In these last months, one of the important topics in our home has been choosing the university that my son would go to. It intensified in the last couple of weeks because he had the opportunity to visit some universities with the school to get to know the offer.
The procedure in the country we live in is as follows. He is now finishing high school and at the beginning of June he will have his final exams, which differ in difficulty and intensity from those ordinary tests and exams that he normally has throughout the school year. At those exams, which last three days, they will receive a grade, the sum of which is the "entrance" for certain universities. It depends on the grade he will achieve, with which he applies for studies. That's why many of his classmates still don't know what they're going to study because it depends on the results they will achieve in those exams and if there are enough places at the university where they want to enrol.
In this field, he is still undecided about where to enrol (if to any), of course, when he obtains the final grade and see if it is high enough for some good and interesting studies.
However, what he has it clear is that music is part of his life so that is in the focus now. He wants to study Artistic Performance - Violin. Here things go differently.
To enrol a Conservatory of Music to continue his musical education and obtain his degree as a professional musician, he has to go through an admission examination. It consists of several exams: the theory part, where they have to analyse the harmonic structure of a piece, interpretation in their instrument of a repertory of at least three different pieces and styles in a duration of 30 minutes and a sight-reading test. Also, his cutoff score from his previous musical education should be good.
That is not all, as even if he does well on the admission exam and his cutoff score is good, if the Conservatory where he wants to go has just 10 places to accept violinists, and 10 people did better than he... then he can't get in.
We went to a few Conservatories of Music in different cities to see the conditions and the requirements. The last visit happened this weekend and the impressions were quite good. These meetings that the aforementioned institutions offer are good as future students who are interested and come can meet and exchange opinions and experiences. Also, they meet future teachers and in some cases, they listen to the applicants and give advice and suggestions.
The month and a half will be intensive for us as we will accompany him in all his exams. These are just the first steps in a journey of what being a student (or parents of a student) means. It is not easy - for us, but for sure it is fun mixed with difficulties and life lessons - for the future student. Maybe we will have to face some major changes, maybe not as many as now it seems. Time will tell what would be the best to do.
This situation we are focusing on now made me think about the reasons why would people like to study at all. My son's reasons are to learn more in the field he is interested in and become a professional but he is also concerned about the financial aspect of his life - will he be able to live just from music later? That is why he wants to study something else too... earn his living from another thing. But, oh boy, things change so quickly nowadays and no one can guarantee that a job that is now paid well will be paid in the same way in five or ten years from now. Jobs disappear and new ones appear, but I am wondering how many people work in the field they actually studied for.
I know that my university days were memorable. I loved the dynamic that the institution where I studied to obtain my degree as a pianist had. And I am sure many of you who studied the right thing what your heart had chosen had the same feeling toward those days.
As a student you are young and meet people with similar interests, have a certain freedom from your parents and still don't have to work (or at least not a full-time job)... you make lifelong connections to fellow students, maybe even find the love of your life and most importantly, study the subjects you enjoy and grow as a person too. The skills and experience you get make you ready to start your own journey in life and career. Yes, it is a personal growth that you can (or cannot) apply later in your future job.
I asked my son what studies meant for him and I got a legit answer. Whatever happens now I can have some kind of peace of mind despite all the stress I am going through as a parent.
So, why did you study?
It's very lucky for him to have such parents. I don't recall mine ever getting remotely involved. I mentioned in passing I wanted to do music but they had no involvement whatsoever helping me which university, let alone visiting them or coming with me to exams.
I studied music too and I am here still doing music - a simple teacher of course (love it). This is what the vast majority of music degrees will amount to. Hell, even the great legends were often teachers by trade for the most part.
I've also seen that a lot of people with music degrees quite often end up becoming programmers or some kind of tech engineer, seems like the mindset translates well and is a far more lucrative and available market for jobs than 'music' in all its forms.
Tbh in my wisdom of age, I could only recommend anyone to just go and do a business degree. It's clearly the most useful one for people's future. If you love music, you can turn music into a business. The fact life is more unaffordable than ever nowadays only suggests it'll be 3-4x worse by the time a high schooler is a full-fledged adult. Business is the best preparation for that, I reckon.
That being said, if I could go back and do it all again I'd probably... still pick music? Maybe?
