Thinking on going to a music school

[faa2010]

I am 26 going to 27, I have been playing the piano for more than 10 years, but I have a different professional career which is not related to music.

I want to improve my piano skills, I have practiced musical scales, I am getting the 15 Inventions (right now, I have 1, 4, 7, , some little pieces of Mozart, getting the Claire de Lune for a recital next year and a piece of the Thompsons book number 3.

My teacher has told me that I improved in my fingers and in my sight-reading during those 10 years.  However, people who is more involved with the music has told me that my rythym is bad, that I cannot flow while playing and that I have to be more strict by using the metronome.

I like my teacher, she might not be neither a pro nor a concert pianist but she has a lot of patience and she gives a good support.  However, I want to go to a music school to polish my skills, but if I want to do that, I have to quit my job and her classes.

What also makes me worry is that as I grow older, my chances to be in a music school will be lower than in the present as well as I make more antiquity, more time will be demanded from me at my work.

What do you think?

[roseamelia]

If you decide to go I hope you are successful!

[faa2010]

Thanks, but I am not sure if I will succeed or not.  I am scared of the thinking "what if I can't do it?, what if I don't have the talent to do a serious career in music?"

The point is that I have the enthusiasm, the willing and autodetermination in everything I do, even in things I don't like, but I think that I am lacking talent and a powerful understanding in the music.  (I have reached the ABRSM level 5 in Music Theory, I suppose this is still basic level in the music world).

[asuhayda]

If it's what you want to do, then go for it!

I'd strongly recommend against a Performance major unless you want to be a staff accompanist... 'cause that's the reality of it all.  The road to being a successful concert pianist is always under construction!

But anything in education, pedagogy could be somewhat lucrative.  You could go on to become a college professor which I've always thought would be very cool.  Depends on what your interests are though.

Not sure where you hail from, but there are tons of good schools in the states.  Oberlin and Juliard are very exclusive, I'm not sure what your level is though.

Northwestern, Indiana University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Berkley School of Music are all top notch.

Other good schools are DePaul, Lawrence, Roosevelt - can you tell I'm from the Midwest yet!

That's about all I can think of..

Best of luck to you!

[pytheamateur]

You can still make good progress by sticking to the amateur route, provided your day job is not to consuming and leaves you enough time to practice.  You can have private lessons with teachers who teach at conservatoires; you'll find that many of them are ver keen on working with amateur pianists.  Another option is to stick with your teacher and have occasional lessons with conservatoire teachers, for example to play them polished pieces, a bit like having a masterclass.