<p>I'm currently doing my undergrad degree, while learning the violin on the side. I started learning the violin when I was 17, I know I'm ancient compared to everyone starting at 5 and I know I'll never make it as a professional violinist, but I'm looking to do a second degree in music or a postgraduate diploma after this degree. I want to go into either music therapy or music pedagogy/education, so is it possible? I've learnt the violin for 2 years and people tell me I progress at an incredibly fast rate. I don't know if I'm talented or not, but I think I progress quickly because I'm really passionate about music and I love playing the violin. Some people say I'm really talented, but I never thought of myself as talented, unless passion is considered a talent. Well, I'm working on pieces like the Bach Double, Fiocco's Allegro and Seitz Concertos. So I don't know how fast this is, maybe compared to the prodigys this is slow? Haha, but I have more than 2 years before I apply to do music, so would like to know whether it's possible? I believe that if I work hard enough, getting to the standard needed should not be a problem in 2 years, but I don't know how universities view late starters like me? I'm really interested in education and am looking at teaching english in schools, so was thinking that teaching music could be my second subject. Anyone has any advice? Would gladly appreciate it!</p>
<p>There is no such thing as a prodigy. Sure, some musicians start very early and have talent, but all “prodigies” have a big support system and someone who helps them with an early start. Talent is overrated; it’s mostly hard work. </p>
<p>17 might be too old to become a professional violinist–I don’t know; no one in my family plays strings. I do know of a professional symphonic oboe player who started playing oboe at 17.</p>
<p>No reason why you couldn’t be a music educator however.</p>
<p>Congratulations on discovering your love of music! Another option you might explore would be to do Suzuki teacher training in the summer. These one-week courses guide you in teaching techniques. I believe the audition requirement for the lower level books is the third movement of the Vivaldi Concerto in a minor from Suzuki Book 4. That way, you could pick up a music teaching credential while working as an English teacher. [Teacher</a> Training | Suzuki Association of the Americas](<a href=“Teacher Training | Suzuki Association of the Americas”>Teacher Training | Suzuki Association of the Americas)</p>
<p>My son’s trumpet professor didn’t start playing until the summer before he was in the 12th grade. </p>
<p>For that matter, my son was a little bit of a late starter (9th grade for his primary instrument), not as late as you, but in his first 4 months of playing his primary instrument he caught up to most of his high school band peers who had a three year head start, three months later he was just a point away from making region band alternate, the next year he barely made region band, his third year he was top seated at region band, the year after allstate band, his first year in college he was seated 3rd in his wind ensemble ahead of a number of upperclassmen music majors. </p>
<p>Essentially, it took him four years to be good enough to receive music scholarship offers from all four of the colleges that he applied at. I don’t consider him extremely gifted, he is just very focused, and willing to practice (a lot). </p>
<p>So it’s not impossible, but it may take you another year (or two or three), to be at the level that your really need to be at to do what you want to do.</p>
<p>Hmm I’ve got about 2 more years before my degree ends, so hopefully I get to the required standard by then! Thanks for all the tips, I’ll look into the suzuki teacher training. I’ll still do degree if I can get in though, I have always wanted to study music just for the fun of it. Think having a great background in music history, theory and aural skills would make me a better teacher and a better musician. The performing oppurtunities would be great too! Really nice to know that other people have started late and was still able to pursue music, although mine is on the violin so it’s really competitive. I’ll try having a chat with my teacher today and maybe ask her if I can get up to the standard needed in two years. I’m in Australia actually, I just moved here. They have an exams board here, so I might let her know that I’ll take some exams like G7/8 next year just to see where I’m at. Btw does anyone know whether the entry requirements for postgraduate diplomas are the same for a bachelor’s degree? Or will they expect a higher standard? I do know that the entry standard for Australian degrees are G7, but they don’t say anything about postgraduate diplomas. I’ll still try to do G8 so I’m not scraping my way through the auditions, just wanted to know if there’s any difference.</p>