You have done very well if your parents had not been involved in your musical education and that whole journey but you have studied music and you are a teacher now! A good one, I know 😉
Happy to hear you would (maybe? :D) do it again if you could go back. I am sure I would, as it has been my decision since my early musical steps, but maybe I would add a different field too. Business - doesn't sound bad hahaha
Back to being involved in my son's exams. Well, I am involved also as his piano accompanist (if I think better... I should make him pay me for that service 😂) so I have to practice the piano arrangement of the orchestra's part of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven's Romance No. 2 🎶
Whatever he decides will be fine, he has good roots to build on.
In my case there were many factors, economic difficulties for example, and I was wrong to choose a career to study, I realised too late, it made me unhappy.
I studied a lot of law. Until I realised that design was what I wanted for myself, but in the city where I was I couldn't find it in universities, so I did all the courses that existed there. That makes me happy.
I guess when you study something that didn't come from the heart then it can bring unhappiness... This happened to many composers and musicians in the past, their parents didn't want them to study music, but in the end, they realized what their vocation was 😇
I am glad that in the end, you found your passion and dedicated your time to it 😇
I am also happy about it, parents sometimes want to do their best, but the heart is the heart.
It's a critical time in his development but surely, with his desire, your love and guidance he will surely achieve his dreams.
It seems to me a bit strange the process with which students are admitted into the university over there because it's a bit different over here.
If differs from country to country, I see. Thank you for your words, he will do well, in one or another way, so I know all will be fine in the end 😇
Timely article as my son is going through something similar choosing a University to attend. Just recently my stresses went down as he got some offers and has made a verbal commitment. Now just waiting for all of it to be finalized. It's good to understand that other studies may need to be added to apply them in other areas asides from the major. Wishing your son all the best and hope he has a memorable time just like you had 😊
So we are in the same shoes ;D
That sounds great that your son got already some offers and your stress levels went down. I hope mine will too, one day hahaha. Good luck to your son 😇 and thank you for your wishes too!!
A lot less stress and money saved no loans 😁. Mine got a basketball scholarship. High school Graduation this Friday. Where does the time go, haha?
I don't know... I don't really understand. As we stayed the same young as we were some decades ago, right hahahah, and our kids are already knocking on the doors of the universities :D
I think that you will really appreciate my post for three tune tuesday tomorrow, it features my gorgeous and very talented cousin DR Leigh Carriage who is a Dr in music...
check out their websites as they are doing very successful things with their music other than just performing...it might give you and your son some ideas on how to expand the horizon within his musical career.
So this is Leigh, my first cousin and we grew up together as next door neighbours (very small country town) https://leighcarriage.com/home
And this is her husband Steve and they live in Byron Bay, which is not a huge town either, so they have diversified their musical talents and skills to use for other musically based endeavours
https://www.steverussell.com.au/
And Best wishes to your son, but I am sure that he will get in!
If he is sure that this is what he want to do, then he will make all the effort to win the spot and with you as his mum, encouraging him, then there will be no stopping him and I'll be going to see him play in a huge concert arena one day! 😃
Thank you @chocolatescorpi, I am looking forward to seeing your post and also thank you for the links, I opened now the pages of Leigh and Steve! 🎶
I will dive deeper into the topic and thanks for your wishes to my son 😉
Great, I was thinking that as Steve said in one of his blogs on his website about his new book here January is typically a quiet time in my date book, so in order to use my time well, I thought I should just write a book. In the last twenty years I have amassed piles of information on hand and arm physiology, gained many useful understandings about their efficient usage, and designed countless exercises to help students gain a strong, efficient and safe technique. Nine months later, my creation, Calm Hands, is approaching the final moments of design and layout, and is soon to be printed https://www.steverussell.com.au/the-latest
and so I though A) the book itself may come in handy for your sons own progression- even though Steve's would be more based for pianists, but I'm sure you son could adapt some of his techniques for his violining
but B), imagine if your son documented his journey- intentionally documented it, gathering knowledge and evidence as the way through the journey, then instead of waiting 20 years to write and publish a book like Steve did, your son could actually write a smaller series to help emerging musicians along the way...something like that anyway, but I'm sure that you guys have already thought of that and there are more ways to diversify but still directly relate all avenues back to the music like Leigh and Steve have done.
I studied because my Dad said as long as our feet were under his table, we would go to school and finish, of course that was just for regular school and not college.
😄
Back in my day, most folks didn't make it to collage, because it was expensive and there were not all these loans going around. My folks would help with whatever we wanted to do, but if you wanted to go expensive, you were going to need to work and help pay as well.
I got married soon after high school.... and that was that.
Boy was THAT ever an education !.... but not a good one you could make money with later.
LOL !!!
