Pro Dummers Experience

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Originally posted by S.P:
I guess right now the issue is, do i go to university to study music...or do i go to university and study something else...which wont mean i can't keep drumming and practicing and taking lessons and playing with people and do university thing on the side.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you're going to do an Arts degree at University it may as well be music. If you're going to do a vocational degree like engineering or whatever than that'll lead to a career. If its arts, the degree itself really doesn't get you anywhere these days, its what you do with the rest of your time that will impress potential employers. So you may as well do music - it'll broaden your horizons and your talent, but won't necessarily lead to a job, so make sure you get some work-experience (paid or otherwise) doing someting else while you're there.

Yeah i would never do music at university simply for the degree...it would be due to what its possible that i can learn..

My alternative was a business/public relations degree. This way i could sort of have the income...meanwhilst in my spare time build my contacts and stuff and then perhaps then make the move consciously or even an opportunity will come!

S.P

Sometimes having too many options can be the problem (well, it is for me anyway...)

Ask yourself what you don't want to do. Don't waste time on stuff just because 'it might lead somewhere' or 'his mate knows someone at a label' etc

Try and develop one or two big goals.

Everyone I know who has achieved anything in this business have usually, underneath all the crap, been involved in something truly creative.

If you make this your goal and pursue it then I can't see how you wouldn't benefit from this

I never said don't care about anything else while 'going for it'- I didn't mean it to sound that way. You will have responsibilities along the way to take care of, whether it be rent, car insurance, etc. I meant don't let anything stop you- if you have rent to pay and your gigs aren't providing the income you need, get a part-time job doing something else to supplement your music income. I did this while going to school and starting out.

What happened to me is a long story...I went the music school route(North Texas), didn't finish, eventually moved to NYC, Colorado, then back to the Philadelphia area. I'm still playing but only a few times per month now- by choice. My life is drastically different from what it was 17 years ago. I'm 37, a father, I have a full time day gig, etc. I'm very blessed, and given the chance I wouldn't change a thing. Being a father has brought me more happiness than being a professional musician ever has. The good part is I can have both in my life now. I've got a great day gig- I practice on my lunch hour, I've got job security(work for the state), sick time, vacation time...I can take off anytime I want to do a session or a gig...my day job doesn't interfere with my music at all. I was sleeping most of the day anyway- the only difference is now I'm making money during that time!

The time to do it is while you're young, while you're single, and while you have the energy! You don't have to starve to be succesful...get a part-time job at a restaurant like I did! You'll still have plenty of time to practice, network, attend classes, etc.

If you do go to a university, don't major in performance- it's kinda silly. No one gets a gig based on a piece of paper. Go for something more practical, like music education.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 30, 2005 04:13 PM: Message edited by: cjbdrm ]</font>

S.P. I've got to applaud you for seeking advice and asking the right questions!

Also, your teacher is right on (I hope you get him a nice Christmas present). The advice of the other folks who have posted is also very valuable.

I did play professionally full-time for 20 years. I did it until it just wasn't practical for me and my growing family. Moving into a "day job" doesn't necessarily mean you have to let go of your desire to play great and make great music.

I started studying formally at age 8 and was always very serious about studying with the best. I learned from recordings and was always aggressive about approaching drummers I really admired to find out their approach to the art. When people critiqued my playing, I soaked it up like a sponge. I wanted to learn and would carefully evaluate everything that anyone would offer regarding my abilities (or lack of abilities). I learned to transcribe music and made it a habit of being dependable and nailing the charts. I was never focused on being better than the next guy, only in pushing my skills as far as I could take them.

Regarding your major course of study at a university, there are great musicians who are music majors and there are great musicians who decided to get a degree in something else. Doesn't Mick have a degree in economics? I heard that the lead vocalist for Midnight Oil was an attorney. And then there are others who went through as music majors and on to some great careers in music.

And here?s one last thought. The skills that you acquire as a serious musician are skills that you can take with you to other lines of work. So, you?re never wasting your time by studying music.


Good luck!

Hey,

Thanks for that Andy!

Now this is in no way offensive and doubting any of your traits, but how do you manage to get a day gig without a university degree? or did u go back to university when you decided to stop drumming professionally full time?

What about you CJB?

I actually spoke a trusted teacher at school today and he advised that i apply for deffered entry to a university degree of my choice that isnt music. And that i take that year to go to L.A. and study at either LAMA or PIt and immerse myself in music, see what the competition is like and what the scene in L.A. is like, then i can honestly decide if i want to do it or not!

That sounds like a great idea...

I took some computer courses and got some experience. In the computer field, experience is more valuable than paper...basically, I got lucky...

One of my biggest regrets is not finishing school. Having a degree in anything will help you down the road. So I recommend that. and it's easier to do when you're 20 than it is when you're 37.

I almost bought a car from some with a degree in perc performance, I believe it was actually drum set, and a master's from Peabody...he was a fusion cat.

When I went away to drum line camp in HS, a teacher there who was graduating told me not to pursue a degree in percussion...ironic, huh.

S.P., gigging and teaching drums supported me through school. However, gigging was my top priority. So, if a gig interfered with school, I took the gig and resumed my studies when the gigs slowed down. I started as a music major and eventually switched to audiology. I have a masters in audiology and am presently working on a doctorate.

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Originally posted by cjbdrm:
One of my biggest regrets is not finishing school. Having a degree in anything will help you down the road. So I recommend that. and it's easier to do when you're 20 than it is when you're 37.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't think that's necessarily true. I'm workin' on a masters in chemistry and the job market looks bleek at best. You think music is tough and competitive...

I will agree and say that doing when you're younger is easier that when you're older, but having said that I know a lot a of people that don't have any or minimal college education and make more than I did when I was working full time.