If you attend a music school within a bigger university, chances are you've been told that being a voice major doesn't matter, it's easy, or that you are not as important as other majors. Here's a couple of ways that you can retaliate when those rude people hit you.
1. Carry around a copy of your schedule.
This way, if someone ever tells you that you don't "do anything," or that you "have it easy," you can show them a copy of your schedule. Between your voice lessons, your coaching, your choir rehearsals, and your core musicianship classes, you barely have any time left. With whatever time you do have, you're in the practice room.
2. Always drag around a heavy backpack and then reveal the amount of scores you're carrying.
If anyone ever asks you why your back is in pain, reveal the fact that you have all of these scores in your bag. While most majors just carry around a textbook or two, you have your three black binders, your copy of "24 Italian Art Songs," the entire score to the "Marriage of Figaro," and a copy of Mozart's "Requiem," just in case your choir teacher is feeling a little random that day.
3. Obnoxiously sing in the hallway because there are no practice rooms.
You did your best to find a practice room, but to no avail. You have a piece due with your voice teacher this afternoon, but you didn't have a chance to warm up. So on your way to class, the only thing you can do is hum in the hallways. As other majors pass you buy, they realize that they never have to do this sort of thing, because they can usually study wherever they want. When you break out into an aria, they might look strangely at you, but they can't stop you because they're too afraid to approach you.
4. Come home late and tell your roommates you've been practicing all day.
If you live with roommates who constantly think their major matters more than yours does, always come home late while they're wrapping up their day and getting ready for bed. Proceed to complain about your music related issues for the day. About how many pieces you need to learn, about the lack of practice rooms, and how hard taking a music theory class is. The more you complain, the more likely you are to shut them up in the future.
5. Shamelessly promote your concerts and recitals.
If your chorus is performing, or if you will be hosting a recital, shamelessly invite everyone you know. Create Facebook events, make posters, or constantly remind everyone to show up. Many of them will probably hate you at some point, but some who have a twinge of interest might actually show up. Once they see how hard you've worked, and hear the music you've made, they may actually realize that all of your complaining has resulted in something beautiful.