Thank you so much for answering my question, from the end of the post. 😇
Actually, I wanted to focus on that part, why people decide to study and go to college at all, but it all went in the direction of the concrete situation that my son is going through hahaha. Well, I didn't direct well the topic, or it is just that the personal part of the post stole the theme 😉
Have you considered applying for conservatoires abroad? Unlike in Spain, there's no tution in many countries (like here in the Czech Republic), or students even get paid for studying (like in Denmark). Language shall not be a barrier in case of conservatory (not like if he was to become a lawyer for instance), and the mere experience of spending few years abroad could be even more valuable than the diploma.
There is definitely an idea to go abroad for at least one year (Erasmus), maybe when he will be in the third year. Or later, for the master's if he does well and wants to continue. In February he spent one week in Germany in an intensive orchestra project and it was great. Also, he saw the level and way how musicians work and practice there hahaha, so there are things where he has to improve first lol 😁
The state conservatoires that we visited don't have tuition either (just the enrolment fee and maybe the exams). Well, I hope that no surprises will arise in the meantime 😂 apart from all the other expenses that this studying phase will bring lol
Fingers crossed :)
Your child knows what he wants and will achieve it, and you support him in all his decisions and he will know how to achieve it. He already has the musical foundation of his instrument and that is important. When they listen to him they will surely admit it, talent always comes first and then comes the rest. He will succeed, you will see. Worried little mother. We have all lived these experiences, now it's your turn. Greetings.🥰✨❤️
Everyone who presents himself to that admission exam has talent and a musical foundation, so he will be just one out of many ;) but unique at the same time, as each of them plays with a different personal touch. But I am not so worried about that part, as there can always be an alternative option of what to study if this doesn't happen from the first attempt. 😉
University does not guarantee success or money after graduation. But there is a legitimate motivation to study, to be prepared for life (which you don't necessarily get there) and because in the end many places require these degrees.
I think everyone who can do it should do it. However, your son has excellent references in his life to achieve success in different areas.
For me, going to university meant leaving a town I hate. That's the truth. And I also thought about growing up on my own and achieving things in life on my own... I haven't achieved maybe everything I wanted to at that time. Or I don't know... maybe I have.
Thank you for answering the question from the second part of the post and bringing your experience. Your reason was also interesting, as you wanted a change for the better, and it is important to find your peace and fight on your own. One important thing that the dean said this weekend to the future students was that they were not there just to learn about the music but also to personally grow. That should be one of the most important reasons one decides to study. 🤓
You are welcome. 😇
Absolutely right, because music can be learned anywhere. Even many great musicians were self-taught.
Going to the university is a normal step in life ....it help to be a better person...to have a career...even if we dont practices it anymore..
I agree, all these reasons are very good, still, some people decide not to take this step and make their own way. Luckily, I am still among those who work in the field that they studied for.
Yes many of my partners at the national school of art were good artists but decided not to go to Art university....but what happened is that they went to university many year later..
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I think there are some parents who don’t want their kids not to go to the university and that’s why they usually try to make sure that the child at least goes to the university even before following his or her dreams
One can't and should not force their child to study something just for the sake of studying
His decision in all of these would be fine because he's the one who's going to study and so he should enjoy it and have a sense of fulfilment.
Of course, everyone should study and grow in the field what his heart dictates 😉
The way we see it today is that there is no education at all in the universities and people just go to have fun and meet each other, if this system continues, things will be very bad.
extraordinary brother, I hope he achieves his goals by starting in the world of music, I hope he achieves success for his desires, and you are very extraordinary for giving him encouragement and support for his desires, I hope he can be like you
Thank you for your wishes, @samuelstifen 😇
Difficult stage but the magic is that he studies what he wants and believes that it will make him happy, without thinking about the economic solvency or the possibility of finding a job or not.
Many times we focus on studying something that will provide us with financial stability in the future and we end up studying things we don't even like. But that choice is as uncertain as the future itself. It may give us some financial security, but in the long or short run, life will put us where we should be, where we are happy and feel fulfilled. In some cases (they are the fewest) that happiness and fulfillment come hand in hand with the chosen profession. I hope with all my heart that this is the case with your son. May he study music and become great, may he be very happy and may it provide him with an economically stable future. It only remains for you to accompany him on his way. I wish him the best of luck in his exams and lots of good energy.
The fear of being just a musician, it's quite familiar. I certainly what I would have loved to due to the circumstances that surrounded reasons for studies, but here I am today. Just like you opined, it is always better to study that which your heart desires. It certainly bring some kind of happiness to the one involved