To a future music major,

Congratulations. You have just made one of the biggest commitments you will make in your lifetime. Music is no longer a hobby, but a full-time ordeal. You will learn to analyze music. You will learn to perform music. You will learn to feel music. Countless days and nights will be spent perfecting your craft.

But, this commitment will be worth it. You will begin to hear things you hadn't heard in music before. You will begin to not just play the notes of your piece, but make it your own. You will begin to fall in love with all the complexity that music holds. You'll start to think that all this hard work is actually kind of fun.

Some days will be worse than others and you will begin to doubt yourself and your decision. Do I really want to pursue music? Is this all worth it? There will be days that you are burdened with so much practicing, homework and studying that you won't know what to do.

Well, from one music major to another, do not quit. I know when you came into collegiate music you didn't expect all the work it entitled. Sure, you knew it was going to be hard, but you had no idea how much of your life it would consume. I promise, one day your music will impact someone. Whether it is a student, an audience member or just someone that heard you play in passing. Your music will make a difference. It could be a big difference or a small one. Either way, someone will make you realize all those long nights of music paid off.

Your music doesn't only have the potential to change people's lives around you, but your own life as well. There will be a day when you have a moment that shows you why you have been trekking through the journey all along. There will be a day that makes you realize this is what you are supposed to be doing. Yes, it is hard. And yes, it frustrates you like hell sometimes. But music is your life and it has always been the path you were supposed to follow.

Believe me, I have felt like quitting more than once. I have thought about changing majors because music just becomes too much sometimes. There are days where music is no longer something I want to do, but a chore. But, there are also days that I am obsessed with my major. I love listening for odd occurrences in music. I love that feeling of playing a solo through without messing up. I know music is the right major for me. Even with the times of struggle, I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, to your future music majors: congratulations. You have picked one of the most rewarding majors. You have picked a major that will make you excited to go to class. A major that will one day change someone's life. You will want to drop it all at times, but please keep pursuing music. It will all be worth it in the end.

Good luck,

A current music major