4 Words for Future Musicians

Someone asked recently on Twitter, “A high school senior comes to you and says they’re going to study music. They ask for your advice. You can respond with 4 words. What do you say?”

My four words?

Do it. Without debt.

I know some who like to discourage aspiring musicians in a “character building” kind of way. (They say, “If they quit because I discourage them, they weren’t cut out for a music career.”) That’s not for me.

I know some who like to tell their students to shoot for the moon. (The moon here is Juilliard, maybe, or some other aspirational school.) That’s not for me, either. Maybe it’s a feather in my cap as a teacher for a student to attend that school, but if they leave it with six figures of debt, they’re heading for major challenges in pursuing an artistic career.

I know some who like to tell students, “It’s too hard. You’ll never make it.” That’s not for me. Maybe we have different definitions of “make it” but there are many ways to succeed as a musician, and there are many future lawyers, doctors, and other professionals who learn to be successful by studying music.

To me, if a student really wants to try to pursue music, they should absolutely go for it. And they should do it as inexpensively as possible. Get scholarships, live cheaply, and choose affordable schools that will give you a good education. (Maybe a quality community college???)

Do it. Without debt.