Thinking about college

[llhyperdude]

Hello,
I am an American student and I'm going into 12th grade of high school so I've started thinking about what I want to do with my life. I kind of regret not seriously thinking about it sooner, but I still have time to figure it out.

I wanted to know about going to a university to earn a degree in piano performance. What kind of people are colleges looking for? Someone who has had a teacher for years? Someone who has taken lessons since they were young? I'm regretfully not one of those people, yet I really think I want to pursue an education of music.

Let me kind of describe myself...I have been playing piano seriously for about 3 years. I had a teacher for 1 year in the middle but opted out of that situation. This year I met with a well respected pianist/accompanist in my area and discussed possibilities of lessons next year. I definitly am going to look into this further. It is kind of hard to evaluate myself at this point, but I am a hard worker. Now I'm not the greatest at piano, but it is something that I want in my life.

The other road for college for me would be something to do with computers. I'm enrolled in a networking program at a technical school. Honestly, I don't find it THAT interesting, well atleast not as much as piano. I don't want to make the mistake of taking 2-4 years of classes in computers if I'm not going to be happy with that career. But, this year I already won a $12,000 scholarship for RIT (for computers...they don't have any music programs).

As you can see, I'm split between piano and computers. I'm not sure what the wisest thing to do would be, but I have to start thinking of where to apply and what to apply for.

Could anyone give me any advice on my situation? Obviously this is the internet and in the end I will have to make my own decision, but hopefully I can avoid going into debt by the time I'm 25.

Thanks guys,
-llhyperdude

[xvimbi]

Short and concise: take computers for a living, keep the piano as a hobby or for something extra on the side.

[f0bul0us]

Short and concise: take computers for a living, keep the piano as a hobby or for something extra on the side.

That's what my mom did (and what I plan to do!). Now she's a pharmacist  .

[donjuan]

hyperdude, it is so sad you werent into it younger- then it would be easier for you to have a career in performing music.  You are talented, determined, and ambitious, therefore you have an advantage..But keep in mind that the kind of people who go into college and study piano are the kind who are talented, ambitious, determined, and have been studying piano from age 4 and up.  Think about the competition.  Unless you (and competent others) believe you have something special to offer to the world, you will have a hard time making a living out of it.  It's really so sad...

There is plenty of money in computers!!! Design one hit video game, and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams, and you can retire- Buy that 9 foot Bosendorfer imperial Grand, and indulge in whatever you want.

You need to ask yourself if money will make you happy.  You could still likely have a career as a piano teacher- and you may like that more than the money from the hit video game you would design.

Good Luck.  I am the same age as you, and am at the crossroads as well.  Wish me luck!!  
I dont have any 12 000$ scolarship behind me..
donjuan

[Saturn]

There is plenty of money in computers!!! Design one hit video game, and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams, and you can retire- Buy that 9 foot Bosendorfer imperial Grand, and indulge in whatever you want.

Haha!!

If only it were that easy.

- Saturn

[f0bul0us]

hyperdude, it is so sad you werent into it younger- then it would be easier for you to have a career in performing music.  You are talented, determined, and ambitious, therefore you have an advantage..But keep in mind that the kind of people who go into college and study piano are the kind who are talented, ambitious, determined, and have been studying piano from age 4 and up.  Think about the competition.  Unless you (and competent others) believe you have something special to offer to the world, you will have a hard time making a living out of it.  It's really so sad...

There is plenty of money in computers!!! Design one hit video game, and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams, and you can retire- Buy that 9 foot Bosendorfer imperial Grand, and indulge in whatever you want.

You need to ask yourself if money will make you happy.  You could still likely have a career as a piano teacher- and you may like that more than the money from the hit video game you would design.

Good Luck.  I am the same age as you, and am at the crossroads as well.  Wish me luck!!  
I dont have any 12 000$ scolarship behind me..
donjuan

Ha! You can't have your cake and eat it to. Though, it would be possible to major in computers and minor in music. That was you could make games and sell them to your students.

Good luck!

[Spatula]

Besides, getting into a university for the music program is DAMN tough, tougher than getting into engineering.  What the university wants is an audition for all applicants and they expect them to play about gr 10 to ARCT level music (thats...umm pretty damn tough in your case with only 3 years no offence).

And even throughout the music program, you've gotta do at least 2-3 recitals and a final exam with a 2 hour program (NO SCREW UPS OR ELSE YOU'RE SCREWED for the 4 or more years spent studying there)

NO seriously, piano is tough at the university level, not just tough, but insane.  I'm not trying to scare or discourage you (unless you wanted to do Rach 3), but its the truth, and its life.  

