Master's = bad idea

[earthward]

As if getting my undergraduate degree wasn't hellish enough I for some reason decided to continue onto a master's program and I've had major regrets ever since. Piano performance is way too stressful and time consuming and I strongly urge any that are considering this path to steer clear especially if your motivation for being a musician is simply the enjoyment of music and not to be a performer or make a career out of it. You can still learn and improve as a pianist on your own time through a private teacher and you won't be required to take a lot of boring course work that's basically a rehash of what you learned in your undergrad.  I really believe that a master's is not for everybody and I wish I'd had a more realistic idea of what I was getting into before I accepted. I felt like I'd won the lottery when I found out I got an assistanship and wouldn't have to pay my way. Boy was I wrong: first of all I still had to pay for some of my tuition (not a lot but it certainly wasn't free) plus travel expenses to get there (I'm from Canada going to school in Florida.) Secondly it has just felt like a big monotonous waste of time from the beginning. I've been so bored out of my tree with the course work and the endless practicing and learning accompanying stuff and that combined with having no close friends to hang around with led to major depression.  Also the expectations at this level are really high and I've had trouble living up to them.  I don't think I have the right personality for piano performance as it seems to require a lot of focus as well as confidence and flare for performing in front of people which I've never had.  I love playing piano and expressing myself musically and I still want to improve as a musician but I don't think this was the best way to do it.

My point is THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING A MASTER'S! You could be getting yourself into deep doodoo.

[exigence]

I completely understand... I think that similar could be said for any advanced degree. I'm all but finished with a BA in psychology, and I have no intention on settling there. I'm taking some fairly upper-level science classes as pre-medical preparation, so trust me, I'm with you on the self-doubt as far as whether I'm doing the right thing...

Is it an option for you to do something else as opposed to continue with that, or are you sure you want to finish it out, or...?

[pianistimo]

maybe the problem isn't ALL the master's degree.  maybe going to college not only out of state, but out of country was a lot to chew.  you're away from your normal friends, your way of 'being' (when out of town) at 'down time,' and the expenses that you thought were all paid are draining you of resources. 

maybe it's time to sit down with everyone involved in your situation.  counselors, teachers, etc. and to work out a plan that will work better for you.  mention your mental health situation - and the fact that a huge accompanying load and trying to do so much assistantship - is burning you up at both ends in terms of having the time to truly practice on YOUR music (after all - you are the one getting the degree) and that you need to reassess whether you can continue at the school if nothing changes.  write down the things that you think would help YOU. 

i can't imagine that after having taken several years of coursework that they would not oblige you.  and, if they don't, check out the possibilities of credits transferring back to a canadian college near your hometown.  also, there are online degrees one can get nowdays that are two year degrees (and also things that you do with your hands).  for instance, i'd considered massage therapy.  also, i've not just used music to make money - but also sewing and tutoring reading.  i was happiest when combining three things because i wasn't constantly doing one thing or the other and was able to take a break now and then.  if this means taking a short summer session in orff, kodaly, or suzuki...or learning something totally out of the music realm - you'll find small jobs here and there DO pay. 

and, nowdays - with as important as computers are - i'd try to learn sibelius, finale, or notion - one of those programs really well.  just as a side - on my own.  probably to complete coursework, too, for theory classes.  you could well work into a good side job with that - if you helped others print out their analyzed pieces or compose something.  all this costs, i know - but you can find someone who already has the program and just pester them to let you use it once in a while and barter for other things.  cleaning up or something.  bartering isn't a bad idea when you run out of money. 
 

[invictious]

now to think of it, poor Koji...

[pianistimo]

don't worry - he's dating a rich girl.  carl cranmer will probably get a few estates willed to him.  but, agreed...that the cost of an education today is kinda more than one will make in the first ten years and the interest eats you up. 

if you want - you can take it slower and pay for each class mostly with savings and cash.  this saves a TREMENDOUS amount.  but, of course is much slower.  sometimes they don't allow you to do this - but i noticed recently at west chester that most ALL the coursework can be taken under the guise of 'continuing education' for adults.  if you don't really care whether you have a piece of paper or not.

[earthward]

On further reflection I realize that was a very negative post and I think I made it sound worse than it is.  I guess what my main problem is is that I launched into it without giving much thought to the reality of what I would be getting into. Not having a social network has compounded all my difficulties with the program itself so it's not fair to bash the program because of this. I basically made a bad choice for myself but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be right for someone else as long as they know what they want and what they're getting into. 

I completely understand... I think that similar could be said for any advanced degree. I'm all but finished with a BA in psychology, and I have no intention on settling there. I'm taking some fairly upper-level science classes as pre-medical preparation, so trust me, I'm with you on the self-doubt as far as whether I'm doing the right thing...

Is it an option for you to do something else as opposed to continue with that, or are you sure you want to finish it out, or...?

Well I'm now well into my second year so I guess it wouldn't make much sense to quit now and I'd probably regret not finishing it, as difficult as it is at the moment.

maybe the problem isn't ALL the master's degree.  maybe going to college not only out of state, but out of country was a lot to chew.  you're away from your normal friends, your way of 'being' (when out of town) at 'down time,' and the expenses that you thought were all paid are draining you of resources. 

Absolutely.

maybe it's time to sit down with everyone involved in your situation.  counselors, teachers, etc. and to work out a plan that will work better for you.  mention your mental health situation - and the fact that a huge accompanying load and trying to do so much assistantship - is burning you up at both ends in terms of having the time to truly practice on YOUR music (after all - you are the one getting the degree) and that you need to reassess whether you can continue at the school if nothing changes.  write down the things that you think would help YOU.   
 

Yeah I probably should have done this last year ... well actually I did try to talk to my teacher about it but it wasn't quite successful due to the poor rapport that I have with her. (this is another really important thing I overlooked - that your teacher is someone you're comfortable communicating with, although to be fair the miscommunication is mostly on my end due to my own social problems.) yes I have some issues but I'm seeing a therapist right now and it's really helping I'm happy to say. I had a great session today and I feel much more positive in general and more optimisitic about the remaining months of this degree. 

Anyways, thanks for replies and advice. 

[lostinidlewonder]

I personally really think that studying in a univeristy is good only for a few musicians. I personally cannot stand the restrictions that you must work in. The time restraints and speed of work is not bad at all, in fact this really wakes up a lot of musicians who learn at a relaxed rated instead of putting their foot down on the accelerator and learning large amounts of information in a short space of time. This stress defeats a lot of music students studyig at uni not only master students.

One thing I tell all my univeristy music students is that to study masters will not benefit your career much at all unless you plan to become an academic. When you are a performer people do not come up to you and ask, "Have you got a degree in music?" let alone "excuse me do you have masters degree in music?" Heck I did my first large scale public peformance which sold out and demanded more performances and I had not one bit of paper saying I was qualified.

I see the music industry like a private business, you are the product and service that needs to be sold. Yes bits of paper and decoration might make you more desirable to some, but most people simply look at what is in the contents not the pretty wrapping you come in. You will be judged on your playing and presentation capabilities much much more than what qualifications you can flash around the place.

There are a lot of millionare business men who never completed school, so too there are a lot of expert pianists who never stepped foot in a univeristy. So don't think that a paper will make you into a musician because it wont. A lot of musicians who I have met worked their ass off to achieve their masters or doctorate in music, but once they achieved that they relaxed and didn't push themselves as hard as they did while trying to get their papers. This is a fatal mistake in my opinion, you must put the pedal down every day a little further, not just to get something then relax, you do it every day until you die!