<p>Hello everyone </p>
<p>I'm going to take a Master degree in piano performance at Central Michigan Univ (I'm 24) . I have full scholarship plus 20 hours per week as accompanist. I'm really happy with this but I have a problem.</p>
<p>I'm from Portugal and I have a huge amount of work as piano teacher and accompanist, to sustain myself and my mother ( she's unemployed). I need to know if you think I can get more job at the university or as a freelancer. I wont spend any money with me, just food and housing</p>
<p>I need to keep her life as she has now.
Can you help me?</p>
<p>A full time academic load plus 20 hours a week accompanying and the practice hours required of a graduate piano performance student will not leave you time to take another job, if you want to be a successful student. It is unlikely that any school can provide enough financial backing to provide for any more than basic support for you as a student. Some might manage a church job, if you can play the organ or it is a church that functions with piano music only, but most want a long term minister of music and jobs off campus may not be available to you as an international student. You should talk to the International Student Office at Central Michigan to see what they say about your options. Good luck to you, miguelsousa.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>I just don’t know what to do. Sometimes I think I just should go and see what I can do…It’s been almost 2 years that I have thought about taking a master in USA. I’m completly lost and scared .</p>
<p>If they gave you that kind of money, they believe in you. The issue is whether you can continue to help your mom. From what I know, you will not get very much out of this opportunity if you do not spend most of your time and energy on being a graduate student. Extra work is a drain and a distraction. You and only you know what your highest priorities are. If your mom needs your help and she has no one else, then you have a problem. You are a good daughter, and that is wonderful. I am sure she wants you to provide for your own future, too. Are you certain you want a degree in piano performance? There are whole degree programs for collaborative pianists. If your chief interest is in playing with others, you might want to think about that. Of course, if your own playing needs considerable technical and stylistic development, then piano performance will give you more time to devote to that issue. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sounds like you have a very good offer for a master’s program. That is a good opportunity. The amount of aid you are getting is fairly rare in the music world. It is designed to support you, so that you can devote your time to your music studies. You might take on a few students or paying gigs while in school, but it is unlikely that you would have time for very much of that, outside of your practicing and studying.</p>
<p>It is not realistic that you would have enough money to also support your mother. I don’t know much about your situation, or what it is like in Portugal. In the US, many parents would encourage their son/daughter to go get their education. Can your mother get support from the Portugal government? Here we have things like unemployment benefits, social security (if she is elderly or disabled). Are there other relatives who could help with your mother? Is there a reason your mother cannot work? Those are questions that you would need to answer, to be sure your mother is cared for.</p>
<p>The economy in Portugal is in terrible shape and the country has one of the lowest HS graduation rates among “modern” countries. This young man sounds like a really great guy and I think it’s wonderful that he is looking out for his mother. But I do agree that may be very difficult for him to handle the required work load and try to take on a lot of outside jobs. I would suggest that he speak to the International Student counselor at his school and discuss his concerns and hopefully they can brainstorm some viable ideas.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help</p>
<p>I’m afraid of talking with the Internacional office. I think that if they see I’m having troubles with this opportunity they will say «maybe it’s better for you to stay in Portugal».
I really work many hours and I practice. I only sleep 6 hours everyday with no holdiays, parties , social life, nothing. I’m willing to work as many hours I can. I don’t mind with that. I just need to know if I think I can get more work.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It is up to the graduate school and faculty to decide whether you are admitted, and that has already happened. The international office is there to assist and facilitate those students who are admitted. There is almost no chance that they would in any way cause you problems. They may not be able to give you the answers you need and want, but they will try. Please reach out to them.</p>
<p>lorelei is right-- your acceptance will not be rescinded. The international office is a different division of the university. They can help you, or try to, if you let them know your situation.</p>