This fall, I started college and declared as a Music Performance major. It is a completely normal thing to do, it is something I have always wanted to do, and I figured it would not be too hard. Now that I am a semester into my degree, here are some things I wish I would have known before declaring.
1. It is OK to fail...and you probably will.
All music majors take a class called "Sight Singing and Dictation," or some variation of that at a university. This class is one that will make or break you, or both. And, if you are like me, it almost broke you. Not to mention we also have to take Music Theory, sometimes Piano, and a whole slew of other classes that take up our time. All of these classes have taught me it is completely OK to not do well. They are hard classes and everybody is not supposed to pass. Take a deep breath!
2. Juries are a thing, but they are not that bad!
So you play an instrument or sing and take lessons. You are graded on these lessons and your one "final" is to play for a group of faculty members in a Jury performance. If you have performance anxiety like I do, you'll know that this is the scariest idea in the world. But, if you've performed a jury, you'll also know it isn't that bad. It is a performance mainly in front of your lesson instructor, who knows you and how you play. No matter how scared you are, it really won't be that bad.
3. You will be busier than you have ever been.
Most schools require 12-15 credits to be considered a full time student, no matter your major, right? And usually that consists of four to five classes that are worth three credits each. This standard does not apply to you as a music major. Yes, we have to take 12-15 credits, but most times, that is made up of nine to 10 classes. Why? Some of these classes we are required to take are worth only one credit, though they take up five or more hours a week of your time (Sight Singing, I'm looking at you), and at least one class you'll be required to take and attend regularly isn't worth a credit at all. To top it off, if you're not in class, you will be practicing. Tell your friends and family that you love them and will miss them, because as soon as you start classes, they won't see or hear from you again...at least not very often.
4. People will be better than you.
In any situation you find yourself in, there will always be somebody who is better than you at something. Music is no different, but it seems terrible because we are a very competitive group of people with a harsh tendency to be over-critical of ourselves. Please, spare yourself the panic, the anxiety, and the sorrow. Just understand that everybody is better than someone at something. And, to brighten your day, we can all improve on something, even that one kid who beats you at every audition.
5. Don not burn yourself out! You will want to, but do not do it!
Really, this one is self-explanatory. Just please remember to sleep, eat, and see the outdoors. There is more to the world than the four walls of the practice room, and you will feel better when you see them. Your health, both mental and physical, is far more important than that third hour of practicing you think you need at 2 a.m.
6. It's OK to ask for help.
If you think you should, then do it. If you think you shouldn't, do it anyway.
7. It's OK to have a social life and be a kid.
If you take a weekend off of practicing to see your family, to go on a date, or simply just to read a book, do not, I repeat DO NOT feel guilty. We are humans, not robots, and humans need human interaction. If you find yourself talking to your instruments more than your friends, it may be time for a break.
I'm sure as I go through school, I will come across many more situations I wish I would have been warned about, but for now, these are the biggest. Have fun, friends, because these next few years will be an adventure!
