I want my Master's degree!!

[blu217]

Sigh.

It's been twelve years since I earned my piano performance undergrad degree; I was so confused then about what I wanted to do with it. I'd gotten accepted to a graduate music school for piano, but ultimately opted out altogether and got a Master's degree in journalism instead.

Now I realize my calling--now, with a brand new mortgage, car payment, dog, cat and big fat corporate paycheck to afford it all. My old uni is about 1.5 hours up the road--but how to get it done? I can't overthrow the new house. My mother said she could take over the house payment... but what a burden that would be. I'd feel guilty skipping off to "find myself" and leaving it all in her hands. I thought about starting a piano studio so I could have a flexible schedule and making a daily commute, but I think I really just need to be up there again full-time during the week... I don't know how to do this. I don't know if it can be done.

  Does anyone have any experience with  something like this?

[pianistimo]

another person?  two incomes? 

i'm halfway through my master's degree -- but i'll tell you, despite the incredible fun it is - it is also a lot of work.  and, money.  my stafford loan which originated through the college is doing bizarre twists and turns even though i had a 'fixed rate.'  i started paying on it as soon as i got it - and they're still robbing me blind.

i'll tell you what to do.  you get you own loan from your own sources.  much MUCH smarter.  student loans look wonderful until payback.  they think students are dumb and won't have time to keep up with their bills.  well, i gave them a piece of my mind. 

credit union.  get into one quickly.  take out a home equity loan when you can (in a year or so?) and stay with the day job.  it might be the lowest rate on your loan you can find.  take out enough money to tide you through two years with a little extra money.  of course, pay back is always something you have to deal with, too.  15 years is a long time - but if you are serious about your master's degree - just do it.  the financial reimbusement might not come right away - but sooner or later it will.  think of the ladies who will be willing you their estates when they hear you play.  or, the possible jobs conducting the local symphony orchestra.  if i was a guy i'd want to conduct, perform, and compose. 

did you know stokowski made over 200 of his own orchestral arrangements/transcriptions.  he made them for his own performances and conducting - but when he died - people got hold of some of them and they have been quite thrilling to remember him by.  get yourself sibelius or notation.  and make sure you can work a power point presentation.  these things will help you in grad school a lot.  with an equity loan - maybe you'll get a good laptop, too.  although they sometimes offer them to students for free at the school. 

don't waste your time at uni's with bad libraries.  go to where the information is.  you don't want to be doing inter-library book loans.  or, like me, go crazy spending the first year and buy books and cd's at barnes and noble.  i haven't regretted it - but i spent more than i planned on.  thankfully, my husband was gracious during this period of spending.  (and, i had to buy a good looking bag to carry my books - leather - so they wouldn't get all ripped up)  and a pair of piano shoes that had square toes. 

now, i need a grand piano.  who's going to buy that?  obviously, my husband is becoming immune to my needs.  (just kidding).  we have three children.  you don't have any.  spend wildly.

[pianistimo]

often, grad classes are at night.  keep your journalism job.  take a few piano lessons on the weekend (i used to drive to people's homes - and would take a certain area and teach three or four lessons in it).  that saves you the time housecleaning.  seems that one thing always leads to another.   this way you can spend your time preparing for the lesson instead of taking out the trash. 

do not fear if the house falls apart.  people who are in graduate school cannot do everything at once.  my house is back to normal now - and i feel really happy that i am halfway through.  i learned a lot - and to me - it was worth it.

now, some people find that they could have learned all the information they got by just going into the library 2-3 hours per week and studying things for themselves.  they might be right - but it might take longer.  for instance, there are many journals in the periodical section of music schools that are facinating and instantly get you up-to-date in ideas and motivations in different directions.  but, in terms of hands-on with piano or conducting ... that's different to me.  you have to have a mentor guide you.  to me, if you take anything - take piano lessons, theory, conducting, and then the smatterring of courses that you really find interesting.  don't take things that you think will fulfill credit.  too much money not to have fun in grad school.  you did the yukky stuff in undergrad.  get motivated to follow some of these directions in a narrower focused way.

