CLINICS AND MASTERCLASSES
Let's back up a hot second.
We get a degree and think this things will look like this:
Step 1: Go to College/Grad School of Choice
Step 2: Study and Practice (going the extra mile, of course, and winning a few competitions here and there to prop that CV)
Step 3. Graduation
Step 4. Job!
Go to College/Grad School of Choice
Study and Practice
Enter some competitions
Take auditions with professional ensembles
Win some and lose some
Get told "no thanks"
Practice harder, sacrificing sleep, friendships, a social life of any kind, academics, exercise, nutrition, mental health, etc.
Reinvigorate from a small win (encouragement from a mentor, a practice room discovery, or a Netflix marathon)
Burn out
In reality, it looks like this:
Recital
Existential crisis
Meltdown
Part 1: the sea of opportunity
-go to desired school
-practice hard
-enter competitions and take professional auditions
Part 2: the jolt of reality
-rejection, loss, constantly hearing "no"
-existential crisis #1
Part 3: the Island of Grit
-reinvigoration from a small win
-practice harder
-sacrifice sleep, friendships, relationships, academics, nutrition, mental and physical health
-give degree recital(s)
Part 4: the Volcano of Doubt
-existential crisis #2
-meltdown
-research career changes (in private, of course)
-fear of life after graduation
Part 5: the Ocean of
-graduation
-job search
-panic, overwhelm, bills, societal and/or parental pressure
What if the reason you became a musician fueled