• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

i have no idea what to do...

S

sgbass321

Feb 5, 2009
26
0
35
Bristol, VA
#1
ok...im 18 and I resently just graduated from high school and i wanna be a musician more then anything else. so if i ever go collage i wanna go to learn all i can about music. i have been takeing bass lessions and Right now im only in one band. but the whole band is just a temporary thing so pretty soon im gonna be out there looking for another one.

so anyway what im getting at is...that I really have no idea what to do. i mean music is the only thing i wanna do. And i cant be that bad of a player cuz my bass teacher says im like one of the few people he teaches who "gets it"...whatever that means lol

but i just wanted to get some opinions about what I should do...like what the next step should be.
 
#2
Well, have you asked your bass instructor what he thinks you should do? He may have a more realistic grasp on what is a reasonable approach to achieving what you want.

But if you have the money to fork out and live on the east coast, UArts of Philadelphia or Berklee College of Music are great schools. Go study Jazz.

Music schools are good places to meet musicians (go figure) so you might end up starting a band and learn some things on the side.
 
#3
sgbass321 said:
ok...im 18 and I resently just graduated from high school and i wanna be a musician more then anything else. so if i ever go collage i wanna go to learn all i can about music. i have been takeing bass lessions and Right now im only in one band. but the whole band is just a temporary thing so pretty soon im gonna be out there looking for another one.

so anyway what im getting at is...that I really have no idea what to do. i mean music is the only thing i wanna do. And i cant be that bad of a player cuz my bass teacher says im like one of the few people he teaches who "gets it"...whatever that means lol

but i just wanted to get some opinions about what I should do...like what the next step should be.
Click to expand...

For a young man *today*, I would advise going to college, and choosing a career path other than music.

You don’t necessarily have to go for four/eight years, in fact there are many two-year programs that lead to careers that are in demand.

Keep the music as a wonderful hobby and means of expression, but not as a primary focus, at least at this time in your life.

Good that you’re here inquiring; I think you’ll get some good advice.
 
#4
get a degree in anything you want just always have a backup plan in case things dont work out the way you planned. matter of fact your best bet is to probably get a non music related degree and continue to pursue music on the side.

you dont need a BA to work in music and even if your job is in something else like production, companies dont really care what you have a degree in, they just want to see that you were able to commit yourself to completing school. Most of what you learn in college really doesnt apply to the real world anyway, college is where you go to learn how to learn, if that makes sense
 
#6
Yeah, don`t do music for college. I started on that path my first year and quickly realized that I was putting in about 40 hours worth of credits a week and was only receiving 17. I had constant practices and rehearsals, was forced to go to shows around town with the class, had mundane theory teachers, I only had time for friends who also did a music major, and I honestly got sick of music because it was all day, every day. Luckily I got out of that and switched to business where 17 hours a week feels more like 6. I have plenty of free time to play in bands I want to. I get to go out and see my friends ever single day. And the best thing is, when I get out of college I`ll have a degree that is very flexible and will help me(God willing with the economy) to land a job in any field I have an interest in... including music.

So yeah, definantly don`t do music unless you are INCREDIBLY committed to.... being a music education teacher. It`s just not worth it.
 
#7
Go to college and learn a skill. Go to COLLEGE. You have your entire life to play music. But you need to money to live life. So go to college and get a job that's going to pay well. Then you'll will be able to afford gear, lessons, you can even go back to college for music. But definitely go to college. Just not for music.
 
#9
If you're in Virginia around the Harrisonburg - Staunton area and want to be the bassist in my band, send me a PM cause I'd gladly take you and show you where JMU is so you can go to school there and you can rock out with me and this drummer i might be getting into the band. And if you can sing too that'd be awesome as I won't have to get a vocalist then.
 
#10
Araillac said:
If you're in Virginia around the Harrisonburg - Staunton area and want to be the bassist in my band, send me a PM cause I'd gladly take you and show you where JMU is so you can go to school there and you can rock out with me and this drummer i might be getting into the band. And if you can sing too that'd be awesome as I won't have to get a vocalist then.
Click to expand...

im like around 2 hours from there... i live near Bristol Va.

but i would love to be in a band cuz im have like the hardest time trying to find one.
 