[pianistimo]

ps  after finding out about the loan situation - i borrowed money from my husband after that.  i'd pay 1/4 of the bill one month - wait several months - pay another 1/4.  that way, it was all cash and not a financed loan. 

start dating again.  find a working woman?  of course, if you have a family then you are again in the 'murphy's law' domain.  i've been amazed though at situations that people have worked around.  my own situation was shocking to some - because i drove 45 minutes each way to the uni.  but - i used the time to listen to tapes or cd's and it was quiet.

[blu217]

Hi pianistimo - thanks for the great advice! The info on loans is especially intriguing.

And btw... I'm female, so hopefully I'll get a ton of widowers willing me their estates when they hear me play! 

[pianistimo]

oops.  my mistake.  i should have read the introduction thread again. 

yes.  go for it.  you'll never regret it.  especially being a woman.  it puts you in a position to know what you are doing when you teach.  even though i thought i did - having more piano lessons certainly didn't hurt.  it changed my perspective on things that i thought had to be this way or that way.  seems that the more you learn, the more flexibility you are able to handle.   

[zheer]

  Bla bla bla bla bla, Arthur Rubenstine summerized it nicely," if you are a genius play at the carnegie hall".

[pianistimo]

maybe i will.

in my dreams.  (especially if i keep posting recipies)

seriously, i have dreams of playing somewhere.  i'm not sure exactly where yet - but possibly longwood gardens.  it's really beautiful.  also, there's two restaurants near where i live. 

[zheer]

  Well it is'nt over till the fat lady sings. Sheesh you have a degree in piano thats a good start.

[e60m5]

I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread, as I can well see myself in this position 20-30 years down the line.   

[zheer]

I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread, as I can well see myself in this position 20-30 years down the line.   

  Anything is pozzible. 

[blu217]

I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread, as I can well see myself in this position 20-30 years down the line.   

This actually managed to make me, newly 34, feel OLD. If it hadn't been for the guy I met in the store the other day who thought I was FOURTEEN (which I get a lot) I might actually feel bad. 

But... I don't. Weigh your options carefully, e60m5, choose wisely and you'll find yourself nicely equipped to change direction should you need to. The good thing is that although I am in this position now, I'm sure glad I laid the proper foundations to ensure I'd have the option to return to piano with little loss of blood, weight or teeth in the process. And when I left the first time, I'd already established other career options so that I if I ended up feeling music wasn't going to work out, as I did then, I had a plan B.

It's good to be flexible!

BTW, I got my grad school materials in the mail today. I was *stunned* by how little it will cost me as an in-state student to complete the degree requirements. I'm still not sure how to juggle the mortgage and income needs with classes; most are in the mornings. But the financials look ridiculously reasonable.

[e60m5]

This actually managed to make me, newly 34, feel OLD. If it hadn't been for the guy I met in the store the other day who thought I was FOURTEEN (which I get a lot) I might actually feel bad. 

But... I don't. Weigh your options carefully, e60m5, choose wisely and you'll find yourself nicely equipped to change direction should you need to. The good thing is that although I am in this position now, I'm sure glad I laid the proper foundations to ensure I'd have the option to return to piano with little loss of blood, weight or teeth in the process. And when I left the first time, I'd already established other career options so that I if I ended up feeling music wasn't going to work out, as I did then, I had a plan B.

It's good to be flexible!

BTW, I got my grad school materials in the mail today. I was *stunned* by how little it will cost me as an in-state student to complete the degree requirements. I'm still not sure how to juggle the mortgage and income needs with classes; most are in the mornings. But the financials look ridiculously reasonable.

Ah, I definitely didn't mean my statement to imply that!!!  My apologies - now that I look back I could have worded it better to avoid confusion!  I meant after my career in law (or whatever it turns out to be  ) it's a likely path for me to follow - but time will tell.