photo courtesy of Lawrence University
College is an exciting time for students to learn, discover, and have new experiences, yet it can also be a period that is quite overwhelming for many. This feeling can often prevent students from having a clear vision of their overall college career. Frequently, they are focused on assignments due for the next day or week and find it challenging to look past the semester let alone what they will be doing after graduation. As a teacher, one of my goals is to help students see the broader picture of their academic journey and to offer advice and insight to direct them on their path. Having been a student myself for many years, I can look back on my experiences with perspective and share what I have learned with my students. My intention is to provide steps they can take while in college that will allow them to transition smoothly into their profession.
Setting Goals
One of the most important first steps to success is to set a goal. Know what you are working towards and ask yourself what it is you see yourself doing three to five years after graduation. The best way to commit to a plan or goal is to write it down. Having the goal on paper allows you to firmly establish and commit to your aspirations. Be specific and try to detail every aspect of your ideal job including who, what, when, where, why, and how. Once you have a clear idea of your long-term target, assess your timeframe and set short attainable goals that align with your vision. Establish daily, weekly, monthly, semester, yearly, and five year goals. Make sure your objectives are both challenging and achievable. If you find yourself setting goals, but falling short of them, reevaluate and adjust to make the target more manageable.
Organizing Your Time
Structure your micro and macro goals in a way that works best for you. Utilize calendars, journals, and practice logs to help you stay on track. Write down goals for the day or week and mark off what you accomplished. Be aware and take notes of the annual opportunities within your school, area, and state. This includes competitions, masterclasses, camps, and festivals. Keep these on your radar and write down deadlines in your calendar with enough advance notice that you can plan for them in the coming semester or year.
Take advantage of the academic breaks and use the time that you have during the winter, spring, and summer to reset goals and plan new projects. You can use this time to research festivals, masterclasses, band camps, or specialized studies that appeal to you. I recommend choosing one or two experiences that interest you the most and work towards making that a reality. Allow yourself six months to a year to plan for these events so that you have enough time to prepare applications, recordings, letters, save money, and find opportunities for financial support to help cover expenses.
Building Experiences
Whatever your goal is, find ways to build experiences into your college education that will help you achieve your vision. Look for opportunities to work in your chosen field while in school. This can include work study, working in the library or at a music store, teaching private lessons at local high schools and middle schools, or leading high school marching band sectionals during the summer or fall. These experiences not only allow you to make money while going to school but are great opportunities to build connections and relationships. You can often maintain these jobs even after graduation.
Be open to as many diverse experiences as possible. This will give you more depth as a person and musician. Get involved and volunteer at your university and in the region by helping out with music camps, festivals, music fraternities and sororities, or regional competitions. This can lead to creating a great mentorship with directors and teachers, a student teaching opportunity, or possible employment.
Networking and Cultivating Relationships
Get out in the schools and start working with young students while you are still in college. Inquire about opportunities to teach lessons or provide a free clinic on basic fundamentals such as hand position, fingerings, or embouchure formation. Most directors will appreciate your initiative and be eager to have you come out to work with their beginning students. Not only does this build relationships with area directors, but it is a great teaching opportunity that allows you to develop your teaching skills in a friendly environment. Teaching takes practice, so the more you do it, the better you become.
Fostering and sustaining good relationships is a big part of creating a thriving career in music. Your professors are one of the most important resources that are available to you. Find mentors and teachers who you admire and look up to and who you want to shape your teaching after. Cultivate a good rapport with your professors for they will be your biggest advocates as you transition to the next step in your career.
Support your friends. Go to their performances, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. Find people who you enjoy playing with, who have the same aspirations as you, and who are eager to collaborate. The friends you make in college will become life-long colleagues later in life. They will be your greatest support system not only during college, but throughout your career.
Developing Your Portfolio
Your musical portfolio is a variety of materials that represents who you are as a teacher and musician. It can include your bio, cover letter, resume, headshots, teaching philosophy, and musical recordings. Work to build a diverse and comprehensive portfolio that includes your education, teaching experience, leadership activities, performances, service, and accolades. As you begin to organize your resume, take note of which sections are sparse and begin to create opportunities and experiences for you to add to these areas.
Recordings are another important aspect of your musical portfolio. This can contain any performances you have given throughout the year. Strive to record and save your recitals and departmental and studio class performances. Have a variety of both audio and visual recordings. In addition to live performances, take some time throughout the semester to record a solo piece on your own. Ask a friend to record for you and use a space that enhances your playing. This process allows you to listen back, observe, fix mistakes, and grow as a musician.
Building your portfolio will take time so do not be overwhelmed with the process. If possible, begin developing your portfolio during your first year of college and update it each semester. Having these materials ready to go will benefit you if you should ever apply for festivals, competitions, graduate school, or a job.
Establishing Good Habits
It’s important to establish a strong foundation of good habits at any stage in your life. The habits you establish while in school will ultimately benefit you and help shape your success for the future. Begin developing good communication skills while in high school and college. This means responding to emails and phone calls from your professors and colleagues in a professional, appropriate, and timely manner. Quick and courteous responses will help you to secure gigs and future jobs and establish yourself as a considerate, responsible and dependable individual. If someone contacts you with an opportunity and you allow too much time to pass, there is always a chance the prospect will go to someone else.
Be early and prepared for classes and rehearsals. As everyone knows, the golden rule in music is “to be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late.” Make sure that you are prepared with your materials and music, in your seat, and with your instrument ready to go at least 15 minutes before a rehearsal. This will allow you time to look over difficult sections and get in the right head space for the rehearsal.
Be careful about how you present yourself. Be courteous, respectful, professional, and kind. These are just a few character traits that will set you apart from others and will draw others to you. A significant part of any job search is for others to recognize that you can work well with other individuals, are a good fit for the position, and can successfully contribute in that position.
Health and Wellness
Following a career in music can be challenging and demanding so it is vital to listen to your body and give yourself down time. Strive to create balance by allowing yourself to rest, get plenty of sleep, eat well, and exercise. Music often begins as a source of enjoyment when you are young. That hobby can take on a different role as you get further into your musical studies and career, so it is even more important to create balance and find enjoyable interests outside of music.
You will experience many challenges in your life but know that growth occurs during these difficult times. Just because something is arduous does not mean you are on the wrong path. Do not stop because you are challenged. Instead, dig deeper into the experience.