SO GO MAKE THAT SMASH HIT COMPUTER GAME ...maybe a porn game will sell nicely...  

[allchopin]

There is plenty of money in computers!!! Design one hit video game, and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams, and you can retire

And guess who these 'hit video game' producing companies turn to for the programming of the game?  India, because they can hire 10 times more programmers for half the price.  The career opportunities in computers, I feel, are contracting, not expanding.  Sadly, computers and music are not as lucrative as they once were.  My theory goes that there is a direct relationship between the pay of a job and the boredom evoked from that job... lawyer, actuary, you get the idea.  (any lawyers or actuaries here by now have already hired hitmen to take me out)
Having fun is one thing, making money is another.  Combining them is the one common goal we all so valiantly strive to accomplish.  

[Spatula]

And guess who these 'hit video game' producing companies turn to for the programming of the game?  India, because they can hire 10 times more programmers for half the price.  The career opportunities in computers, I feel, are contracting, not expanding.  Sadly, computers and music are not as lucrative as they once were.  My theory goes that there is a direct relationship between the pay of a job and the boredom evoked from that job... lawyer, actuary, you get the idea.  (any lawyers or actuaries here by now have already hired hitmen to take me out)
Having fun is one thing, making money is another.  Combining them is the one common goal we all so valiantly strive to accomplish.  

A video porn game made in india (makes me shiver with ...yuckiness....   )

Yeah that's true, the whole programming career crashing and young eager minds to the world of PCs crashing and down with their dreams...how sad.  Same with pianists too....too many of them now.  Although I guess it's not so much if the pianist is pretty looking or not, but has skill or not (a good thing if you're not hot like me   )

hahahaahahah  

[Motrax]

I've the same decision to make, and I daresay it might be tougher than yours. You've only been playing for three years, and although I haven't heard you, I could guess you aren't nearly at the same level as many others your age who want to go into piano. If you decide to go into piano, you have to start NOW. You've gotta practice consistently at least 3 hours a day, probably more to make up for lost time. And even if you practice like mad for a full year, although you will improve, you will still not surpass many other aspiring piano students in all likelihood.

Now, if you choose the computer route, there's more than just programming games. Much as jobs are outsourced to India, we do need software engineers in this country to deal with site-specific problems. Networking is very important, although networking jobs tend not to be particularly stable. You could get a job in the government, that's probably the most stability you'll get as a computer person. You could also go into Computational <something> (like computational biology, computational mathematics, etc). Computational science is a very big field, and it's growing rapidly. Computer modelling is extremely important for just about any complex/expensive experiment.

I've chosen to double major in Mathematics and Physics, but I'll also continue piano seriously. In music, it is not as imperitive to have a degree at all if you want to perform, whereas for any non-piano job, you'll want a solid degree. Math and physics is very broad - I could go into engineering with that, or physics, or mathematics, or biophysics, or physical chemistry, or even business in the technology sector. But if I choose to go into piano as a career, I just need to be good enough to win a few competitions, start getting concerts, get an agent, etc etc. None of that even requires a musical degree. Just about the only thing I probably wouldn't be able to do (relating to music) is teach music at a university.

It's a hellish decision to make, but I think the right way for you to go would be the computer path. But as you said, it's your decision in the end.

[llhyperdude]

Hey guys,
Thank you for so many replies. I guess I'm confusing going to college and majoring in piano with having a good teacher. Maybe if I just get a teacher and continue piano through that then I will fulfill my love for piano.

I just want to find my niche in the world! Alright, that sounded corny, but it's true.

-llhyperdude

[Saturn]

Hey guys,
Thank you for so many replies. I guess I'm confusing going to college and majoring in piano with having a good teacher. Maybe if I just get a teacher and continue piano through that then I will fulfill my love for piano.

I just want to find my niche in the world! Alright, that sounded corny, but it's true.

-llhyperdude

Remember that life is never in black and white!  You can do some of one thing and some of another.

You can always play piano, no matter what your career is.  Also, there are many jobs in music besides performing.  Most of them are far less stressful too.  If you like both music and computers, you might look into "music industry" or something of that sort.

In the end, do what you feel driven to do.  Don't do something simply because it's more practical, or lucrative (unless that's what you're aiming for).  Good luck with your decision, even though, whether you realize it or not, you've probably already made up your mind.

- Saturn

[donjuan]

video games appeal to the lowest part of the senses.

careful....Spatula is going to say something here to defend himself.