What was the best advice you ever received - and did you follow it?

[brahms4me]

I bow at the feet of my high school choral teacher who advised me to go directly to a 4 year university if I was going to major in piano.  I'm SO very glad I did as she advised.  I now pass it along to my students who are doing the same.

She also told me to get my Master's degree "before the children come".  Again, I took her advice.  I must say, I have to hand it to all of you who have families and are working on your degree.  Hats off to you all!  I can't imagine the amount of stress you deal with.  Hang in there.

[pianistimo]

yes.  good advice to get as much of your education as you can before you have a family.  it is a struggle to balance everything evenly sometimes afterwards.  you can't focus as completely as before always.  but, it's not impossible.

hmmm. i've been thinking about this best advice bit.  break a leg?  i don't know.  i guess with advice (best and average together)  you do with it what you can.  and then, you attempt to put into your own terms.  i mean, how you see the world.  how you see music.  so you're not a yellow pencil or anything.

i like teachers that give good advice about general music techniques or to-the-point musical anyalsis or history or whatever (life advice, too, sometimes).  ultimately, the best thing a teacher can do is to help you start processing the information that is given in a more effective way.  thereby, learning to streamline.  streamlining is like flying in a boeing jet above the clouds (or perhaps someday in a lear) instead of under the clouds or through the clouds.  i'm not exactly sure where i'm at even today.  but, if it weren't for many different teachers with many different perspectives - i wouldn't really know what i want.  you try it all out and see what works for YOU.

i mean - when i graduated from highschool- i had a vague idea that maybe i should have a job.  in what?  i felt like a creative person - but i knew that just teaching piano alone might not be enough.  my mom always said 'diversify.'  it kind of went against my wants.  i wanted to just do music by itself and nothing else.  now, for some people -this pays off.  my mom's advice ended up being the best for me personally.  she said -well, someday you're going to have to cook a few meals.  why don't you take a cooking class, too.  so - i went to community college and took about two semesters of this chef training class.  that was funny.  but, truthfully - i'm really glad i did because i learned the basics about cooking tools, techniques, and a few good recipies (which i've added to over time).

whatever you're going to do a lot of in the future - streamline. 

ok.  - so my basic thing is - in the back of my head - i was thinking 'someday i'd like to have a family.'  this prompted me to take a course in child development, too.  then, after that couple of years of community college - i took four years for bachelor in music.  i've never regretted it.  but, the most of my 'career' has been accompanying and piano lessons and not performing solo (which i majored in).  a lot of people i know - haven't fully used their degrees either.

the best advice i heard would probably be to really check out the job market and what is currently wanted.  what you major in and what you end up doing (all the time) in real life can be two different things.  happiness does play a part in life- though - but i'm really glad my husband 'diversified' too.  he majored in physics first, but then went and got a library science degree and a teaching certificate.  he taught for a while, was a librarian for a while, researched and wrote technical and religious papers for a while, and then had an audio/visual business and did 'presentations' for a while.  and, now he's completely ensconced in computer tech and analyst stuff.  it just depended on what work he found and how he fit into the job description and PAY LEVEL.  good to check that one out ahead of time!

[penguinlover]

I suppose the best advice I have had it twofold.  I was told to make goals for myself, you know a big goal, reached by making smaller goals.  Problem is, I am not a goal oriented person, I kind of go with the flow.  So no, I didn't take that advice, although I know it would be a good thing to to, and I give the same advice to others.  I know it would work, but you have to work it.

The next advice comes from the Bible.  The Bible says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will grant the desires of our heart.  I don't do too good at this one either.  I fail miserably at this.  I know if my ways were more pleasing to God, and I delighted myself more with God, my deepest goals and desires would be met.  So no, I guess I don't follow this advice either, although I do try.

[steve jones]

I think it very much depends on the profession. Sometimes the advanced education can be little more than an EXPENSIVE ego tickler! Take my line for example, music technology - we get employed based on the work we've done and our reputation. An advanced degree is only useful if you wish to pursue a career in research.

So many times Iv wanted to go back to study for that PhD. But ultimately, it would not be the best use of my time.

Now my girlfriend for example, she is a pharmacist.  So for her, the education was super important. She finished her PhD by 25 and is now enjoying lecturing herself.

With piano, Im really not sure how much of difference the advanced degree makes (by advanced I mean post grad)? Do you get work based on your qualifications? Or is it more a case that you learn so much more in that final year?

Curious to know!

SJ

[ted]

In music, I assume ?

My teacher said to me many times, "The masters were great, Ted, and we'll always love them, but they're dead and now it's our turn."

Yes, I did follow it.

[rc]

When I was a kid I remember my Dad telling me "put yourself in other peoples shoes".  I took it literally and actually imagined myself standing where other people were, but it worked - I became careful not to step on anyones toes.

Then about 15 years later he gave me the counterbalance: "The only person looking back in the mirror is you, do what's right for you", which was a little more difficult to follow because it carries the responsibility of decision.

Musical advice: "LISTEN!"... I don't know how many times I've had to hear it before actually applying it.

I also remember Pianistimo's advice to consider how expensive life will get.  So I've come up with the plan to keep my construction job going (probably taking over the family business), but spend as much time learning music as possible and if I'm any good I'll be able to gradually make money with music.

My favorite advice to give: "dream".  It might be more applicable to those with stronger imaginations, to be able to dream in enough detail that it turns into goals and actions, until that dream is actualized.  The worst is to attack someones dream.