#12
College is defintely a good option, but don't rule out apprenticeships as electrician (actually, for that, a two year college degree in the subject can help a lot!), plumbing, carpentry, painting... I dunno about where you live, but here, people in the trades get $25 to $50 an hour; and you can't very well ship THOSE jobs overseas to wherever...Plus, for the most part those jobs are definately during the day, aside from scheduled on-call nights; which leaves most nights open for gigging. I have a Masters, and truthfully, I would be making more as a master plumber!
 
#13
sgbass321 said:
im like around 2 hours from there... i live near Bristol Va.

but i would love to be in a band cuz im have like the hardest time trying to find one.
Click to expand...

Good luck! At least you're the right age for trying to get into a band. You're almost too old, though, according to craigslist. You have until you're about 23; after that you'll be too old. (my tongue is in my cheek, by the way.)
 
#14
Ditto all the above advice. An education will make making a living so much easier (and probably more lucrative) than music. College taught me how to study, read, write, and communicate effectively. I went to college for music ed because I figured if I didn't make it as a rock star (yeah, right?!), at least I could teach. If you love teaching, if that's your mission, your calling, great. Go for it. Teaching is one of the few honorable professions. It just didn't work, personally, for me.

Three careers later, all my college education got me was in the door at other places because I went to college - regardless of the degree. But I DID get in the door, where others w/o the piece of paper didn't. It could do that for you, too.

I now play because I love to play - with a bunch of like-minded guys - not because I HAVE to. I consider myself fortunate to have a loving wife, four great kids, an interesting job, and my dream house in the country. And yes, I got lucky in life.

Good luck, and keep us informed!
 
#16
Lady Kayri said:
College is defintely a good option, but don't rule out apprenticeships as electrician (actually, for that, a two year college degree in the subject can help a lot!), plumbing, carpentry, painting... I dunno about where you live, but here, people in the trades get $25 to $50 an hour; and you can't very well ship THOSE jobs overseas to wherever...Plus, for the most part those jobs are definately during the day, aside from scheduled on-call nights; which leaves most nights open for gigging. I have a Masters, and truthfully, I would be making more as a master plumber!
Click to expand...

that could be cool...i wouldnt mind building or painting houses. its sounds better then a desk job lol

But i think i will go to collage i just dont really know what to major in except music. I think i will minor in ether business or teaching tho. i have heard that ether of those would be helpful
 
#17
Hmm, I also want to major in music when I go to a university, so this comments are rather discouraging, I guess I can say I'm a little different since I'm a piano player and want to study classical, and want to become a music teacher.
 
#18
My current drummer and ex-keyboard player both majored in music. Will, my drummer, works at a small music store teaching drums for $12.00 an hour, and the keyboard player is unemployed. Both are in there eairly 30's and are just scraping by, and both regret the choices they made.

I on the other hand, decided to become a machinist, and a year ago completed a degree in business, and played bass in my spare time. I now manage the Winnipeg branch for a company that sells machines and tooling to machine shops. And still play bass in a working band. We're not touring the world, but playing what we love and recording.

It is very hard to make in the music business and a degree in music is not going to help you and it won't hurt you either. But like the saying goes "It's not what you know it's who you know."

Good luck in what ever you decide to do but keep in mind that a degree in music may not get you to the places that you want to be.
 
#19
IME people know after their first semester if they want/have the ability to continue their track as a music major. If you take it seriously, realize that you WONT get the "college experience", and are comfortable maybe being set back to the 5 year plan (nothing wrong with that) to catch up with theory, DB, etc, etc, then go for it and give it a shot.

My advice is to find a small school with a good private teacher. Then either transfer (EARLY) or head somewhere else for grad school...

also study jazz... even if it's not your bag, you learn about al styles and can do anything with a decent jazz background
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back