what to do after college?

[Gorilla Tuba]

Just curious...


By the way, is there any college out there that is actually offering a class on the issue of "what to do after you're done?"

A class... probably not many. However, your studio teacher or advisor probably has a wealth of information or at least knows where to point you. I would think that after 4+ years of college you would have an idea of where to go next.

[TexTuba]

I don't know where you are but in Texas you can have much success. There are sooo many jobs and people looking for quality teachers that you are bound to get a decent job at worst. It's worth a shot if you want to take a chance...






Ralph

[funkcicle]

My advice? Pick a city where there is 1) Low cost of living 2) Decent pro player within driving distance 3) Good school systems 4) Lack of "quality" tuba players. Not quantity.

[...]

What about all of these other guys telling you to get a real job? I say forget'm! These will be the lean years. Pick up as many musical skills along the way. Be a great guy and work hard. Thats how you do it.

Dan

+1! Don't settle for "something that probably isn't music related", you're a trained musician, so become a working musician. danB's post essentially describes what I did.. finished school in 2003, moved to a relatively large city where 2br apartments still exist for under $600/mo, there's a GREAT pro here with almost no secondary players around. I'd add a #5 to Dan's list and say find a music scene that is malleable.. that has COMPLETELY to do with audiences, and so the vibe of the town is very important in that respect(this is assuming, of course, that you want to make music and not just recite already-made music).

Your musical education's not over yet, for all intents and purposes it's only just begining. After 5 years in pursuit of a piece of paper that certifies I know how to perform the tuba, I found myself picking up some basses, which I hadn't seriously touched since high school. One tough reality to face is that the tuba is not marketable by itself. Period. I'm still a tubist, but if I want to be as active a musician as my drive pushes me to be then I have to find more outlets. Marketability and networking are AS important as skill, and you'll find this out immediately if/when you end up in a new town.

It's not the easiest life, but it sure is rewarding. It might be realistic to prepare yourself for the possibility of working a non-music job, but certainly don't resign yourself to that. Establish yourself as a musician in town and let your skills speak for themselves..don't be intimidated by those who couldn't do it, or gave up. While there are lots of people playing instruments out there, there are very few musicians on most music scenes. Be one of them, and have a blast!

[funkcicle]

+1! Don't settle for "something that probably isn't music related", you're a trained musician, so become a working musician...

FUNK-dude, what you've said is exactly what they need to teach to music majors at school. Excellent, man!!

Thanks! The best advice that I never heard in college was "don't play underpaid gigs", and "don't have sex with your teenage students".

[funkcicle]

this one was my favourite... sheesh, they certainly didn't have teachers like her when I was in Catholic school!



well technically they "did", they just didn't look like her and were of a different gender

[Jeff Keller]

I would like to give a imple thanks to everyone that has contributed to this post. Even the "negative" posts have still been helpfull - what not to do! I'm sorry if i affend anywone by saying this BUT, I know that A LOT of musicians don't make it - I'm not them and they are not me. This post was a way to get some insight as to what I would consider doing for a living. I know that its possible that I might flip burgers for a little while until i get a job in music - but what i'm going to do different is don't give up. If any people out there are musicians in post bands I would like to hear about some of your experiences since this seems like the best option for me right now.

Thanks to ALL
Jeff

[Gorilla Tuba]

I was in a "post band." It was the 298th Army Band in Berlin back in the late 80s-early 90s. It was the time of my life. I did it before I finished my Bachelors degree. For me, it was a great time to play everyday (mostly) and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I found it to be essential in my development as a player and as a person.

Musically some "post bands" are quite skilled... some are good at other things. I guarantee you that you will learn a lot that will help you later as a civilian. I think the most important music lesson I learned was to shut up, listen to the band leader (even if he is a nincompoop), and perform all music as if it were the most thrilling piece you have ever played (and rarely were they really all that thrilling). In short, I learned how to be a professional musician.

I am not sure if I grew musically in the 298th Army Band, but the experience has opened many doors for me. For example, I was able to get a college teaching gig (band director) right out of my Masters degree program largely because the search committee saw my military background as leadership experience. It is tough to get a teaching gig if you don't have experience.

The Army "Post Bands" could be a viable option to prepare you for going back to grad school... especially financially. If you really want to get into a great playing band you should try to get stationed at a MACOM band if there is an opening. These bands are the closest the Army has to the "Special" Bands in DC.

I hope this helps.

[adam0408]

heres an idea for what to do after college... find a group of eight to ten of your best buddies and finish an eight gallon keg as fast as you possibly can (less than an hour, hopefully) then spend the next few weeks in drunken oblivion until your grades come in and you realize that you failed a lot of classes.

Then re-evaluate your performance degree, and decide you want to do ed. Stay two more pointless years at college to accomplish this because conducting only comes around every other year.

That seems to be the way music majors do it here.