment. Moreover, it comes as a surprise to most people that as a professor, my college students are considered adults by the law and I am actually forbidden from speaking to their parents about anything related to their college career without their permission. If you think a career in the arts is meant for you, the truth is that it's your battle, you are going to have to fight for it both academically and professionally. I am here to help every step of the way, but ultimately the choices are in your hands.

The Take-Away

The arts are hard. As a teacher, I make sure to tell students that experiencing life and spending time with family is just as important as being a successful student, because it's true. There's also a hard talk that has to be had about the unavoidable grinding that must happen in order to be successful in this field. On days when it's the last thing you want to do, you have to choose it.

While there aren't nearly enough resources to help students navigate keeping their life intact while pursuing such a difficult and sometimes tumultuous degree, we as a workforce are getting better at talking about it. As a teacher, I am always available for when my students need some help in how to manage the stress. If you do some research you'll find some great presentations on responsible work/life balance and how to keep your head on straight. (Share them here in the comments if you have them!) So keep your head up, music major. If you stay committed, you're going to make it!