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jjtrumpet Regular Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2015 Posts: 52
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:27 am Post subject: Smaller undergrad programs |
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Those of you who went to small or lower-tiered undergraduate music programs and then pursued additional performance opportunities or degrees, how's your playing life? |
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Mike Sailors Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 1838 Location: Austin/New York City
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty good. _________________ www.mikesailors.com |
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CRoberts8 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 833 Location: Chicago, IL
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent. |
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sweet-ribs chamberlain Veteran Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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Playing full time and teaching adjunct. Life is good! |
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agolden Veteran Member
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 483 Location: Nashville, TN
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty awesome. _________________ trumpet - synths - cornet
Bach//Blackburn
Patrick Mouthpieces |
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derekthor Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Oct 2012 Posts: 480 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Trumpetmannj Regular Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2014 Posts: 80
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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11 out 36 tracked got orchestra jobs within ten years out of college. That actually a pretty good batting average. Music is a terrible get rich quick scheme.... |
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aaron Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 249 Location: London, ON
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:35 am Post subject: |
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Great!
I'd add that back when I was 18, or even 20, if I had tried to rank all the trumpet players I knew within 3 years of my age, that ranking would have little correlation to how successful people are today (and who has or hasn't moved away from music as a profession). Pedigree is overrated and so is talent. |
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Craig Swartz Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 7770 Location: Des Moines, IA area
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:42 am Post subject: |
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As much as I needed for the past 40-some years and getting ready to retire from the major part of playing. Best part? Never was a performance major but always had amazing groups full of amazing players to challenge me all along the way, from HS to today. I believe there is more to that than many might think. I feel for the kids who will never have the playing ops I had. |
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adelarua New Member
Joined: 21 Dec 2015 Posts: 5
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 8:13 am Post subject: |
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great |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 867 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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It's never a big deal, if you work hard and have tenacity. Bud Herseth went to a small college and got a degree in mathematics, if I recall properly. He didn't succeed in that career. |
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TrumpetDan79 Veteran Member
Joined: 27 Jan 2015 Posts: 157
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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Can't complain. The people I've played with and know certainly doesn't seem normal, since I went to what I affectionately call, "Farm College." Bigger isn't always better, and going to a high powered conservatory doesn't guarantee you work afterwards. Better shot yes, since I've rarely encountered any mediocre conservatory folks, but still not worth the $$$, in my opinion. |
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blbaumgarn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 Jul 2017 Posts: 705
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:23 pm Post subject: smaller colleges |
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I agree with one of the other replies. Bud Herseth went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa I believe and sat principal in the CSO for 50? years. Go where you feel comfortable. Be driven to get better and the opportunities will present themselves. I went to a large state university in Ohio, not OSU, Cinncinati Conservatory or Oberlin, and it was perfect. I wasn't a perfect student at the time but the trumpet teacher and the other professors and opportunities were more than I could have dreamed. Even though there were like 18,000 at the university, the school of music was a close knit bunch of staff and students. That means alot too. |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9038 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 8:08 am Post subject: |
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There's an underlying implication here that small colleges (I'm not including small but elite) equate large, well-known programs. Just a word of caution. While it is true that for some players, it's just as helpful to go to a small school, much of that depends on the individual and what they need.
Some may need the eye-opener of having so many talented players around them. Also, smaller schools have less ensembles in which to play. If you're at the tops, you'll get the gig anyway. But if you're not, lesser ensembles larger schools offer may provide a lab from which you can go into the top labs later.
Also, not to be discounted is the importance of networking. Again, if you're at the top, word will probably get out. But if you're not, the larger school might give you instant networking that you'll need.
I hope this isn't misunderstood. Nothing against smaller schools, just that large schools may have greater opportunities that can turn into later success, if you need it. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2342 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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excellent!
The big name may open some doors for you at first, but at the end of the day you have to play, be pleasant to be around, and show up when you're supposed to.
There are positives and negatives to "large" and "small" programs - which fits you better then make the best of wherever you go. _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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OldKing Regular Member
Joined: 26 May 2017 Posts: 89 Location: Boerne, TX
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: smaller colleges |
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blbaumgarn wrote: | Bud Herseth went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa I believe and sat principal in the CSO for 50? years. |
He was probably Lutheran, that always helps. _________________ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? - 1 Cor 14:8 |
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Shaft Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 986
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Can't help but think about Miles Davis dropping out when I see Julliard _________________ 🎺 |
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Heim Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 181
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: smaller colleges |
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OldKing wrote: | blbaumgarn wrote: | Bud Herseth went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa I believe and sat principal in the CSO for 50? years. |
He was probably Lutheran, that always helps. |
Herseth went to NEC and got his job out of there. |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9038 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Shaft wrote: | Can't help but think about Miles Davis dropping out when I see Julliard |
Small school but hardly a "small school". _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 867 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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Honestly, "small" or "large" school makes less of a difference at the undergrad level. You really need an education, so Juilliard is really not a good idea for all but the most prodigious. If you choose to pursue a master's degree, then the school "name" will make more of a difference (although it still won't make as big of a difference as you think.) |
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