Applying to grad school bc of a fear of post-school life!! Such a relatable point

@ChassyAri

Жыл бұрын

That’s actually what’s going on with me at this point I’m trusting in God but I just want to be successful in life

Thankyou, you saved a life. I ,ve been planning to go abroad for a masters degree in music. I recently finidhed a bachelor in indian classical music, vocals major, because there was no other choices in my country. But my instrument is guitar. I am a self learnt musician. Was planning to apply for some universities abroad but at the back of my head my conscience always said it,s a waste of time and waste of money. So i was stuck unable to decide what to do. Finally now i,ve decided instead of pursuing masters degree, i,ll work, i,ll practice my instrument on my own. Thanks again for posting.

i feel you! i have a masters in music but still feel like it was a waste of money. but even though my undergrad school was better, i learned more, and has a huge (+ positive)reputation in the music world, people (who aren't musicians) are still more impressed by literally just the name of the school where i got my master's degree (cause it has the word 'royal' in it lol) 🙄on the other hand, i really needed to get out of the situation i was in, and going to grad school was important for that plus i have my dream job now. im not sure if me going to grad school made that a possibility or not, but that's where i am and grateful for that. but i definitely feel for you graduating during covid-times. the start of the music career is intense even in normal -times!

@ElizabethKnaub

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, starting a music career any time is difficult!! It seems so difficult to judge if my degree was worth it. Would I have grown just as much as a musician if I hadn't gone? There's no way to know.

I graduated with my masters in December of 2020, and I have a lot of the same feelings. When I started grad school, I wanted to be a private flute teacher, but I’ve since learned that’s the path for me. On the one hand, would I have learned that without going for a masters? On the other hand, I probably could have started teaching without going back to school (I took a year and a half off between college and grad school). But going to grad school gave me the push to leave my day job at a bank and start my own online business as a writer. I was very fortunate to have a professor in my masters who supported/supports what I want to do. She’s already a bit of an entrepreneur and has done some cool things outside of her university job. I know a lot of people aren’t that lucky. It can feel very shameful to admit that the “right” path isn’t the path for you. And to some degree, I’m glad I went to get my masters. I was able to save enough money and get a couple of partial tuition waivers, so I didn’t have to take out loans. I was also fortunate enough to perform at a couple of festivals and in a side by side concert with the local professional symphony. I also met a lot of great musicians: both students and professors. But especially with the pandemic, if I didn’t already have a masters, I wouldn’t be in a rush to get one. It’s definitely a very personal decision, and some people can do very well after getting a masters. I think it’s important to realize that you can still be successful without that extra degree.

@ElizabethKnaub

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your perspective Hannah, I really appreciate it! I’m so glad grad school gave you a push and that you had a professor who supports you! From what you shared, it sounds like the program you did was valuable! I love that! I think I wish more school websites/advertising showed more of what the day to day is like, or gave you a preview of classes. I had such a better idea of what college would be like when I applied and auditioned, and felt like grad programs just don’t advertise the same way.

@hannahhaefele

2 жыл бұрын

@@ElizabethKnaub It would be nice if colleges showed more of daily life! But it's also hard because the schedules can be so different. My schedule wasn't that similar to the other flute grad student, but it would at least give a good idea of what to expect for sure! What helped me was getting to visit the campus for a trial lesson and later my audition. I may not have gotten to see classes in action, but I got to put myself in that environment, which helped. And it didn't hurt that Kansas City (my hometown) and Omaha (where I went to grad school) are pretty similar, so life off-campus wasn't a huge change.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@ElizabethKnaub

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Signe!

Thanks for making such an important video ♥️ You already know my feelings on all of this 😂

@ElizabethKnaub

2 жыл бұрын

Yep haha 😃

Thank you Elizabeth for the video. 🙂

@ElizabethKnaub

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you for your videos and your honesty! Keep ‘em coming!

What clases did you take on your mfa? Can we learn them somewhere else for cheap could you give us the name of the books you used so we can do jt in our free time ? How can we prepare on the academic side? I think that youdt working with a private instructor should be enough atheist on the performance level, is this accurate? What is the best way to be in contact with the curriculum if you are not able to go to a master? Do you think that going to community College and ask the professor how to prepare is a good idea?

Did you ever teach private lessons before going to grad school? I havent been to grad school but I've been hired at numerous top-level music studios as well as teaching independently and have students paying very high lesson rates, but only have a BA in music. I'm sure it can help but at least from my experience being a good instrument teacher doesn't depend too much on whether or not the teacher has gone to grad school..

@ElizabethKnaub

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I did teach a few private lessons before going to grad school. There are absolutely multiple paths to being a great teacher and grad school isn’t essential! Personally, my experience doing more school helped me narrow down how I do/don’t want to teach. But most of what I’ve learned about teaching after my bachelors degree was learned outside school.

If you 1. Want to teach 2. Are getting a full ride (or close to it) 3. Will get paid a higher wage after getting the degree All in all, probably not worth it, but there are no absolutes.

@ElizabethKnaub

Жыл бұрын

Those are usually good reasons to go! It’s always a case by case basis, there are so many individual circumstances to consider.

Did you ever have to do an undergraduate music resume and if so could you share with us how to do one?

@ElizabethKnaub

Жыл бұрын

Great question! I did have to make one. I don’t feel like I’m an expert on resumes, but I’ll add this to my list of videos to research and make! Thanks for asking!

@tonshaad1230

Жыл бұрын

@@ElizabethKnaub thank you for the prompt response! I'm currently in the process of doing some graduate applications now and was stumped because as an undergraduate, I was never told nor showed how to do the musical resumes

@ElizabethKnaub

Жыл бұрын

@@tonshaad1230 New England Conservatory has a great resource for creating a music resume. Google "NEC music resume guide" and it should pop right up. NEC's resources can tell you way more than I can. :)

Great content & subscribed! Let us know what you think of our grad school channel.

@ElizabethKnaub

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😊

What a shame that none of the faculty in Connecticut was inspiring for you. Did your BF enjoy his teachers style? Did you try to go to a state or school that is more fun? Like Southern California? Cal State Los Angeles was super affordable for my Masters in Commercial Music, Performance (electric guitar). I can’t help but wonder.. I think sometimes they don’t teach real life skills because nobody there understands it.. They got the job at the university and they’re ok as long as you pay for the degree and they have students. It seems they don’t really care if you are employed or not after. That’s why I think the university should be on the hook for not only helping but almost guaranteeing a way to find work. Allowing lesser musicians in to just get their money is cruel when you know inside that they aren’t so good at playing or talking about music.

@ElizabethKnaub

5 ай бұрын

Neither of us had a great experience, but we did like a few different teachers. We went into it thinking that it would be a good fit, but then 2020 happened when we were halfway through our first year. It was just a two year program, and if we’d tried to transfer, it would’ve been so difficult at the height of the pandemic. I totally agree on your thought that life skills might not be taught because of the teachers’ job experience! A lot of schools have career centers… it would be so helpful if the music school/conservatory department had their own career center since it’s so different and hands-on!