<p>I am hoping someone has some advice. My son just finished his freshman year at college as a music ed major. He loves the classes and did wonderfully. He has always loved the theory side of music and can easily pick up new instruments and become proficient on them (hence, he loves the tech classes also). However, he is finding that practicing his instrument has become such a chore in his mind that he says he has gone days when he will go into a practice room and just stare at his instrument. No practicing. We've discussed setting up schedules (practice this on this day, practice something else the next), incentives (practice well for a certain amount of time and reward himself with something he enjoys), etc. For some reason, this has become a huge obstacle. He understands that the studies on his instrument are the main focus of music schools and where everything else that is learned is put into action. However, he just feels that the day in/day out on one instrument has become stifling. We've talked about needing this to get through school and that whatever he choose to do after he graduates (3 more years) will be different. He cannot imagine his life without being in music. His head knows he needs to go through this to continue with music but his heart is just feeling it differently. He doesn't want to go into performance but wants to compose and possibly teach music theory. Any suggestions would be welcomed. </p>
<p>When D3 visited Peabody for an audition a few years back, one of the speakers (a dean IIRC) said that some students want to really focus on one instrument intensely while others prefer having a broader experience with many aspects of music. His point was that Peabody was the former type of school and that it might not be a good fit for everyone, no matter how fine a musician they were. </p>
<p>I’m wondering if something similar is happening with your son, ie that he’s landed in a fine school that just doesn’t match his interests and he’s being forced into a box that isn’t comfortable for him? (Or a major? There are some very knowledgeable composer parents here who could speak more to that aspect - perhaps changing focus at his current school could help?</p>
<p>Is your S getting performance opportunities as a music ed major? My S always has a lot more trouble motivating himself to practice when he doesn’t have some specific goals in the form of performance opportunities to work towards. Last summer was the first year in a long time that he didn’t attend a music festival in the summer so he planned an informal recital with some friends and then began planning a more formal recital for late fall, that helped to keep him focused through the summer. If your S is getting the chance to perform perhaps it is more as stradmom stated above that his interests are just evolving and he needs to change his path somewhat. My brother was a music performance major in college, but gradually realized that his real passion was in conducting. He is now the chairman of a music department at a college and hasn’t touched his instrument in years.
Also consider that he may be just a little burned out and just need to take a break this summer and then reevaluate
for next fall. </p>
<p>To teach music theory, he’s going to need a doctorate (at least at the college level, where it’s going to pay enough to live on) and playing piano at a very proficient level is a must.Everyone I’ve known has perfect pitch too.
While it’s perfectly possible not to pick up an instrument at the upper level, like cellomoms’s brother, one can’t get to that stage without many years of practice while an undergrad and grad student.</p>
<p>Hopefully, the summer will provide the needed break but if his heart truly isn’t in the game, it’s better to find out early like this so that he doesn’t end up with a bunch of credits that won’t transfer.</p>
<p>My daughter just graduated as a general music major and is going on to an MM in composition. She hasn’t touched any instruments since high school (6 years ago, except keyboard for theory). Her piano skills aren’t great, but she does have perfect pitch I think. She wants to get a doctorate but doesn’t really want to teach…there are other options out there.</p>
<p>Is your son at a conservatory or college? Does he have a strong desire to teach and at what level?</p>
<p>Someone with broad interests in music might be happier in a college BA program, with extracurricular performance if desired. But then again, this could be temporary…</p>
<p>I’ll second cellomom2’s recommendation to set up informal recitals, etc. Son is a music ed major and gets so sidetracked with all the ed stuff that practicing his primary instrument sometimes get set aside because some other instrument or class seems more important at the time. I’ve heard the same from his friends who are music ed majors. However, this year was the Junior recital and he reacquainted himself with his first love -the bass.
He and a friend are scheduling an informal recital for the fall with repertoire that is a stretch for both. Son is very goal oriented and he prioritizes for short term, and long range goals. So as cellomom2 recommends, suggest your son schedule a recital or other performance to inspire him to go into the practice room. Son, also, composed, arranged, and conducted music for a promotional movie for his summer job while at school this year. It encouraged him since he was able to see a real world application for the things he enjoys learning. He enjoys the music ed part, planning and teaching but it is good for the soul to be able to apply and not just teach. Encourage your son to give it another year since the first 2 years of music ed curriculum are regimented and it is difficult to just go in the practice room and practice your main instrument when there are so many new and challenging(interesting) other instruments to learn and teach.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. My son is getting enough opportunities on his primary instrument (large ensemble, small ensemble, levels each semester). But these are the same groups he finds himself fighting in his mind to practice for. Since being home for the summer, he has practiced (not at the level he should be) but will compose and play his guitar or piano much more often. He knows he doesn’t want music performance. He is honest in that he doesn’t know enough about how he will like the music ed side of it. This coming year (sophomore year) will be his first opportunity to take music education classes specifically relating to the education side. He knows he will most likely be going on for his masters/doctorate in the future.
He’s spoken with some of the professors and tried to explain how he feels. But, in all honesty, most professors look at you like you are crazy if you don’t want to spend all your time on your instrument. My son understands that to improve and grow, it is important to be as good as you can on your instrument. He’s just trying to figure out how to find the love of his instrument again, rather than just see it as a chore.
Compmom, he is at a college with a strong music school. He is sure this is where he wants to be and what he wants to pursue (I’ve asked and even offered suggestions about switching within the school and to a new school). </p>