retiredoc

during my college days in the 70s, there was a lot of debate amongst trumpet players as to the value of a higher education. many beleived that study with a good teacher was more than sufficient. there were reason for this; namely, more gigs, amongst other things.

my question(s)

do you believe that going to college (or any form of higher ed) is really necessary to have a career with the trumpet in this day in age?

if you are over 45 and went to college (or any other form of higher ed) did sticking it out in school really help you.

we're talking performace here only. obviously if music ed was your thing this question does not apply.

(small caps are good!)

ecarroll

Doc,

Good morning from Los Angeles.

For the record I also went to college in the 70s. The question is familiar to me and often discussed today as well (I serve occasionally as an assistant Dean at CalArts and trust me when I say that educational theory is often discussed on various committees. We constantly re-evaluate our curriculum and make changes based upon the fluid nature of music today).

My personal belief is that the value of attending a music school isn't to study with a certain individual, but rather to be surrounded by a group of peers within a supportive environment. I've always believed that we learn as much from our experiences with colleagues (especially when we're surrounded by colleagues that are really GOOD) than we do in private instruction, and when these experiences include solid ear training, theory, history, chamber music, conducted ensembles, and the like the result can be far better than we would experience with a weekly lesson and solitary practice (of course this is part of the mix in music school as well).

That said we can point to many in our profession that didn't go to music school or who stayed for only a short time. There isn't one proven path to musical enlightenment. . .there's only one path for you.

Comments?

Best and thanks for an interesting thread,
EC

BflatAnklan

If a player is like me and is useing the trumpet as a means to get rich quick, then avoid going to college because it will only set them back by $30 - 40,000.

(If only that were true!)

__________________
Matthew Anklan

www.myspace.com/matthewanklan

Derek Reaban

One of my good friends faced the exact situation that you describe, except he had won a job just prior to leaving for school. Here is an excerpt from an article in the Phoenix Gazette…

Benitez played fourth trumpet [in the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra] for a year while planning to study elsewhere [he won this position as a senior in high school]. In August 1976, his bags were packed for New York City, where he’d been accepted as a student of William Vacchiano.

But before he left he decided to audition for the PSO’s third trumpet “for the experience.” Unlike fourth trumpet, third was a permanent, full-time position.

When he won the audition, he didn’t know what to do – take the gig or go to school. Someone else had an answer.

“I called Vacchiano. I told him, ‘I got a job with the Phoenix Symphony, but I still want to study with you.’

“He told me, ‘If you come here you’ll just work hard for four years and then hope to get a job like the one you already have. So stay there. If you show up in New York, I’ll kick your butt back to Phoenix!’”

__________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona